KATAOKA NIZAEMON VIII

1810~1833: born in the province of Echigo. He is adopted by the great Edo star Ichikawa Danjûrô VII, receiving the name of Ichikawa Shinnosuke and becoming the zamoto of a children-actors troupe in Ôsaka. He has a quarrel with Ichikawa Danjûrô VII, leaves the Ichikawa clan and performs under the name of Mimasu Iwagorô. The Kamigata star Arashi Rikan II takes him as a disciple and gives him the name of Arashi Kitsujirô.

1833: Arashi Kitsujirô is adopted by Kataoka Nizaemon VII received the name of Kataoka Gatô I (Gatô is a haimyô used by Kataoka Nizaemon VII).

March 1837: his adopted father Kataoka Nizaemon VII dies.

July 1837: Gatô plays the role of Koganosuke in the classic "Imoseyama Onna Teikin", which is performed in Ôsaka at the Ichinogawa Shibai.

September 1837: Gatô plays 3 roles in the drama "Ume no Naniwa Hayazaki Genji", which is staged in Ôsaka at the Ônishi no Shibai. He also plays the role of Kitanoya Shichibei in the drama "Sekitori Senryô Nobori". His stage partner in the role of the sumô wrestler Iwagawa Jirokichi is Arashi Kichisaburô III.

January 1839: Kataoka Gatô I takes the name of Kataoka Gadô II (Gadô was another haimyô used by Kataoka Nizaemon VII, who is considered as Kataoka Gadô I).

March 1839: Gadô plays at the Naka no Shibai the role of Honda Dainaiki in the drama "Igagoe Dôchû Sugoroku".

January 1840: Gadô plays at the Naka no Shibai the roles of Kiura Shingo and Masaemon in the drama "Keisei Setsugekka".

August 1840: Gadô plays at the Naka no Shibai the role of Oguri hangan in the drama "Hime Kurabe Futaba Ezôji".

October 1840: Gadô plays at the Naka no Shibai the roles of En'ya Hangan, Yomoshichi, Teraoka Heiemon, Jûnai and Takakura Hayato in the drama "Hana Kaede Iroha Hyôban".

November 1840: Gadô performs in Ôsaka at the Horie Ichigawa no Shibai, playing in the dramas "Aburauri Kuruwa Monogatari", "Azuma Miyage Modori Kago" and "Go Taiheiki Shiraishi Banashi".

January 1841: Gadô plays at the Naka no Shibai the roles of Yodoya Tatsugorô and Hattori Kingorô in the drama "Keisei Yanagi Zakura".

April 1841: Gadô plays at the Naka no Shibai the roles of Sukune Tarô and Takebe Genzô in the drama "Tenmangû Natane no Gokû". He also plays the role of An no Heibei in the drama "Otokodate Itsusu Karigane".

May 1841: Gadô plays at the Naka no Shibai several roles, including Fukuoka Mitsugi in the drama "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba". The roles of Okon and Kisuke are played by Nakayama Yoshio III and Nakamura Shikan III. The performance is a commercial failure and some actors move to Kyôto.

November 1841: Gadô performs in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai, playing in the dramas "Keisei Yamato Zôshi", "Hachijin Shugo no Honjô" and "Daikyôji Mukashi Goyomi".

March 1845: Gadô plays at the Kado no Shibai the roles of Yoshitsune and Ono no Tôfû in the dramas "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki" and "Ono no Tôfû Aoyagi Suzuri".

May 1845: Gadô plays at the Naka no Shibai the roles of Kajiwara Genta Kagesue and Danshichi in the dramas "Hirakana Seisuiki" and "Yadonashi Danshichi Shigure no Karakasa".

May 1847: Gadô plays at the Ônishi no Shibai the roles of Kanki, Issun Tokubei and the Tedai Tôbei in the dramas "Kokusen'ya Gassen", "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami" and "Chirashigaki Koi no Tamazusa". His stage partner in the roles of Watônai ("Kokusen'ya Gassen") and Danshichi Kurobei ("Natsu Matsuri") is Nakamura Shikan III.

