Stage names:
Wakayama Bunshichi
Nakayama Bunshichi I
Nakayama Yosaburô I
Other name: Jôkô
Guild: Izumiya
Line number: SHODAI (I)
Poetry name: Yoshio
Existence: 1732 ~ 22nd day of the 7th lunar month of 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.
11th lunar month of 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.
11th lunar month of 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.
1st lunar month of 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].
11th lunar month of 1751: Bunshichi becomes zamoto, working for the nadai Hayagumo Chôdayû in Kyôto; he produces the kaomise drama "En no Gyôja Ômine Zakura".
Fall 1752: Nakayama Shinkurô I and Bunshichi go together to Ôsaka.
11th lunar month of 1752: Nakayama Shinkurô I and Nakayama Bunshichi I take the respective names of Wakayama Shinkurô and Wakayama Bunshichi at the Ônishi no Shibai, performing in the kaomise program "Kyô Miyage Matsuri Zoroe", which is produced by Sanjô Sadasuke; their stage partners are Yamamoto Kyôshirô I, Ôtani Hirohachi I, Iwata Somematsu I, Matsushima Kiyosaki, Ichimura Sanohachi, Kirishima Gizaemon, Kiriyama Monji I, Matsushima Moheiji, Takenaka Heikichi, Murayama Heijûrô IV and Nakamura Shirogorô III.
11th lunar month of 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.
11th lunar month of 1755: Wakayama Bunshichi takes back the name of Nakayama Bunshichi I, playing the role of Higuchi Jirô in the kaomise drama "Jidai Sewa Kogane no Hanazoroe", which is produced in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai by Bandô Toyosaburô I.
11th lunar month of 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.
12th lunar month of 1758: Bunshichi plays in the same theater the roles of Genpachi and Gonkurô in the drama "Sanjukkoku Yobune no Hajimari".
4th lunar month of 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.
5th lunar month of 1762: premiere in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai of Namiki Shôzô I's drama "Koi Hakke Hashira Goyomi", which is a revision of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Daikyôji Mukashi Goyomi"; Bunshichi plays the role of the daikyôji Ishun [more details].
7th lunar month of 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 I (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).
9th lunar month of 1764: première in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai of "Oriawase Tsuzure no Nishiki", based on the puppet drama "Katakiuchi Tsuzure no Nishiki", which is produced by Bunshichi and celebrates the 16th anniversary (17th memorial service) of the passing away of the star Anegawa Shinshirô I. A similar play is staged one day later under a different title, "Hare Kosode Tsuzure no Nishiki", at the Naka no Shibai [casting]. The competition for the best performance and the best line-up is open between the 2 theaters. The performance at the Kado no Shibai is more successful than the one at the Naka no Shibai; Bunshichi plays at the Kado no Shibai the roles of Shundô Jirôemon and Ihei [casting].
11th lunar month of 1764: Bunshichi produces at the Kado no Shibai the drama "Momotarô Obako Banashi", which celebrates the shûmei of Yoshizawa Ayame III.
4th lunar month of 1766: Bunshichi plays the prestigious role of Danshichi Kurobê in the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami", which is produced in Ôsaka by Anegawa Kikuhachi; his stage partners are Fujikawa Hachizô I (Issun Tokubê), Nakayama Shinkurô I (Tsuribune Sabu), Sawamura Kunitarô I (Otatsu), Yoshizawa Ayame III (Okaji) and Asao Tamejûrô I (Mikawaya Giheiji).
11th lunar month of 1766: Bunshichi goes to Kyôto; he plays the role of Yaoya Chôbê 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.
11th lunar month of 1767: Bunshichi plays in Kyôto the role of Kokaji Muneyasu in the kaomise drama "Shinchoku Fukki no Kanatoko", which is produced by Ichiyama Sukegorô.
12th lunar month of 1768: Bunshichi plays the role of the sumôtori Nuregami Chôgorô in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki", which is produced by Mimasu Tanin I at the Naka no Shibai [casting].
7th lunar month of 1769: Bunshichi plays in the same theater the role of Hiranoya Tokubê in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Sonezaki Shinjû"; the role of Tokubê's lover the courtesan Ohatsu is played by Yamashita Kinsaku II.
1771: tour in Ise.
10th lunar month of 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.
11th lunar month of 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.
3rd day of the 4th lunar month of 1775: his adoptive father Nakayama Shinkurô I dies.
8th lunar month of 1775: the play "Sekitori Senryô Nobori" is staged for the first time in Ôsaka, at the Kado no Shibai; Bunshichi plays the role of Senbagawa Kichibei [more details].
12th lunar month of 1776: premiere at the Naka no Shibai of Nagawa Kamesuke I's drama "Igagoe Norikake Gappa"; Bunshichi plays the role of Karaki Masaemon [casting].
4th lunar month of 1777: premiere in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai of Nagawa Kamesuke I's drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi"; Bunshichi plays the roles of Matsugae Fushinosuke, Chichibu no Shôji Shigetada and Izumi no Kojirô Sadakura [casting].
11th lunar month of 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.
2nd lunar month of 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.
9th lunar month of 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 the 7th lunar month of 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