KATAOKA NIZAEMON VIII

1810~1833: born in the province of Echigo. He was adopted by the great Edo star Ichikawa Danjûrô VII, receiving the name of Ichikawa Shinnosuke and becoming the zamoto of a children-actors troupe in Ôsaka. He had quarrel with Ichikawa Danjûrô VII, left the Ichikawa clan and performed under the name of Mimasu Iwagorô. Was he a disciple of Mimasu Daigorô III^[3]? The Kamigata star Arashi Rikan II took him as a disciple and gave him the name of Arashi Kitsujirô.

1833: he was adopted by Kataoka Nizaemon VII and received the name of Kataoka Gatô I. Gatô was a haimyô used by Kataoka Nizaemon VII.

1st day of the 3rd lunar month of 1837^[2]: his adoptive father Kataoka Nizaemon VII died.

7th lunar month of 1837: Gatô played in Ôsaka at the Ichinogawa Shibai the role of Koganosuke in the classic "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".

9th lunar month of 1837: Gatô played in Ôsaka at the Ônishi no Shibai 3 roles in the kaomise drama "Ume no Naniwa Hayazaki Genji". He also played the role of Kitanoya Shichibê in the drama "Sekitori Senryô Nobori". His stage partner in the role of the sumô wrestler Iwagawa Jirokichi was Arashi Kichisaburô III.

1st lunar month of 1839: Kataoka Gatô I took the name of Kataoka Gadô II. Gadô was another haimyô used by Kataoka Nizaemon VII, who was considered as Kataoka Gadô I. Premiere at the Kado no Shibai of Nishizawa Ippô's drama "Keisei Hama no Masago"; Gadô played the roles of Mashiba Hisatsugu, Kofuna no Gengorô and Kumai Gengorô [casting].

3rd lunar month of 1839: Gadô played at the Naka no Shibai the role of Honda Dainaiki in the drama "Igagoe Dôchû Sugoroku".

1st lunar month of 1840: Gadô played at the Naka no Shibai the roles of Kiura Shingo and Masaemon in the drama "Keisei Setsugekka".

8th lunar month of 1840: Gadô played at the Naka no Shibai the role of Oguri hangan in the drama "Hime Kurabe Futaba Ezôji".

10th lunar month of 1840: Gadô played at the Naka no Shibai the roles of En'ya Hangan, Yomoshichi, Teraoka Heiemon, Jûnai and Takakura Hayato in the drama "Hana Kaede Iroha Hyôban".

11th lunar month of 1840: Gadô performed in Ôsaka at the Kita-Horie Ichi-no-Gawa Shibai in the dramas "Aburauri Kuruwa Monogatari", "Azuma Miyage Modori Kago" and "Go Taiheiki Shiraishi Banashi".

1st lunar month of 1841: Gadô played at the Naka no Shibai the roles of Yodoya Tatsugorô and Hattori Kingorô in the drama "Keisei Yanagi Zakura".

4th lunar month of 1841: Gadô played at the Naka no Shibai the roles of Sukune Tarô and Takebe Genzô in the drama "Tenmangû Natane no Gokû". He also played the role of An no Heibê in the drama "Otokodate Itsusu Karigane".

5th lunar month of 1841: Gadô played at the Naka no Shibai several roles, including Fukuoka Mitsugi in the drama "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba"; the roles of Okon and Kisuke were played by Nakayama Yoshio III and Nakamura Shikan III. The performance was a commercial failure and some actors moved to Kyôto.

11th lunar month of 1841: Gadô performed in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai in the dramas "Keisei Yamato Zôshi", "Hachijin Shugo no Honjô" and "Daikyôji Mukashi Goyomi".

3rd lunar month of 1845: Gadô played at the Kado no Shibai the roles of Yoshitsune and Ono no Tôfû in the dramas "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki" and "Ono no Tôfû Aoyagi Suzuri".

5th lunar month of 1845: Gadô played at the Naka no Shibai the roles of Kajiwara Genta Kagesue and Danshichi in the dramas "Hirakana Seisuiki" and "Yadonashi Danshichi Shigure no Karakasa".

5th lunar month of 1847: Gadô played at the Ônishi no Shibai the roles of Kanki, Issun Tokubê and the Tedai Tôbê in the dramas "Kokusen'ya Gassen", "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami" and "Chirashigaki Koi no Tamazusa"; his stage partner in the roles of Watônai ("Kokusen'ya Gassen") and Danshichi Kurobê ("Natsu Matsuri") was Nakamura Shikan III.

6th lunar month of 1847: Gadô played at the Minamigawa no Shibai (Kyôto) the roles of Toki Kurando Yorikazu, Sasaki Gennosuke and the Tedai Tôbê in the dramas "Ôtô-no-Miya Asahi no Yoroi", "Nagara Chôja Uguisu Zuka" and "Chirashigaki Koi no Tamazusa".

