| NAKAMURA RIKÔ I |
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Stage names:
Guild: Sakaiya Line number: SHODAI (I) Poetry names: Rikô [1], Rikô [1], Rikô [2], Rikô [2] Existence: 1742 ~ 11th day of the 10th lunar month of 1786 [3] Connection: Master: Nakamura Utaemon I Disciple: Nakamura Otoza Career: 1742: born in Kamigata. He started his career at an early age as a disciple of the actor Nakamura Utaemon I, who gave him the name of Nakamura Senzaburô. He later on took the name of Nakamura Matsuemon, at the beginning of the Hôreki era, because of his successful performance in the role of the boatman Matsuemon in the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki" in kodomo shibai. 1757: he became iroko in Ôsaka. 11th lunar month of 1759: he became wakaonnagata in Ôsaka. Fall 1760: Matsuemon went to Kyôto. 11th lunar month of 1760: Matsuemon performed at the Kitagawa no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Kiku Nagashi Kokka Taiheiki", which was produced by Nakamura Senzô and celebrated the shûmei of Nakamura Manbê. Fall 1761: Matsuemon went to Edo. 11th lunar month of 1761: Nakamura Matsuemon took the name of Nakamura Matsue I at the Moritaza, where he performed in the kaomise drama "Misonô Banzei no Hachinoki". 1st lunar month of 1762: Matsue played in the same theater the roles of Kewaizaka no Shôshô and Yaoya Oshichi in the new year drama "Koi Zakura Umewaka Soga". 11th lunar month of 1762: Matsue moved to the Ichimuraza and played the role of the pearl-diving girl Murasame in the kaomise drama "Kisoe Uta Sakae Komachi"; his stage partners in the roles of Murasame's lover Ariwara no Yukihira and Murasame's sister Matsukaze (also in love with Yukihira) were Ichimura Uzaemon IX and Segawa Kikunojô II. 1st lunar month of 1763: Matsue's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was jô-jô (superior - superior) [visual]. 11th lunar month of 1763: Matsue moved to the Nakamuraza and played the role of Kumano Gozen in the kaomise drama "Daijôbu Takadachi Jikki", which celebrated the shûmei of Ichikawa Yaozô II and Ichikawa Komazô II. 1st lunar month of 1764: Matsue played in the same theater the role of Ôiso no Tora in the new year sogamono drama "Hitokidori Harutsuge Soga". 3rd lunar month of 1764: Matsue achieved a great success in the same theater by playing the role of the courtesan Agemaki in "Sukeroku", the nibanme part of the new year drama; the roles of Agemaki's lover Sukeroku and Sukeroku's enemy Ikyû were played by Ichikawa Raizô I and Ôtani Hiroemon III. 5th lunar month of 1764: Matsue played in the same theater the role of Yae in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"; the role of Yae's husband Sakuramaru was played by Ichikawa Komazô II. 11th lunar month of 1764: Matsue performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Azuma no Hana Sôma no Dairi". 5th lunar month of 1765: Matsue played in the same theater the role of Tonase in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura". 11th lunar month of 1765: Matsue played at the Nakamuraza the role of Komachi, in reality Kujaku Saburô's wife, in the kaomise drama "Kagura Uta Amagoi Komachi", which celebrated the shûmei of Iwai Hanshirô IV; the role of Kujaku Saburô was played by Ichikawa Danjûrô IV. 1st lunar month of 1766: Matsue's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent) [visual]. 5th lunar month of 1766: premiere of the play "Yaoya Oshichi Koi no Edozome", which was staged at the Nakamuraza; Matsue played the role of Yaoya Oshichi; his stage partners in the roles of Noriyori and Kichisaburô were Ichikawa Danjûrô IV and Ichikawa Benzô I. 11th lunar month of 1766: Matsue played at the Nakamuraza two roles in the kaomise drama "Kogane no Hana Kaijin Arasmusha", which celebrated the arrival in Edo of the Kamigata actor Kirishima Gizaemon I. 7th lunar month of 1767: Matsue played in the same theater the role of Shizuka Gozen in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura". 8th lunar month of 1767: Matsue played in the same theater the role of Princess Taema in the drama "Sono Namo Tsuki no Irobito" (similar to "Narukami"); the roles of the wicked priest Narukami, Hakuunbô (white cloud bonze) and Kokuunbô (dark cloud bonze) were played by Ichikawa Danjûrô IV, Arashi Otohachi I and Ichikawa Komazô II. 11th lunar month of 1767: Matsue moved to the Moritaza and performed in the kaomise drama "Sanada no Yoichi Banjaku no Iezuto", which welcomed in Edo the Kamigata actor Yamashita Kyônosuke. 11th lunar month of 1768: Matsue moved to the Ichimuraza and performed in the kaomise drama "Otokoyama Yunzei Kurabe". 