Stage names:
Edosaka Kyôemon
Nakamura Shôzô
Guild: Sakaiya
Poetry names: Shôkichi, Shôkitsu
Existence: 1726 ~ 28 July 1774
Connection:
Master: Nakamura Jûzô I
Disciple: Edosaka Shôzô
Career:
Before 1751: he starts his career as a disciple of the actor Nakamura Jûzô I, who gives him the name of Nakamura Shôzô.
November 1751: Shôzô makes his debut in ôshibai, playing in Kyôto the role of Tawara Matatarô in the kaomise drama "Kaeribana Shinohara Gunki".
November 1754: Shôzô plays at Hoteiya Umenojô's theater in Kyôto the role of Ema no Koshirô Yoshitoki in the kaomise drama "Fûkigusa Aioi Genji", which is produced by Somematsu Matsujirô. This drama is in fact the first Kabuki adaptation of the puppet drama "Yoshitsune Koshigoejô" [more details].
January 1755: Shôzô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-(shiro)hankichi (superior - superior - (white) half excellent).
November 1757: Shôzô plays at the Minamigawa no Shibai the roles of Ebisu Saburô and Minamoto Yukie in the kaomise drama "Ôyashiro Musubu no Sanban Tsuzuki", which is produced by Sawamura Kunitarô I and Somematsu Matsujirô for the nadai Hayagumo Chôdayû.
January 1758: first Kabuki adaptation of the puppet theater drama "Gion Sairei Shinkôki", which is simultaneously produced at the Minamigawa no Shibai [casting] and the Kitagawa no Shibai [casting]; Shôzô plays in the former theater the roles of Shibata Gonroku Katsushige and Konishi Yajûrô. Shôzô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-shi (superior - superior - half excellent). He shares the same ranking with Sawamura Sukejûrô.
November 1758: Shôzô plays at the Kitagawa no Shibai the role of Ashiya Genzô in the kaomise drama "Inari Yakata Irifune no Arashi", which is produced by Arashi Sangorô II.
November 1759: his master Nakamura Jûzô I and Ogurayama Sentarô respectively take the names of Nakamura Kichiemon I and Nakamura Jûzô II at the Minamigawa no Shibai.
December 1759: following a quarrel with his master, Nakamura Shôzô takes the name of Edosaka Kyôemon at the Kitagawa no Shibai, playing the role of Horiguchi Jûnai in the drama "Bandai Fueki Hôrai Yakata", which is produced by Arashi Hinasuke I.
January 1760: Kyôemon's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-jû (superior - superior - "ten").
February 1763: Kyôemon plays at the Kitagawa no Shibai the role of the yakko Yodohei in the kaomise drama "Otowayama Renbo no Taki", which is produced by Nakamura Senzô.
March 1763: Kyôemon's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is back to jô-jô-shi (superior - superior - half excellent).
November 1763: Kyôemon plays at the Minamigawa no Shibai the role of Yata Fujihei in the kaomise drama "Hôraisan Hatsuhi no Kachidoki". He also plays the role of Kurofune Chûemon in the drama "Kurofune Deiri Minato".
January 1764: Kyôemon's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-(hanshiro)kichi (superior - superior - almost excellent).
November 1764: Kyôemon plays at the Minamigawa no Shibai the role of Watônai in the drama "Tanomi-agemasu Goken Butsusama" (similar to "Kokusen'ya Gassen"); the role of Kanki is played by Sakakiyama Koshirô II.
November 1766: Kyôemon becomes zamoto and produces in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai the kaomise drama "Umayadogimi Shitennôji Kuyô", which celebrates the shûmei of the actors Sakakiyama Sagisuke, Sakakiyama Koshirô III and Sakakiyama Shirotarô III.
Spring 1768: tour in Nagoya with Arashi Hinasuke I.
winter 1768~1769: reconciliation with his master Nakamura Kichiemon I; they perform together in Kyôto in January 1769 in the new year drama "Keisei Sato no Kinzan", which is produced by Onoe Kumesuke. This is the last stage appearance of Kyôemon's master.
17 June 1770: his master Nakamura Kichiemon I dies.
November 1770: Kyôemon plays at the Kitagawa no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Sakae Genji Gojin no Kachidoki", which is produced by Mimasu Tokujirô I.
January 1771: Kyôemon is the kanjiku for tachiyaku actors. His rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki is only two little strokes below jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
March ~ May 1771: first Kabuki adaptation of the puppet theater drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin", produced by Mimasu Tokujirô I at the Kitagawa no Shibai; Kyôemon plays the role of Shibaroku [casting].
November 1771: Kyôemon plays at the Minamigawa no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Bandai Isaoshi Genji".
November 1772: Kyôemon plays at the Kitagawa no Shibai the role of Togashi Saemon, in reality Chishimanosuke, in the kaomise "Shiraume Genji Kuruwa no Hachinoki", which is produced by Anegawa Chiyozô.
February 1773: Kyôemon appears on stage for the last time, at the Kitagawa no Shibai, where he plays the roles of Kakogawa Honzô, Ishidô Umanojô and Teraoka Heiemon in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura". He suddenly falls ill and has to retire.
28 July 1774: Kyôemon dies in Kyôto.
Comments:
Edosaka Kyôemon was a 18th century tachiyaku actor, who made almost all his career in Kyôto (the exception is a tour to Nagoya). He did not venture to tour not only in the distant city of Edo (although his name would make us think that he had an interest in this city) but also to the nearby city of Ôsaka, even for a few days in this latter city. He was popular in the Imperial City and his final ranking was really close to the prestigious jô-jô-kichi.
Edosaka Kyôemon performing in the kaomise drama "Umayadogimi Shitennôji Kuyô", which was staged in November 1766 at the Kitagawa no Shibai