7th lunar month of 1847: Gadô performed at the Ônishi no Shibai in the dramas "Katakiuchi An'eiroku", "Suma no Miyako Genpei Tsutsuji" and "Koina Hanbei Sato no Iroage".

10th lunar month of 1847: Gadô performed at the Ônishi no Shibai in the dramas "Tôkaidô Koi no Sekifuda" and "Sekitori Senryô Nobori" (in which he played the role of the sumô wrestler Iwagawa Jirokichi). This was the last appearance on stage for his friend and stage partner Nakamura Shikan III.

11th lunar month of 1847: Gadô performed at the Ônishi no Shibai in the dramas "Katakiuchi Ura no Asagiri" and "Sarumawashi Kadode no Hitofushi" (in which he played the role of the monkey trainer Yojirô).

1st lunar month of 1848: Gadô's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, Hanagata Sanpukutsui section ('a Trio of Young Stars'), was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual]. The two others actors in this trio were Arashi Rikan III and Jitsukawa Enzaburô I. Gadô played at the Chikugo no Shibai 4 roles in the drama "Keisei Ishikawa-zome".

3rd lunar month of 1848: Gadô played at the Chikugo no Shibai the roles of Ashikaga Yorikane and the sumô wrestler Tetsunosuke in the drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi".

5th lunar month of 1848: Gadô played at the Ônishi no Shibai the role of Fukuoka Mitsugi in the drama "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba". He fell ill at the end of the performance.

11th lunar month of 1848: Gadô played at the Minamigawa no Shibai (Kyôto) the roles of Gappô and the monkey trainer Yojirô in the dramas "Chûkô Homare no Futamichi" and "Sarumawashi Kadode no Hitofushi".

5th lunar month of 1849: Gadô played at the Chikugo no Shibai the roles of Kôbê and Tokushima Gohei in the drama "Akiba Gongen Kaisen Banashi".

8th lunar month of 1849: Gadô played at the Chikugo no Shibai the role of Tôkichi in the drama "Gion Sairei Shinkôki"; the roles of Matsunaga Daizen and Princess Yuki were played by Asao Yoroku I and Sawamura Kitô II.

9th lunar month of 1849: Gadô played at the Chikugo no Shibai the roles of Momonoi Wakasanosuke, Hayano Kanpei and Ôboshi Yuranosuke in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which was staged to commemorate the 12th anniversary (13th memorial service) of late Kataoka Nizaemon VII; Gadô's stage partners were Mimasu Daigorô IV, Ichikawa Shikô III, Sawamura Kitô II and Nakamura Daikichi III.

11th lunar month of 1849: Gadô played at the Kitagawa no Shibai (Kyôto) the roles of Hayano Kanpei [illustration] and Ôboshi Yuranosuke in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura". He also played the role of the yakko Tsumahei and Shinshichi in the dramas "Shin Usuyuki Monogatari" and "Oriawase Tsuzure no Nishiki".

1st lunar month of 1850: Gadô performed at the Ônishi no Shibai in the dramas "Keisei Hana Ikada" and "Tamamo-no-Mae Asahi no Tamoto".

5th lunar month of 1850: Gadô played at the Ônishi no Shibai the roles of Musashi and Danshichi in the dramas "Ganryûjima" and "Yadonashi Danshichi Shigure no Karakasa".

8th lunar month of 1850: Gadô played at the Ônishi no Shibai the roles of Hayase Iori and Kôemon in the drama "Tengajaya-mura".

10th lunar month of 1850: Gadô played at the Ônishi no Shibai the role of Ono no Tôfû in the the drama "Ono no Tôfû Aoyagi Suzuri". He also played the role of Mohei in the drama "Daikyôji Mukashi Goyomi". The role of Mohei's lover Osan was played by Nakamura Daikichi III.

1st lunar month of 1851: Gadô played at the Kado no Shibai the role of Oguri Hangan in the drama "Hime Kurabe Futaba Ezôji".

3rd lunar month of 1851: Gadô played in Ôsaka at the Wakadayû no Shibai the role of Matahei in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Keisei Hangonkô"; his stage partners were Nakamura Karoku I (Otoku) and Asao Yoroku I (Shôgen).

1st lunar month of 1852: Gadô played at the Minamigawa no Shibai the role of Fukuoka Mitsugi in the drama "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba"; his stage partners in the role of Okon and Manno were Nakamura Tomijûrô II and Nakamura Jakuemon I.

Spring 1852: Gadô played at the Chikugo no Shibai the roles of the priest Seigen and Tôyama Jinzaburô in the drama "Keisei Iriai Zakura". He also played the role of Kameya Chûbê in the shinjûmono "Koi Bikyaku Yamato Ôrai"; the role of Chûbê's lover Umegawa was played by Arashi San'emon IX.

