Stage names:

Nakamura Jiroza II
Arashi Sankichi I

Guild: Echizen'ya

Line number: NIDAIME (II)

Poetry name: Ganshi

Existence: ??? ~ 2nd lunar month of 1790

Connection:

Masters: Nakamura Jiroza I, Arashi Sangorô II

Disciple: Nakamura Tomosa I

Career:

Before 1748: he started his career as a disciple of the young actor Arashi Sangorô II and performed in koshibai or miyaji shibai under the name of Arashi Sankichi I. He became at an unknown date the disciple of Nakamura Jiroza I but kept the name of Arashi Sankichi.

1748: his second master Nakamura Jiroza I died.

1759: Arashi Sankichi I took the name of Nakamura Jiroza II.

11th lunar month of 1769: Jiroza appeared in ôshibai for the first time, performing as a katakiyaku in Kyôto in the kaomise drama "Asahimaru Genji Kagami", which was produced by Onoe Kumesuke, welcomed in the Imperial City the actor Sawamura Sôjûrô II and his son Sawamura Tanosuke I and celebrated the shûmei of Nakamura Shingorô II.

9th lunar month of 1770: premiere at the Kitagawa no Shibai of the drama "Keisei Awa no Naruto", a revision of Chikamatsu Hanji's 1768 puppet drama "Keisei Awa no Naruto"; Jiroza played the role of Kizaemon [more details].

11th lunar month of 1771: Jiroza played at the Minamigawa no Shibai the roles of Mononobe Heima, in reality Ibuki Tokiaki, and the hunter Tôsaku in the kaomise drama "Bandai Isaoshi Genji", which was produced by Arashi Sanjûrô II.

Fall 1772: Jiroza went to Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1772: Jiroza played at the Kado no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Hi-no-Moto Banzei no Hôrai".

1st lunar month of 1773: Jiroza's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, katakiyaku section, was jô-jô (superior - superior) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1774: Jiroza played at the Kado no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Isagiyoshi Kusunoki Banashi".

1st lunar month of 1775: Jiroza was the kanjiku for katakiyaku actors in the Ôsaka hyôbanki.

8th lunar month of 1775: the play "Sekitori Senryô Nobori" was staged for the first time in Ôsaka, at the Kado no Shibai; Jiroza played the role of the sumôtori Tetsugadake [more details].

1st lunar month of 1776: Jiroza's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, katakiyaku section, was jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent) [visual].

12th lunar month of 1776: premiere at the Naka no Shibai of Nagawa Kamesuke I's drama "Igagoe Norikake Gappa"; Jiroza played the roles of Kondô Nomorinosuke and Sakurada Rinzaemon [casting].

4th lunar month of 1777: premiere in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai of Nagawa Kamesuke I's drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi"; Jiroza played the roles of Sakae Gozen, Aranami Kishiemon and Nishikido Gyôbu Tarô [casting].

9th lunar month of 1778: Jiroza played at the Naka no Shibai the roles of Mareyo and Hyôei in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"; the role of Kan Shôjô was played by Mimasu Tokujirô I.

12th lunar month of 1781: premiere in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai of Nagawa Kamesuke I's drama "Tengajaya-mura"; Jiroza played the role of Adachi Motoemon [casting]. A similar play was staged a few days later under a different title, "Renga Chaya Homare no Bundai", at the Naka no Shibai [casting]. The competition for the best performance and the best line-up was open between the 2 theaters.

12th lunar month of 1782: premiere in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai of Namiki Gohê's drama "Keisei Kogane no Shachihoko"; Jiroza played the roles of the karô Yamagata Dôkan and Nanazato Ujiemon [more details].

4th lunar month of 1784: premiere at the Kado no Shibai of Nagawa Shimesuke I's drama "Sumidagawa Gonichi no Omokage"; Jiroza played the role of Yamazakiya Kanjûrô [casting].

5th lunar month of 1784: première in ôshibai, in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai, of the gidayû kyôgen "Yura no Minato Sengen Chôja"; Jiroza played the role of Ôe Gunryô Tokikado [casting].

5th lunar month of 1785: first Kabuki adaptation of Chikamatsu Hanji's puppet theater drama "Shinpan Utazaimon", which was staged at the Naka no Shibai; Jiroza played the role of Kyûbê [casting].

7th lunar month of 1789: premiere at the Kado no Shibai of Namiki Gohei I and Chikamatsu Tokusô drama "Kanjin Kanmon Tekuda no Hajimari"; Jiroza played the roles of Saiten Sôkurô and Gotô Daigaku [more details].

12th lunar month of 1789: Jiroza appeared on stage for the last time, in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai, where he played the roles of the pawnbroker Zen'emon and Miura Danjô in the drama "Kamakura Hiji Aoto Zeni".

2nd lunar month of 1790: Jiroza died in Ôsaka.

Comments:

Nakamura Jiroza II was a 18th century katakiyaku actor, who spent all his career in Kamigata. His acting style and diction were both good and his popularity was high. He was said to be katakiyaku no itsuzai (a katakiyaku of exceptional talent).

Nakamura Jiroza II playing the role of Yakushiji Jirozaemon in the "Hangan Seppuku" scene of the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura" in a caricature from the book "Ehon Mizu ya Sora", which was drawn by Matsuya Nichôsai and published in Ôsaka in 1780 by Hachimonjiya Hachizaemon

Prints & Illustrations

The Nakamura Jiroza line of actors