Stage names:
Wakayama Bunshichi
Nakayama Bunshichi I
Nakayama Yosaburô I
Other name: Jôkô
Guild: Izumiya
Line number: SHODAI (I)
Poetry name: Yoshio
Existence: 1732 ~ 22 July 1813
Connections:
Father: Matsuya Raisuke I (playwright)
Master and adoptive father: Nakayama Shinkurô I
Brothers: Nakayama Monjûrô, Nakayama Shinkurô II
Son: Nakayama Yosaburô II
Disciples: Nakayama Hyakka, Nakayama Tatsujirô, Nakayama Tomisaburô I, Nakayama Otojûrô, Nakayama Bungorô I
Career:
Summer 1737: first stage appearance; he plays at the Ônishi no Shibai under the name of Nakayama Yosaburô I in the drama "Hayari Uta Imose no Maiôgi", which is produced by Yoshizawa Ayame II.
November 1747: Yosaburô becomes wakaonnagata and plays the role of Kureha in the drama "Kogane Bana Michinoku Jikki", which is produced at the Naka no Shibai by Ichikawa Ryûzô. He is adopted by his master Nakayama Shinkurô I around that time.
November 1748: Yosaburô goes to Kyôto, becomes tachiyaku and takes the name of Nakayama Bunshichi I, playing the role of Sanada Yoichi in the drama "Sugomori Hiru-ga-Kojima", which is produced by Arashi San'emon IV.
January 1751: first Kabuki adaptation of the puppet theater drama "Tamamo-no-Mae Asahi no Tamoto", which is produced in Kyôto by Miyako Handayû at his theater; Bunshichi plays the role of Yata Dairoku [casting].
November 1751: Bunshichi becomes zamoto, working for the nadai Hayagumo Chôdayû in Kyôto; he produces the kaomise drama "En no Gyôja Ômine Zakura".
November 1752: Nakayama Shinkurô I and Bunshichi go together to Ôsaka, take the respective names of Wakayama Shinkurô and Wakayama Bunshichi, performing in the kaomise program "Kyô Miyage Matsuri Zoroe", which is produced by Sanjô Sadasuke for the nadai Matsumoto Nazaemon. Bunshichi plays the role of the farmer Kansuke.
November 1754: Bunshichi becomes zamoto at the Ônishi no Shibai; he produces the kaomise drama "Uda Genji Asahi no Menbako" in which he plays the role of Mikinojô disguised as the farmer Yogorô.
November 1755: Wakayama Bunshichi takes back the name of Nakayama Bunshichi I, playing the role of Higuchi Jirô in the drama "Jidai Sewa Kogane no Hamazoroe", which is produced in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai by Bandô Toyosaburô I.
November 1758: Bunshichi plays the role of the spirit of a kappa in Namiki Shôzô I's kaomise drama "Arigatashi Fujiwara Keizu", which he produces at the Kado no Shibai.
December 1758: Bunshichi plays in the same theater the roles of Gempachi and Gonkurô in the drama "Sanjukkoku Yobune no Hajimari".
April 1761: Bunshichi produces at the Kado no Shibai the drama "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami", in which he plays the role of Yokambei; the role of Kuzu-no-Ha is played by Nakamura Tomijûrô I.
July 1763: Bunshichi produces at the Kado no Shibai the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", in which he plays the roles of Matsuômaru and Terukuni. His stage partners are Nakayama Shinkurô I (Kakuju, Fujiwara no Shihei), Arashi Hinasuke I (Haru), Anegawa Daikichi (Tonami, Yae), Asao Tamejûrô I (Hyôe, Shundô Genba), Nakayama Raisuke I (Umeômaru), Bandô Toyosaburô I (Shiratayû), Fujikawa Hachizô I (Genzô, Sukune Tarô), Ichinokawa Hikoshirô II (Sakuramaru), Yoshizawa Sakinosuke II (Chiyo, Tatsuta) and Nakamura Kichiemon I (Kan Shôjô).
November 1764: Bunshichi produces at the Kado no Shibai the drama "Momotarô Obako Banashi", which celebrates the shûmei of Yoshizawa Ayame III.
April 1766: Bunshichi plays the prestigious role of Danshichi Kurobei in the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami", which is produced in Ôsaka by Anegawa Kikuhachi; his stage partners are Fujikawa Hachizô I (Issun Tokubei), Nakayama Shinkurô I (Tsuribune Sabu), Sawamura Kunitarô I (Otatsu), Yoshizawa Ayame III (Okaji) and Asao Tamejûrô I (Mikawaya Giheiji).
November 1766: Bunshichi goes to Kyôto; he plays the role of Yaoya Chôbei in the kaomise drama "Yuki no Asa Daimonjitsu Miyako no Fuku", which is produced by Ichiyama Sukegorô II and Yamashita Kyônosuke at the Minamigawa no Shibai.
November 1767: Bunshichi plays in Kyôto the role of Kokaji Muneyasu in the kaomise drama "Shinchoku Fukki no Kanatoko", which is produced by Ichiyama Sukegorô.
December 1768: Bunshichi plays the role of the sumô wrestler Nuregami Chôgorô in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki", which is produced by Mimasu Tanin I at the Naka no Shibai [casting].
July 1769: Bunshichi plays in the same theater the role of Hiranoya Tokubei in Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's drama "Sonezaki Shinjû"; the role of Tokubei's lover the courtesan Ohatsu is played by Yamashita Kinsaku II.
1771: tour in Ise.
October 1772: Bunshichi plays the role of the yakko Rampei in the drama "Yamatogana Ariwara Keizu", which is produced by Ogawa Kichitarô I at the Kado no Shibai.
November 1772: Bunshichi goes to Kyôto; he plays the role of Takebe Genzô in the kaomise drama "Ôsaka Zaiku Araki no Mokuzô", which is produced by Yoshizawa Iroha I.
April 1775: his adoptive father Nakayama Shinkurô I dies.
December 1776: premiere at the Naka no Shibai of Nagawa Kamesuke I's drama "Igagoe Norikake Gappa"; Bunshichi plays the role of Karaki Masaemon [casting].
November 1779: Bunshichi plays the roles of Ishidô Umanojô, Kakogawa Honzô and Amagawaya Gihei in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which is produced by Yoshizawa Iroha I at the Kado no Shibai.
February 1781: Bunshichi plays in the same theater the role of Matahei in the drama "Keisei Hangonkô"; the role of Matahei's wife Otoku is played by Yamashita Kamenojô IV.
September 1782: Bunshichi appears on stage for the last time (isse ichidai peformance), playing the roles of Monogusa Tarô and Rampei in the dramas "Monogusa Tarô" and "Saiwai Ariwara Keizu", which are produced at the Kado no Shibai by Fujikawa Sango. This great program celebrates also the shûmei of his brother Nakayama Shinkurô II. Bunshichi shaves his head and retires from the world in Kyôto, in the district of Kurodani. As a monk, he takes the name of Jôkô. He spends his time studying calligraphy and music, up to his death in July 1813.
Comments:
Nakayama Bunshichi I was the worthy heir of Nakayama Shinkurô I and became one of the best tachiyaku actors of the second half of the eighteenth century. He spend most of his career in Kamigata major theaters, excelling in jitsugotoshi roles. He was also an excellent shosagoto performer.
Nakayama Bunshichi I as depicted in an illustration from the book "Santo Yakusha Omokage Zukushi" (1784)
The Nakayama Bunshichi line of actors