Stage names:
Nakayama Bunshichi II
Nakayama Raisuke II
Nakayama Ihachi I
Arashi Ihachi
Sawamura Ihachi
Other name: Bintsukeya Bunshichi
Guilds: Bintsukeya, Tamaôgiya, Sansenya
Line number: NIDAIME (II)
Poetry names: Yoshio, Sharyû
Existence: 1755 ~ 19 February 1798
Connection:
Uncle: Namiki Shôzô I
Masters: Arashi Hinasuke I, Sawamura Takichi
Adoptive father: Nakayama Bunshichi I's brother Nakayama Shinkurô II
Disciples: Nakayama Yoshio I, Nakayama Raisuke IV, Nakayama Ihachi II
Career:
Before 1777: born in Kamigata. He starts his career in hama shibai, as a disciple of the actor Sawamura Takichi, who gives him the name of Sawamura Ihachi.
Fall 1777: he becomes disciple of Arashi Hinasuke I.
November 1777: Sawamura Ihachi takes the name of Arashi Ihachi in Kyôto at the Minamigawa no Shibai, playing for the first time in ôshibai in the kaomise drama "Yunzei Nanshi no Sakigake".
January 1778: premiere of Namiki Gohei I's drama "Keisei Hakataori", which is produced at the Minamigawa no Shibai by Mimasu Jirôkichi; Ihachi plays the role of Sôshichi [casting].
March 1778: he is adopted by Nakayama Raisuke I and takes the name of Nakayama Ihachi I.
November 1779: Ihachi becomes zamoto and produces in Kyôto the kaomise drama "Miyako Han'ei Nanshi no Hiraki Hajime".
November 1780: Ihachi produces in Kyôto the kaomise drama "Hoshi Matsuri Fukki no Kurairi".
January 1782: the play "Tengajaya-Mura" is staged for the first time in Kyôto, at the Kitagawa no Shibai; Ihachi plays the role of Hayase Iori [casting]
September 1782: Nakayama Raisuke I and Nakayama Ihachi I respectively take the names of Nakayama Shinkurô II and Nakayama Raisuke II at the Kado no Shibai. They perform together in the drama "Monogusa Tarô", which also celebrates the isse ichidai performance of Nakayama Bunshichi I.
November 1782: Raisuke produces in Kyôto the kaomise drama "Gosekkyô Suehiro Keizu", which celebrates the shûmei of Nakamura Utaemon II.
19 March 1783: his adoptive father Nakayama Shinkurô II dies.
March 1788: premiere at the Kado no Shibai of Namiki Gohei I's play "Sewa Ryôri Yaoya Kondate"; Raisuke plays the role of Hanbei [more details].
November 1793: Nakayama Raisuke II takes the name of Nakayama Bunshichi II at the Naka no Shibai, playing in the kaomise drama "Kogane Masu Yonetarô Gitsune", which is produced by Nakayama Bunshichi I's son Nakayama Yosaburô II and celebrates the arrival in Ôsaka of the Edo star Sawamura Sôjûrô III.
December 1793: Bunshichi plays in the same theater the role of Koshino Kanzaemon in the drama "Keisei Yamato Zôshi".
April ~ June 1794: Bunshichi plays in the same theater the roles of Umeômaru and Takebe Genzô in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"; the roles of Matsuômaru and Sakuramaru are played by Onoe Shinshichi I and Arashi Sangorô II.
January 1795: Bunshichi's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
February 1796: Suga Sensuke's puppet theater drama "Keisei Koi no Hikyaku" is adapted to Kabuki for the first time and staged at the Kado no Shibai; Bunshichi plays the role of Kameya Chûbei [casting].
July 1796: premiere in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai of the drama "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba"; Bunshichi plays the role of Fukuoka Mitsugi [casting].
November 1797: Bunshichi appears on stage for the last time, in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai, playing the roles of Rokusuke and Hisayoshi in the drama "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi"; his stage partner in the role of Osono in the "Keya-Mura" scene is Yoshizawa Iroha I.
January 1798: Bunshichi's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is hakushi-jô-jô-kichi (almost unique - superior - superior - excellent).
19 February 1798: Bunshichi dies in Ôsaka.
Comments:
Nakayama Bunshichi II was popular 18th century tachiyaku actor, who made all his career in Kamigata. He excelled in yatsushigoto. He was said to act like Ogawa Kichitarô I but everybody agreed that he was the worthy heir of Nakayama Bunshichi I for he was able to perform his atariyaku roles. As a side business, he managed a successful hair pomade shop in Ôsaka.
Nakayama Bunshichi II (the fighter in the middle of the picture) playing the role of Raiden Gempachi
in the drama "Natsu Moyô Shôbu Katabira", which was staged in June 1795 in Kyôto at the Higashi no Shibai
The actor with the lantern (top/right) is Onoe Shinshichi I
The Nakayama Raisuke line of actors
The Nakayama Bunshichi line of actors