June 1847: Gadô plays at the Minamigawa no Shibai (Kyôto) the roles of Toki Kurando Yorikazu, Sasaki Gennosuke and the Tedai Tôbei in the dramas "Ôtô-no-Miya Asahi no Yoroi", "Nagara Chôja Uguisu Zuka" and "Chirashigaki Koi no Tamazusa".

July 1847: Gadô plays at the Ônishi no Shibai in the dramas "Katakiuchi An'eiroku", "Suma no Miyako Gempei Tsutsuji" and "Koina Hanbei Sato no Iroage".

October 1847: Gadô plays at the Ônishi no Shibai in the dramas "Tôkaidô Koi no Sekifuda" and "Sekitori Senryô Nobori" (in which he plays the role of the sumô wrestler Iwagawa Jirokichi). This is the last appearance on stage for his friend and stage partner Nakamura Shikan III.

November 1847: Gadô plays at the Ônishi no Shibai in the dramas "Katakiuchi Ura no Asagiri" and "Sarumawashi Kadode no Hitofushi" (in which he plays the role of the monkey trainer Yojirô).

January 1848: Gadô's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, Hanagata Sampukutsui section ("a trio of young stars"), is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent). The two others actors in this trio are Arashi Rikan III and Jitsukawa Enzaburô I. Gadô plays at the Chikugo no Shibai 4 roles in the drama "Ishikawazome"

March 1848: Gadô plays at the Chikugo no Shibai the roles of Ashikaga Yorikane and the sumô wrestler Tetsunosuke in the drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi".

May 1848: Gadô plays at the Ônishi no Shibai the role of Fukuoka Mitsugi in the drama "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba". He falls ill at the end of the performance.

November 1848: Gadô performs at the Minamigawa no Shibai (Kyôto) the roles of Gappô and the monkey trainer Yojirô in the dramas "Chûkô Homare no Futamichi" and "Sarumawashi Kadode no Hitofushi".

May 1849: Gadô plays at the Chikugo no Shibai the roles of Kôbei and Tokushima Gohei in the drama "Akiba Gongen Kaisen Banashi".

August 1849: Gadô plays at the Chikugo no Shibai the role of Tôkichi in the drama "Gion Sairei Shinkôki". The roles of Matsunaga Daizen and Princess Yuki are played by Asao Yoroku I and Sawamura Kitô II.

September 1849: Gadô plays at the Chikugo no Shibai the roles of Momoi Wakasanosuke, Hayano Kampei and Ôboshi Yuranosuke in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which is staged to commemorate the 12th anniversary (13th memorial service) of late Kataoka Nizaemon VII. Gadô's stage partners are Mimasu Daigorô IV, Ichikawa Shikô II, Sawamura Kitô II and Nakamura Daikichi III.

November 1849: Gadô plays at the Kitagawa no Shibai (Kyôto) the roles of Hayano Kampei and Ôboshi Yuranosuke in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura". He also plays the role of the yakko Tsumahei and Shinshichi in the dramas "Shin Usuyuki Monogatari" and "Oriawase Tsuzure no Nishiki".

January 1850: Gadô plays at the Ônishi no Shibai in the dramas "Keisei Hana Ikada" and "Tamamo-no-Mae Asahi no Tamoto".

May 1850: Gadô plays at the Ônishi no Shibai the roles of Musashi and Danshichi in the dramas "Ganryûjima" and "Yadonashi Danshichi Shigure no Karakasa".

August 1850: Gadô plays at the Ônishi no Shibai the roles of Hayase Iori and Kôemon in the drama "Tengajaya-Mura".

October 1850: Gadô plays at the Ônishi no Shibai the role of Ono no Tôfû in the the drama "Ono no Tôfû Aoyagi Suzuri". He also plays the role of Mohei in the drama "Daikyôji Mukashi Goyomi". The role of Mohei's lover Osan is played by Nakamura Daikichi III.

January 1851: Gadô plays at the Kado no Shibai the role of Oguri Hangan in the drama "Hime Kurabe Futaba Ezôji".

March 1851: Gadô plays the role of Matahei in Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's drama "Keisei Hangonkô", which is performed in Ôsaka at the Wakadayû no Shibai. His stage partners are Nakamura Karoku I (Otoku) and Asao Yoroku I (Shôgen).

