Stage names:
Nakamura Denkurô IV
Ôtani Tokugorô
Ôtani Denzô II
Guild: ???
Line number: YODAIME (IV)
Existence: 1774 ~ 28 August 1799
Connections:
Adopted father: Ôtani Hiroji III
Father-in-law (and second adopted father): Nakamura Kanzaburô XI
Career:
1774 ~ 1779: born in Edo. He becomes at an early age disciple of the actor Ôtani Hiroji III, who gives him the name of Ôtani Denzô II.
November 1779: first stage appearance at the Ichimuraza, where he receives the name of Ôtani Tokugorô and plays a child role in the drama "Azuma no Mori Sakae Kusunoki".
1792: he is adopted by Nakamura Kanzaburô XI.
January 1793: Ôtani Tokugorô takes the name of Nakamura Denkurô IV at the Nakamuraza, playing the role of Soga Gorô Tokimune in the new year drama "Saikai Soga Nakamura". His stage partners in the roles of Soga Jûrô Sukenari (Gorô's brother) and Kudô Saemon Suketsune (the Soga brothers enemy) are Sawamura Sôjûrô III and Ichikawa Yaozô III.
January 1795: Denkurô achieves a great success at the Miyakoza, playing the role of Kobayashi no Asaina in the new year drama "Edo Sunago Kichirei Soga". This role is closely associated to the great actor Nakamura Denkurô I.
January 1796: Denkurô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô (superior - superior).
September 1796: the play "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi" is staged for the first time in Edo, simultaneously at the Kiriza and the Miyakoza; Denkurô plays the role of Kinugawa Yasaburô in the former theater [casting].
June 1797: the dance-drama "Tsumoru Koi Yuki no seki no To" is revived for the first time, at the Kiriza; Denkurô plays the role of Yoshimine Munesada [casting].
July 1799: Denkurô appears on stage for the last time, at the Ichimuraza, playing 2 roles in the drama "Onna Moji Fude no Michinoku". He dies in August and his tombstone is located in the precinct of the Reiganji temple in the district of Fukagawa.
Comments:
Nakamura Denkurô IV was a promising actor who unfortunately died before reaching the peak of his art. He was able to play both tachiyaku or tateonnagata roles.
The actors Matsumoto Yonesaburô I (left) and Nakamura Denkurô IV (right) in a print made by Utagawa Toyokuni I in 1798