5th lunar month of 1769: Matsue played in the same theater the role of Okaru in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; the role of Hayano Kanpei was played by Ôtani Hiroji III. 11th lunar month of 1769: Matsue moved to the Nakamuraza and performed in the kaomise drama "Kawaranu Hanasakae Hachinoki". 1st lunar month of 1770: Matsue played in the same theater the role of Ôiso no Tora in the new year sogamono drama "Kagamigaike Omokage Soga". 6th lunar month of 1770: Matsue played in the same theater the role of the courtesan Umegawa in Sakurada Jisuke I's drama "Katakiuchi Chûkô Kagami". 11th lunar month of 1770: Matsue performed at the Nakamuraza the role of Munekiyo's wife Shirotae in the kaomise drama "Nue no Mori Ichiyô no Mato", which celebrated the shûmei of Matsumoto Kôshirô II, Ichikawa Danjûrô V, Nakamura Shôchô, Ichikawa Monnosuke II, Nakamura Shichisaburô III and Bandô Sanpachi II. 4th lunar month of 1771: Matsue played in the same theater the role of Okaru in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; the role of Hayano Kanpei was played by Iwai Hanshirô IV. 7th lunar month of 1771: Matsue played in the same theater the role of Yaoya Oshichi in the drama "Tamura Maro Nanae Gasane". 11th lunar month of 1771: Matsue played at the Nakamuraza the role of Munetô's wife Sakuragi in the kaomise drama "Kuni no Hana Ono no Itsumoji"; the role of Munetô was played by Ichikawa Yaozô II. Fall 1772: Matsue went back to Kamigata. 11th lunar month of 1772: Matsue performed at the Naka no Shibai in Namiki Shôzô I's kaomise drama "Onoe Kikugorô no Baranu Banashi", which was produced by Nakamura Utaemon I. Spring 1773: Matsue went back to Edo before the end of his season in Ôsaka. 4th lunar month of 1773: Matsue played at the Ichimuraza the roles of Owasa and Shizuka Gozen in the drama "Gosho Zakura Horikawa no Youchi". 9th lunar month of 1773: Matsue played in the same theater the role of Okaru in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; the role of Hayano Kanpei was played by Onoe Kikugorô I, who celebrated his onagori kyôgen. 11th lunar month of 1773: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the play "Gohiiki Kanjinchô", performed as a kaomise drama; Nakamura Matsue I took the name of Nakamura Rikô I and played the roles of the spirit of a rooster and the courtesan Wakamatsu [casting]. This 46-days long performance was a tremendous success. 1st lunar month of 1774: Rikô played in the same theater the role of Ôiso no Tora in the new year sogamono drama "Oatsuraezome Soga Hinagata"; his stage partners in the roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune, Kudô Saemon Suketsune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari (Tora's lover) were Ichikawa Monnosuke II, Ichikawa Danjûrô V and Matsumoto Kôshirô IV. A "meeting in the darkness" scene, which was played by Nakamura Nakazô I, Ôtani Hiroji III, Matsumoto Kôshirô IV and Rikô, was particularly well received by the audience. 5th lunar month of 1774: Rikô played in the same theater the role of Shigenoi in the drama "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna". 7th lunar month of 1774: Rikô played in the same theater the roles of Chiyo and Tonami in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". He also played the roles of Kaoyo Gozen, Osono and Oishi in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura". 9th lunar month of 1774: Rikô played in the same theater the roles of Oseki and Miyako in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki". 11th lunar month of 1774: Rikô performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Kaomise Ama no Iwato". 8th lunar month of 1775: Rikô played in the same theater the role of Satsuki in the drama "Shusse Taiheiki". 11th lunar month of 1775: Rikô performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Hana Zumô Genji Biiki". 5th lunar month of 1775: Rikô played in the same theater the roles of Kaoyo Gozen and Tonase in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura". 11th lunar month of 1776: Rikô performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Sakuya Kono Hana no Kaomise". Summer 1777: the book "Yakusha Sensakuron" ('About actors prying') was published in Edo. It gave some private information on actors. Edo readers could learn that Rikô lived in the district of Sakai-chô and that his yearly salary was 500 ryô. 11th lunar month of 1777: Rikô moved to the Ichimuraza and performed in the kaomise drama "Chigo Torii Tobiiri Kitsune". 