Others names:
Ônishi Moriemon
Fujikawa Isaburô
Line number: SHODAI (I)
Crest: the ideogram for two (2 horizontal bars) in a circle
Existence: 1656 ~ 1 November 1715
Connections:
Master: Yamashita Kyôemon I
Brother: Tomishima Harunojô
Brother-in-law: Fujikawa Shigeemon (Kataoka Nizaemon III)
Son: Kataoka Nizaemon II
Career:
1656 ~ 1694: born in Kyôto. He starts his career as a shamisen player. He is scouted by the star Yamashita Hanzaemon (Yamashita Kyôemon I), who welcomes him as a disciple and trains him as an actor.
January 1695: Nizaemon plays in the drama "Shuten Dôji", which is produced in Kyôto by Kokon Shinzaemon.
November 1695: Nizaemon plays as a katakiyaku in the drama "Hime Kura Daikoku Bashira", which is produced by Sakata Tôjûrô I in Kyôto at Miyako Mandayû's theater.
1696: Nizaemon settles in Ôsaka and becomes zagashira of a troupe which plays in Iwai Hanshirô I's productions.
January 1698: his rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, katakiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
November 1698: Nizaemon becomes zamoto and produces with success the plays "Ishikawa Goemon", "Danshichi Kurobei" and "Shuten Dôji" in Shioya Kurôemon's theater.
January 1699: Nizaemon coproduces several plays with Araki Yojibei I.
Spring 1700: Nizaemon becomes tachiyaku and triumphes in Ôsaka in the play "Keisei Mugen no Kane", written by Ki-no-Kaion (Chikamatsu Monzaemon's rival playwright) and produced by the zamoto Otowa Jirosaburô I.
Winter 1700~1701: Nizaemon becomes zamoto at Shioya Kurôemon's theater.
January 1701: his rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô (superior - superior). He produces the play "Hyakunichi Soga" in which he plays the role of Soga Gorô. His stage partner for the role of Shôshô, Gorô's courtesan lover, is the onnagata Sodesaki Karyû.
November 1701: Nizaemon organizes a great kaomise in Ôsaka, producing the play "Yadonashi Danshichi Shichinenki" in which he plays the eponymous role of Danshichi, in the company of the actors Takioka Hikoemon (Issun Tokubei) and Osagawa Jûemon (Tsuribune Sabu).
January 1702: his rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent). Nizaemon produces in Shioya Kurôemon's theater the drama "Heishin'ô Masakado" in which he plays the role of Masakado. His stage partner in the role of Ishiômaru is Sawamura Chôjûrô I.
January 1704 ~ 1708: Nizaemon is playing a very active zamoto in Ôsaka.
August 1706: short stay in Kyôto; Nizaemon plays with Segawa Takenojô in the plays "Ishikawa Goemon" and "Ôtomo no Matori".
November 1706: Nizaemon produces in Ôsaka the play "Ebisu Otoko Onna Daigoku Hashira Gatame", with a casting including Shibazaki Rinzaemon I, Arashi Sanjûrô I, Asao Jûjirô, Yoshizawa Ayame I and Araki Yojibei II.
January 1709: Nizaemon returns to Kyôto and play in the drama "Yomeiri Ôkeizu", which is performed at Ebisuya Kichirôbei's theater.
January 1710: his rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
November 1710: his son Kataoka Sampei becomes zamoto and produces at Kameya Kumenojô's theater the play "Kenkon Daikoku Bashira". The success of the performance is overwhelming.
July 1715: Nizaemon plays in Sakakiyama Kansuke's dramas "Aigo no Waka Ômi Hakkei" and "Jûsan Gane", which are produced by Sakakiyama Shirotarô I.
Fall 1715: Nizaemon appears on stage for the last time, at Kameya Kumenojô's theater, playing the role of Iwagi no Hangan in the play "Sanshô Dayû".
November 1715: Nizaemon is about to play in "Manpô Chitose no Matsu" but he falls ill and dies suddenly. He is replaced and a moving oration dedicated to his memory is made on stage by the actor Shinozuka Jirozaemon.
Comments:
Kataoka Nizaemon was a prominent Kamigata tachiyaku, who won fame for himself during the Genroku era. He was extremely appreciated by the Ôsaka and Kyôto audiences in the roles of katakiyaku and jitsugotoshi. He was the first actor to play and popularize the role of Danshichi Kurobei, now one of the most famous male roles in the Kabuki repertoire.
Kataoka Nizaemon I
The Kataoka Nizaemon line of actors