NAKAYAMA TAZÔ

Stage name:

Nakayama Tazô

Guild: Matsubaya

Poetry name: Kasei

Existence: ???

Activity: ??? ~ 1792

Connection:

Master: Nakayama Bunshichi I (?)^[1]

Career:

11th lunar month of 1778: Tazô was recorded for the first time, in Kyôto at the Minamigawa no Shibai, where he performed in the kaomise drama "Etari Kashikoshi Hangan Biiki", which was produced by Mimasu Jirokichi.

1st lunar month of 1779: Tazô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was jô-(shiro)jô (superior - (white) superior) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1779: Tazô performed in Kyôto in the kaomise drama "Miyako Han'ei Nanshi no Hiraki Hajime", which was produced by Nakayama Ihachi I at the theater of Kameya Kumenojô and Hayagumo Chôdayû.

11th lunar month of 1780: Tazô performed at the Kado no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Ujigami Sairai Sukedono no Kachidoki", which was produced by Yoshizawa Iroha I.

1st lunar month of 1781: Tazô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was jô-jô (superior - superior) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1781: Tazô performed in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai in Namiki Gohei I's kaomise drama "Tensha Yorozu Yoshitsune Biiki", which was produced by Fujikawa Sango.

12th lunar month of 1781: premiere in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai of Nagawa Kamesuke I's drama "Tengajaya-mura"; Tazô played the role of Hayase Iori [casting]. A similar play was staged a few days later under a different title, "Renga Chaya Homare no Bundai", at the Naka no Shibai [casting]. The competition for the best performance and the best line-up was open between the 2 theaters.

11th lunar month of 1782: Tazô performed at the Kado no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Yamato Moji Sansai Zue", which was produced by Fujikawa Sango.

12th lunar month of 1782: premiere in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai of Namiki Gohê's drama "Keisei Kogane no Shachihoko"; Tazô played the roles of the yakko Naruhei and Doki Kazuenokami [more details].

1st lunar month of 1783: Tazô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was one white stroke above jô-jô (superior - superior) [visual].

5th lunar month of 1784: première in ôshibai, in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai, of the gidayû kyôgen "Yura no Minato Sengen Chôja"; Tazô played the role of Motoyoshi Kanamenosuke [casting].

7th lunar month of 1789: premiere at the Kado no Shibai of Namiki Gohei I and Chikamatsu Tokusô drama "Kanjin Kanmon Tekuda no Hajimari"; Tazô played the role of Tsuzuki Denshichi [more details].

11th lunar month of 1789: Tazô performed at the Kado no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Kaomise Chigusa Musubi", which was produced by Nakayama Fukuzô.

4th lunar month of 1790: Tazô played in the same theater the roles of Fujiwara no Kamatari and the fisherman Fukashichi (in reality Kanawa Gorô Imakuni) in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".

11th lunar month of 1790: Tazô performed at the Naka no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Taiheiki Chûshin Kôshaku".

11th lunar month of 1791: Tazô played at the Naka no Shibai the role of Hirai Yasumasa in the kaomise drama "Furisode Shuten Dôji", which was produced by Hanagiri Tomimatsu II and celebrated the arrival in Ôsaka of the Edo star Sawamura Sôjûrô III.

1st lunar month of 1792: Tazô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was one black stroke above jô-jô-(hanshiro)kichi (superior - superior - (half-white) excellent) [visual]. He died in 1792^[2].

Comments:

Nakayama Tazô was a popular tachiyaku actor, who was active in Kamigata from the end of the 1770s to the beginning of the 1790s. Two others actors held this name, one in 1803 and 1804. Another around 1830.

[1] Strong assumption as Nakayama Bunshichi I and Nakayama Tazô performed together in the first-recorded performance of the latter actor.

[2] Most likely at the end of Summer 1792.