11th lunar month of 1778: Rikô moved to the Nakamuraza and performed in the kaomise drama "Motomishi Yuki Sakae Hachinoki", which celebrated the shûmei of Yoshizawa Ayame IV and the first stage appearance of Bandô Mitahachi I. 1st lunar month of 1779: Rikô played in the same theater the role of Ôiso no Tora in the new year sogamono drama "Gohiiki Nennen Soga"; the role of Tora's lover Soga Jûrô Sukenari was played by Bandô Mitsugorô I. 11th lunar month of 1779: Rikô moved to the Moritaza and performed in the kaomise drama "Uta Kurabe Tôsei Moyô". 4th lunar month of 1780: first Kabuki adaptation of Utei Enba, Kijô Tarô and Yô Yôdai puppet theater drama "Go Taiheiki Shiraishi Banashi". The play was staged in Edo at the Moritaza; Rikô played the role of Yamabuki Gozen [casting]. 5th lunar month of 1780: Rikô suddenly fell ill and had to rest for a while; later, he went on tour in Sendai. 11th lunar month of 1780: Rikô was back on stage at the Nakamuraza, where he performed in the kaomise drama "Kite Kaeru Nishiki no Wakayaka". 11th lunar month of 1781: Rikô performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise program "Shitennô Tonoi no Kisewata". 1st lunar month of 1782: Rikô played in the same theater the role of Ôiso no Tora in the new year sogamono drama "Nanakusa Yosooi Soga"; the role of Tora's lover Soga Jûrô Sukenari was played by Sawamura Sôjûrô III. 5th lunar month of 1782: Rikô played in the same theater the role of Agemaki in the drama "Sukeroku Kuruwa no Natori Gusa"; the roles of Sukeroku, Ikyû and Shinbê were played by Ichikawa Danjûrô V, Nakamura Nakazô I and Sawamura Sôjûrô III. 11th lunar month of 1782: Rikô moved to the Ichimuraza and performed in the kaomise drama "Ise Heiji Eika Goyomi". 3rd lunar month of 1783: Rikô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual]. 6th lunar month of 1783: Rikô played in the same theater the roles of Oishi and Okaru in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; the role of Hayano Kanpei was played by Matsumoto Kôshirô IV. 11th lunar month of 1783: Rikô performed in the precincts of the Sankôin temple in the district of Yotsuya. 1st lunar month of 1784: Rikô was the kanjiku of the wakaonnagata actors in the Edo hyôbanki. 2nd lunar month of 1784: Rikô played at the Nakamuraza the role of Akoya in the drama "Kagekiyo Rô Yaburi", staged to commemorate the 6th anniversary (7th memorial service) of late Ichikawa Ebizô III. 3rd lunar month of 1784: Rikô played in the same theater the role of Agemaki in the drama "Sukeroku Kuruwa no Natori Gusa"; the roles of Sukeroku and Ikyû were played by Ichikawa Yaozô III and Ichikawa Danjûrô V. 7th lunar month of 1784: Rikô played in the same theater the roles of Suke-no-Tsubone and Kosen in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura". 8th lunar month of 1784: Rikô played in the same theater the role of Osono in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura". 11th lunar month of 1784: Rikô performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise program "Ôakinai Hiru-ga-Kojima". 8th lunar month of 1785: Rikô played in the same theater the role of Kan Shôjô in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". 9th lunar month of 1785: Rikô played in the same theater the role of Tamasono in the drama "Osana Najimi Kasane Kotoba". 11th lunar month of 1785: Rikô performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise program "Yuki Motsu Take Furisode Genji". 8th lunar month of 1786: Rikô appeared on stage for the last time, in Edo at the Nakamuraza, where he played the roles of Omatsu, Koyoshi and Yoshitoki's wife in the drama "Mitsugimono Shida no Dekiaki". He fell ill and had to retire. 11th day of the 10th lunar month of 1786 [3]: Rikô died in Edo [4]. Comments: Nakamura Rikô I was a talented onnagata actor of the second half of the 18th century. His physical appearance and his diction were both outstanding. He was born and trained in Kamigata but made most of his career in Edo, where he reached the prestigious jô-jô-kichi rank in 1783. He excelled in spouses or keisei roles in sewamono. His most notable roles were the courtesan Agemaki ("Sukeroku"), Okaru ("Kanadehon Chûshingura") and Ôiso no Tora (sogamono). [1] Used when he was Nakamura Matsue I or Nakamura Rikô I. [2] Used when he was Nakamura Matsue I. [3] The 11th day of the 10th lunar month of the 6th year of the Tenmei era was the 1st of November 1786 in the western calendar. [4] Nakamura Rikô I's tombstone was located in the cemerery of the Zôjôji Temple. |
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The Actor Nakamura Rikô I as Kiyotaki in the Play Ôakinai Hiru-ga-Kojima, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1784 The Nakamura Matsue line of actors |
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