Born in 1839. He was the son of the painter Nishikawa Kuniharu and the grandson of the star Kataoka Nizaemon VII. His brothers were Mimasu Inemaru I and Kataoka Ichizô III. He started his career as a disciple of the actor Mimasu Daigorô IV, who gave him the name of Mimasu Umemaru. He was adopted in 1851 by the actor Kataoka Gadô II, who named him Kataoka Matsunosuke II. They settled together in Edo in 1854 and he took the name of Kataoka Gatô II in 1856. Supporting actor able to play tachiyaku, katakiyaku or onnagata roles, it is worth noting that wagotoshi roles were his forte. He went back to Ôsaka in 1862 with his adopted father and died there the 22nd of November 1871. He posthumously received the name of Kataoka Nizaemon IX.