Stage names:
Nakayama Hyakka
Nakayama Bunshichi III
Nakayama Hyôtarô I
Nakayama Tokusaburô
Guilds: Bintsukeya, Beniya
Poetry name: Hyakka
Existence: 1764 ~ 15 February 1853
Connection:
Master: Nakayama Bunshichi I
Disciples: Nakayama Bunshichi IV, Nakayama Bungorô II
Career:
1764: born in Kyôto. He starts his career at an early age by becoming a disciple of Nakayama Bunshichi I.
November 1772: he receives the name of Nakayama Tokusaburô and makes his debut on Kyôto stages as an iroko.
September 1782: his master Nakayama Bunshichi I retires from the Kabuki world.
January 1786: Tokusaburô becomes tachiyaku and plays in Kyôto at Miyako Mandayû's theater the role of Wada Shizuma in the drama "Keisei Tonoi Zakura".
Fall 1786: Tokusaburô goes to Ôsaka.
November 1786: Nakayama Tokusaburô takes the name of Nakayama Hyôtarô I at the Naka no Shibai, playing the role of Kanemichi in the kaomise drama "Neko Shakkyô Fûki no Hanabusa".
19 February 1798: Nakayama Bunshichi II dies.
Fall 1804: Hyôtarô goes to Edo, with Segawa Rokô III and his adopted son Segawa Kamesaburô.
November 1804: Nakayama Hyôtarô I takes the name of Nakayama Bunshichi III at the Nakamuraza, playing the role of Dewa no Gunji Yoshizane in the kaomise drama "Kiku Zumô Mikurai Sadame".
May ~ June 1806: tour in Nagoya with Arashi Kichisaburô II, Arashi Sangorô III, Yoshizawa Iroha I, Sawamura Tanosuke II and Nakayama Raisuke IV; they perform at the Tachibana no Shibai.
November ~ December 1806: Bunshichi plays in Kyôto at the Kitano no Shibai the role of En'ya Hangan in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; the roles of Yuranosuke and Kô no Moronô are played by Nakayama Shinkurô III and Asao Tomozô I.
November 1808: Bunshichi plays at the Minamigawa no Shibai the roles of Yosaku and Osan in the kaomise drama "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna". He also plays the role of Shigetada in "Dan no Ura Kabuto Gunki"; his stage partners are Nakayama Tomisaburô I (Akoya) and Kataoka Nizaemon VII (Iwanaga Saemon)
May 1809: Nakayama Bunshichi III takes the name of Nakayama Hyakka at the Naka no Shibai, playing the roles of Jijû Tarô Morikuni and Shibuya Tosa-no-Bô Shôshun in the drama "Gosho Zakura Horikawa no Youchi".
November 1809: Hyakka plays at the Kado no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Keishoku Yuki-miru Yama", which is produced by Mimasu Kumesaburô and stars Yoshizawa Ayame V, Arashi Kichisaburô II, Asao Kuzaemon I, Nakayama Shinkurô III, Nakamura Daikichi I, Kanô Minshi I and Asao Okuyama II.
March 1810: tour in Ise with Kataoka Nizaemon VII and Nakayama Yoshio I; Hyakka plays among others the roles of Jihizô and Minosaku in the drama "Honchô Nijûshikô".
22 July 1813: his master Nakayama Bunshichi I dies.
November 1814: Nakayama Hyakka takes the name of Nakayama Bunshichi III at the Kita-Horie Ichigawa no Shibai (Ôsaka), playing the roles of Yasuke, Tadanobu and Yoshitsune in the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura".
January 1827: Bunshichi's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
January 1829: Bunshichi's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is kô-jô-jô-kichi (meritorious - superior - superior - excellent).
January 1836: premiere at the Naka no Shibai of Nishizawa Ippô's drama "Hana no Ani Tsubomi no Yatsufusa" Bunshichi plays the role of Satomi Jibudayû Suemoto [casting].
March 1839: the play "Sesshû Gappô-ga-Tsuji" is staged for the first time in Ôsaka, at the Kado no Shibai; Bunshichi plays the role of Gappô's wife Otoku [casting].
1850: Nakayama Bunshichi III takes back the name of Nakayama Hyakka.
November 1851: Hyakka appears on stage for the last time, in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai, playing in the drama "Ôshû Adachi-ga-Hara", "Akogi-ga-Ura" and "Gosho Zakura Horikawa no Youchi". He retires from the Kabuki world and dies in Ôsaka the 15th of February 1853. His tombstone is located in the precinct of the Manpukuji Temple in the district of Shima-no-Uchi.
Comments:
Nakayama Hyakka was a talented Kamigata tachiyaku actor. He was excellent in wagoto and wajitsu. He specialized in oyajigata roles in his latter years. He perfectly delivered his lines with great vocal projection and had a great stage presence. He was also a good musician and was famous for his amazing longevity.
The actor Nakayama Hyakka playing the role of Naniwa Rokurô in the drama "Hirugaesu Nishiki no Tamoto", which was staged in November 1812 at the Naka no Shibai