Stage names:

Nakamura Jiroza II
Arashi Sankichi I

Guild: Echizen'ya

Line number: NIDAIME (II)

Poetry name: Ganshi

Existence: ??? ~ February 1790

Connection:

Masters: Nakamura Jiroza I, Arashi Sangorô II

Disciple: Nakamura Tomosa I

Career:

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

1748: his second master Nakamura Jiroza I dies.

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

November 1769: Jiroza appears in ôshibai for the first time, performing as a katakiyaku in Kyôto in the kaomise drama "Asahimaru Genji Kagami", which welcomes in the Imperial City the actor Sawamura Sôjûrô II and his son Sawamura Tanosuke I.

Fall 1772: Jiroza goes to Ôsaka.

November 1772: Jiroza plays at the Kado no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Hi-no-Moto Banzei no Hôrai".

January 1773: Jiroza's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, katakiyaku section, is jô-jô (superior - superior).

November 1774: Jiroza plays at the Kado no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Isagiyoshi Kusunoki Banashi".

January 1776: Jiroza's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, katakiyaku section, is jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent).

January 1775: Jiroza is the kanjiku for katakiyaku actors in the Ôsaka hyôbanki.

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

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

September 1778: Jiroza plays at the Naka no Shibai the roles of Mareyo and Hyôei in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"; the role of Kan Shôjô is played by Mimasu Tokujirô I.

December 1781: premiere in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai of Nagawa Kamesuke's drama "Tengajaya-Mura"; Jiroza plays the role of Adachi Motoemon [casting]. A similar play is 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 is open between the 2 theaters.

May 1785: first Kabuki adaptation of Chikamatsu Hanji's puppet theater drama "Shimpan Utazaimon", which is staged at the Naka no Shibai; Jiroza plays the role of Kyûbei [casting].

December 1789: Jiroza appears on stage for the last time, in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai, where he plays the roles of the pawnbroker Zen'emon and Miura Danjô in the drama "Kamakura Hiji Aoto Zeni".

February 1790: Jiroza dies 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

The Nakamura Jiroza line of actors