Stage names:
Nakamura Karoku I
Nakamura Moshio I
Other name: Yamamura Baishi
Nickname: Keisei Karoku
Guild: Harimaya
Line number: SHODAI (I)
Poetry names: Baishi, Shikin, Shûka, Baidô
Existence: 1779 ~ 1 July 1859
Connections:
Master: Nakamura Utaemon III
Sons: Nakamura Tsunejirô, Bandô Shûka II (Nakamura Karoku II), Nakamura Karoku III
Son-in-law: Kataoka Nizaemon VIII
Grandsons: Nakamura Kichiemon I, Nakamura Tokizô III, Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII, Kataoka Tôkichi I, Kataoka Shigejirô, Kataoka Nizaemon X, Kataoka Nizaemon XI
Great-grandsons: Nakamura Tokizô IV, Yorozuya Kinnosuke, Nakamura Shidô I, Nakamura Kashô II (Karoku IV), Nakamura Kazuo, Nakamura Kanzaburô XVIII, Kataoka Nizaemon XII, Kataoka Nizaemon XIII
Great-great-grandsons: Matsumoto Kôshirô IX, Nakamura Kichiemon II, Nakamura Tokizô V, Nakamura Kashô III, Nakamura Karoku V, Nakamura Shidô II, Nakamura Kinnosuke II, Nakamura Kantarô II, Nakamura Shichinosuke II, Kataoka Gadô V, Ichimura Yoshigorô II, Kataoka Roen VI, Kataoka Gatô V, Kataoka Hidetarô II, Kataoka Nizaemon XV
Great-great-great-grandsons: Ichikawa Somegorô VII, Nakamura Baishi IV, Nakamura Mantarô, Nakamura Tanetarô IV, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Nakamura Yonekichi V, Nakamura Ryûnosuke, Nakamura Hayato, Ichimura Kakitsu IX, Kataoka Shinnosuke, Kataoka Takatarô
Great-great-great-great-grandson: Kataoka Sennosuke
Career:
1779 ~ 1804: born in Ôsaka. he starts his career as a disciple of Nakamura Utaemon III, who gives him the name of Nakamura Moshio I.
March 1804: Nakamura Moshio I takes the name of Nakamura Karoku I.
January ~ September 1806: Karoku becomes zamoto at the Kado no Shibai; he produces the dramas "Iroha Uta Homare no Meiboku" (January), "Kokusen'ya Gassen" (March) and "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki" (August).
November 1823: Karoku plays at the Kitagawa no Shibai the role of Akoya in the drama "Dan no Ura Kabuto Gunki". His stage partners are Nakamura Utaemon III (Iwanaga Saemon) and Ichikawa Ebijûrô I (Shigetada).
January 1827: Karoku's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
Fall 1827: Karoku goes to Edo with the actors Onoe Kikujirô I, Sakata Hangorô IV and Nakamura Kinji.
November 1827: Karoku plays at the Kawarazakiza in the drama "Muro no Ume Hôgan Biiki".
June 1828: Karoku plays in the same theater the roles of Otane and Nureginu in the drama "Honchô Nijûshikô".
October 1828: the Kabuki world is targeted by the authorities, which implements some sumptuary laws. Karoku and others actors are punished because of their ostentatious luxurious way of life. Karoku is placed for a little while under house arrest in a shop located in the district of Kobiki-chô.
November 1828: Karoku plays at the Kawarazakiza in the kaomise drama "Sakigake Genji no Kibamusha". His yearly salary is 600 ryô.
April 1832: Karoku appears on stage in Edo for the last time, at the Nakamuraza in the dance "Oni Yarai". Then, he goes back to his native Kamigata.
August 1832: Karoku is back in Ôsaka and plays at the Kado no Shibai.
November 1832: Karoku plays at the Minamigawa no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Keisei Shina Sadame".
January 1833: Karoku's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is hakushi-jô-jô-kichi (almost unique - superior - superior - excellent). He plays at the Naka no Shibai the roles of the courtesan Enoshima, Asaka and Kimi-no-Kata in the drama "Hime Kurabe Futaba Ezôji".
June 1833: Karoku plays the role of Masaoka in the drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi", which is staged in the precincts of the Inaba Yakushi Temple in Kyôto. He also plays the role of Sankatsu in the drama "Mai Ôgi"; the role of Hanshichi is played by Ogawa Kichitarô III.
January 1834: Karoku's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is shi-jô-jô-kichi (unique - superior - superior - excellent).
June ~ July 1835: tour in Nagoya and Kuwana with Arashi Rikan II, Arashi Sangorô IV and Kataoka Gashô.
January 1842: Karoku's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is hakudai-jô-jô-kichi (almost grand - superior - superior - excellent).
March 1846: Karoku plays at the Kado no Shibai the roles of Kaoyo Gozen, Ichimonjiya Ohana and Tonase in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
May 1849: Karoku plays at the Chikugo no Shibai the roles of Osai, Oseki and Oichi in the dramas "Akiba Gongen Kaisen Banashi", "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki" and "Godairiki Koi no Fûjime". His stage partners are Ichikawa Ebizô V, Mimasu Daigorô IV, Kataoka Gadô II and Sawamura Kitô II.
Summer 1849: tour in Nagoya; Karoku plays the role of Osono in the drama "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi", which is staged in the precincts of the Seijuin Temple; the role of Rokusuke is played by Arashi Rikan III.
January 1851: Karoku plays at the Kado no Shibai the roles of Asaka and Okoma in the drama "Hime Kurabe Futaba Ezôji".
January 1855: Karoku's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is shin-jô-jô-kichi (truly - superior - superior - excellent).
March 1859: Karoku plays at the Naka no Shibai the role of Matsuômaru's wife Chiyo in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"; the role of Matsuômaru is played by Arashi Kichisaburô III. The same drama is staged with the same casting in May in Kyôto at the Higashigawa no Shibai.
June 1859: Karoku appears on stage for the last time, at the Wakayama no Shibai in the Kishû province, playing the roles of Masaoka and Omine in the dramas "Meiboku Sendai Hagi" and "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba". He suddenly falls ill and dies the 1st of July.
Comments:
Nakamura Karoku I was a great Kamigata onnagata actor, who excelled in keisei roles and was therefore nicknamed "Keisei Karoku".
Nakamura Karoku I in the drama "Keisei Ômon Guchi", which was staged in January 1823 at the Kado no Shibai (print made by Shunkôsai Hokushû)
Print made by Shunkôsai Hokushû in 1823
Print made by Shumbaisai Hokuei in 1832
The Nakamura Karoku line of actors