January 1852: Gadô plays at the Minamigawa no Shibai (Kyôto) the role of Fukuoka Mitsugi in the drama "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba". His stage partners in the role of Okon and Manno are Nakamura Tomijûrô II and Nakamura Jakuemon I.

Spring 1852: Gadô plays at the Chikugo no Shibai the roles of the priest Seigen and Tôyama Jinzaburô in the drama "Keisei Iriai Zakura". He also plays the role of Kameya Chûbei in the shinjûmono "Koi Bikyaku Yamato Ôrai". The role of Chûbei's lover Umegawa is played by Arashi San'emon IX.

March 1852: Gadô performs at the Naka no Shibai in the drama "Hana Kaede Ogura no Shikishi". He also plays the role of Omine in "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba". The performance is a commercial failure.

May 1852: Gadô plays at the Minamigawa no Shibai (Kyôto) the role of Gengorô in the drama "Ôshimadai Oguri Hangan".

October 1852: Gadô plays at the Naka no Shibai 3 roles, including Ohatsu, in the drama "Kagamiyama Sugata no Utsushie". The roles of Onoe and Iwafuji are played by Nakayama Nanshi II and Mimasu Daigorô IV.

November 1852: Gadô plays at the Minamigawa no Shibai (Kyôto) 2 roles, including Ohatsu, in the drama "Tsugiawase Koshiji no Ume", which belongs to the "Kagamiyama" world. The roles of Onoe and Iwafuji are, just like the previous month in Ôsaka, played by Nakayama Nanshi II and Mimasu Daigorô IV.

January 1853: Gadô's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, Tokokazari Sampukutsui section ("A trio of perfect decorations for a Toko no Ma"), is shi-jô-jô-kichi (unique - superior - superior - excellent). The two others actors in this trio are Jitsukawa Enzaburô I and Arashi Rikaku II. Gadô plays the role of Shigetada in the drama "Kagekiyo", which is performed at the Kado no Shibai. His stage partners are Ichikawa Danzô VI (Akoya) and Ichikawa Ebizô V (Kagekiyo).

1854: Gadô settles in Edo.

March 1854: Gadô plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Fujiya Izaemon in the drama "Kuruwa Bunshô". The role of the courtesan Yûgiri (Izaemon's lover) is played by Iwai Kumesaburô III.

January 1857: Kataoka Gadô II takes the name of Kataoka Nizaemon VIII.

March 1859: Nizaemon plays at the Nakamuraza the roles of Shibaroku, Daihanji no Kiyosumi and Fukashichi in the classic "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".

January 1860: Nizaemon plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Fujiya Izaemon in the drama "Hatsu Tayori Kuruwa Bunshô". The role of the courtesan Yûgiri (Izaemon's lover) is played by Onoe Kikugorô IV.

April 1860: Nizaemon plays at the Nakamuraza the roles of Ôboshi Yuranosuke [print], Kô no Moronô and Kakogawa Honzô in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura". The role of En'ya Hangan is played by Nakamura Fukusuke I.

December 1861: Nizaemon plays the role of Matahei in Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's drama "Keisei Hangonkô", which is performed at the Nakamuraza. His stage partners are Ichikawa Dannosuke V (Otoku) and Seki Sanjûrô III (Shôgen).

October 1862: Nizaemon goes back to Ôsaka, taking back the name of Kataoka Gadô II.

16 February 1863: Gadô dies in Ôsaka.

Comments:

Kataoka Nizaemon VIII was an outstanding nimaime, who also excelled in the jitsugotoshi, katakiyaku or oyajigata (in the last years of his career), roles. He was also able to perform occasionally onnagata roles. He gained fame in both the Kamigata and the city of Edo.

Kataoka Nizaemon VIII in the role of Kanawa Gorô Imakuni in a print made by Utagawa Toyokuni III in March 1859

Prints & Illustrations

Print made by Utagawa Hirosada in 1848 (courtesy of V.)

Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1854

Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1858

Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1860

Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1861

Print made by Utagawa Yoshitsuya in 1861

Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1861

Print made by Utagawa Hirokane in 1862

Print made by Utagawa Yoshiyuki in 1862

The Kataoka Gatô line of actors

The Kataoka Gadô line of actors

The Kataoka Nizaemon line of actors