3rd lunar month of 1852: Gadô performed at the Naka no Shibai in the drama "Hana Kaede Ogura no Shikishi". He also played the role of Omine in "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba". The performance was a commercial failure.

5th lunar month of 1852: Gadô played at the Minamigawa no Shibai the role of Gengorô in the drama "Ôshimadai Oguri Hangan".

10th lunar month of 1852: Gadô played at the Naka no Shibai 3 roles, including Ohatsu, in the drama "Kagamiyama Sugata no Utsushie"; the roles of Onoe and Iwafuji were played by Nakayama Nanshi II and Mimasu Daigorô IV.

11th lunar month of 1852: Gadô played at the Minamigawa no Shibai (Kyôto) 2 roles, including Ohatsu, in the drama "Tsugiawase Koshiji no Ume", which belonged to the "Kagamiyama" world; the roles of Onoe and Iwafuji were, just like the previous month in Ôsaka, played by Nakayama Nanshi II and Mimasu Daigorô IV.

1st lunar month of 1853: Gadô's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, Tokokazari Sanpukutsui section ('a trio of perfect decorations for a toko no ma'), was itaru-jô-jô-kichi (unique - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. The two others actors in this trio were Jitsukawa Enzaburô I and Arashi Rikaku II. Gadô played at the Kado no Shibai the role of Shigetada in the drama "Kagekiyo"; his stage partners were Ichikawa Danzô VI (Akoya) and Ichikawa Ebizô V (Kagekiyo).

1854: Gadô settled in Edo.

3rd lunar month of 1854: Gadô played at the Nakamuraza the role of Fujiya Izaemon in the drama "Kuruwa Bunshô"; the role of the courtesan Yûgiri (Izaemon's lover) was played by Iwai Kumesaburô III.

1st lunar month of 1857: Kataoka Gadô II took the name of Kataoka Nizaemon VIII.

3rd lunar month of 1859: Nizaemon played at the Nakamuraza the roles of Shibaroku, Daihanji no Kiyosumi and Fukashichi in the classic "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".

1st lunar month of 1860: Nizaemon played at the Nakamuraza the role of Fujiya Izaemon in the drama "Hatsu Tayori Kuruwa Bunshô"; the role of the courtesan Yûgiri (Izaemon's lover) was played by Onoe Kikugorô IV.

4th lunar month of 1860: Nizaemon played at the Nakamuraza the roles of Ôboshi Yuranosuke [print], Kô no Moronô and Kakogawa Honzô in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; the role of En'ya Hangan was played by Nakamura Fukusuke I.

12th lunar month of 1861: Nizaemon played at the Nakamuraza the role of Matahei in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Keisei Hangonkô"; his stage partners were Ichikawa Dannosuke V (Otoku) and Seki Sanjûrô III (Shôgen).

10th lunar month of 1862: he went back to Ôsaka, taking back the name of Kataoka Gadô II. He played at the Kado no Shibai the roles of Karaki Masaemon and Sasaki Tan'emon in the drama "Igagoe Dôchû Sugoroku". He also played the role of Kameya Chûbê in the drama "Koi Bikyaku Yamato Ôrai"; the role of Chûbê's lover Umegawa was played by Nakamura Sennosuke. His performance was a failure as his artistic style was seen in Ôsaka as too much tinged with Edo style.

1st lunar month of 1863: Gadô played at the Kado no Shibai the roles of Hachizô, the sendô Kajiroku and Tabakokiri Sankichi in the new year ni-no-kawari drama "Keisei Sôshinji".

16th day of the 2nd lunar month of 1863^[1]: Gadô died in Ôsaka.

Comments:

Kataoka Nizaemon VIII was an outstanding nimaime, who also excelled in the jitsugotoshi, katakiyaku or oyajigata (in the last years of his career) roles. He was also able to perform occasionally onnagata roles. He gained fame in both the Kamigata and the city of Edo. Good-looking, he had a manly appearance, but was small in stature and was said to have the bad habit of saying too many sutezerifu. He was also short-tempered and, after a quarrel, he did not make peace with Ichikawa Kodanji IV for the rest of his life.

[1] The 16th day of the 2nd lunar month of the 3rd year of the Bunkyû era was the 3rd of April 1863 in the western calendar.

[2] The 1st day of the 3rd lunar month of the 8th year of the Tenpô era was the 5th of April 1837 in the western calendar.

[3] Only our assumption. No proof that Mimasu Iwagorô was really a disciple of Mimasu Daigorô III.

Kataoka Nizaemon VIII in the role of Kanawa Gorô Imakuni in a print made by Utagawa Toyokuni III in the 3rd lunar month of 1859

Prints & Illustrations

The Ichikawa Shinnosuke line of actors

The Kataoka Gatô line of actors

The Kataoka Gadô line of actors

The Kataoka Nizaemon line of actors