Guild: Nakajimaya
Line number: SHODAI (I)
Poetry names: Zeshô, Jûshi
Existence: 1662 ~ 22 April 1716
Connection:
Father: Abura Kanroku
Brother: Nakajima Saburoshirô
Grandson: Nakajima Kanzaemon III
Disciple: Nakajima Mihoemon I
Career:
1662: born in Ôsaka; his father is the low-ranking dôkegata actor Abura Kanroku.
1686: he settles in Edo and performs as a katakiyaku actor.
November 1696: Kanzaemon plays at the Nakamuraza in the drama "Neko no Koneko", commonly called "Onna Narukami". His stage partners are Ichikawa Danjûrô I, Ogino Sawanojô, Nakamura Shichisaburô I, Nakamura Denkurô I, Sodeoka Masanosuke II, Murayama Jûheiji and Ôtani Hiroemon I.
November 1706: Kanzaemon becomes tachiyaku and plays at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Mano no Chôja Kogane no Torii".
March 1707: Kanzaemon's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
November 1707: Kanzaemon plays at the Moritaza in the kaomise drama "Kankatsu Kayoi Komachi".
November 1711: Kanzaemon plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Hata Rokurô Saemon in the kaomise drama "Shusse Taiheiki" [more details].
February 1716: Kanzaemon appears on stage for the last time, playing at the Moritaza in the new year drama "Wakayagi Shiai Soga".
22 April 1716: Kanzaemon dies in Edo.
Comments:
Nakajima Kanzaemon I, the founder of the Nakajima clan, was a prominent tachiyaku actor, who achieved fame for himself in Edo during the 1700s and the 1710s. He was nicknamed "tôse no arahitogami", the "God of Wild Men" of modern times, in the 1716 hyôbanki. His field of excellence was jitsugoto.
Nakajima Kanzaemon I (seated, left), Hamazaki Isogorô (standing) and Nakamura Kichibei I (right) playing the roles of Kume-no-Hachirô, Daikaku Jirô and Iwatonosuke in the new year drama "Chûjôhime", which was staged in January 1715 at the Moritaza
The Nakajima Kanzaemon line of actors