Stage names:
Nakamura Noshio I
Kamogawa Noshio II
Guild: Tennôjiya
Line number: SHODAI (I)
Poetry name: Shûka (?)
Existence: 1752 ~ 19 November 1777
Connection:
Father: Kasaya Matakurô I
Adopted father: Nakamura Tomijûrô I
Brother: Kasaya Matakurô II
Career:
1752: born in Kyôto. He starts his career in kodomo shibai, performing under the name of Kamogawa Noshio II.
18 March 1767: his father Kasaya Matakurô I dies.
Fall 1767: Noshio goes to Ôsaka.
November 1767: he becomes wakaonnagata and plays at the Naka no Shibai in Temmaya Kyûshichi's kaomise drama "Shitennô Maizuru Ôgi"; his stage partners are Nakamura Tomijûrô I, Mimasu Daigorô I, Nakamura Kichiemon I, Fujikawa Hachizô I, Arashi Kichisaburô I, Fujimatsu Sanjûrô, Bandô Iwagorô, Somegawa Konobei I, Anegawa Daikichi and Nakamura Senzô.
Fall 1768: Noshio becomes disciple of Nakamura Tomijûrô I; the two actors go together to Kyôto.
November 1768: Kamogawa Noshio II takes the name of Nakamura Noshio I at the Minamigawa no Shibai, playing in the kaomise drama "Kaeribana Misao Taiheiki"; his stage partners are Nakamura Tomijûrô I, Onoe Kikugorô I, Nakamura Jûzô II, Ogawa Kichitarô I, Onoe Shinshichi I, Sakurayama Shirosaburô III, Kirishima Gizaemon and Matsuya Shinjûrô.
Fall 1770: Nakamura Tomijûrô I, Kasaya Matakurô II and Noshio go together to Edo.
November 1770: Noshio plays at the Moritaza in the kaomise drama "Miyako Zome Giô Katsugi".
May 1771: Noshio plays in the same theater the role of Shizuka Gozen in the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura".
November 1771: Noshio plays at the Moritaza in the kaomise drama "Fukikaete Tsuki no Yoshiwara"; his stage partners are Ichikawa Danjûrô V, Nakamura Tomijûrô I, Nakamura Sukegorô II, Yamashita Kinsaku II, Ôtani Hiroemon III, Bandô Mitsugorô I and Nakamura Jûzô II (who came from Kamigata).
August 1772: Noshio plays in the same theater the roles of the courtesan Takao and her ghost in the Tokiwazu-based dance-drama "Sono Utsushie Matsu ni Kaide"; his stage partners in the roles of the ghost of Seigen and Lord Ashikaga Yorikane are Ichikawa Danjûrô V and Bandô Mitsugorô I.
November 1772: Noshio plays at the Moritaza in the kaomise drama "Izu Goyomi Shibai no Ganjitsu", which celebrates the shûmei of Sawamura Chôjûrô IV.
January 1773: Noshio plays in the same theater the role of Soga Gorô Tokimune in the new year drama "Iro Makie Soga no Sakazuki". The roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari are played by Ichikawa Danjûrô V and Bandô Mitsugorô I.
November 1774: Noshio plays at the Moritaza in the kaomise drama "Ichi no Tomi Tsuki no Kaomise".
May 1775: Noshio plays in the same theater the role of Matsuômaru's wife Chiyo in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"; his stage partners are Ichikawa Danjûrô V (Matsuômaru's master Fujiwara no Shihei, Kan Shôjô), Iwai Hanshirô IV (Sakuramaru), Bandô Mitsugorô I (Umeômaru, Genzô), Matsumoto Kôshirô IV (Matsuômaru, Kakuju), Sawamura Chôjûrô IV (Matsuômaru's father Shiratayû), Azuma Tôzô II (Tatsuta no Mae) and Sakata Kônosuke (Princess Kariya).
November 1775: Noshio moves with Matsumoto Kôshirô IV and Iwai Hanshirô IV to the Ichimuraza and plays in the kaomise drama "Oyafune Taiheiki".
March 1776: Noshio's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent).
July 1776: Noshio plays in the same theater the role of Matsuômaru's wife Chiyo in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"; his stage partners are Ichimura Uzaemon IX (Umeômaru), Ichikawa Ebizô III (Matsuômaru, Kan Shôjô), Ichikawa Yaozô II (Sakuramaru), Sakata Hangorô II (Matsuômaru's father Shiratayû) and Nakajima Mihoemon II (Fujiwara no Shihei).
November 1776: Noshio moves to the Moritaza and plays in the kaomise drama "Hikitsurete Yagoe Taiheiki".
Summer 1777: the book "Yakusha Sensakuron" ("About actors prying") is published in Edo. It gives some private information on actors. Edo readers learn that Noshio lives with his father-in-law Nakamura Tomijûrô I in the district of Kobiki-chô and his yearly salary is 500 ryô.
July 1777: Noshio appears on stage for the last time, at the Moritaza, playing in the drama "Hônô Nitta Daimyôjin".
19 November 1777: Noshio and Nakamura Shingorô II, the other adopted son of Nakamura Tomijûrô I, die the same day.
Comments:
Nakamura Noshio I was a promising wakaonnagata actor, trained in Kamigata and who started to gain fame in Edo in the 1770s. He was an outstanding dancer. He could have become the worthy heir of his adopted father Nakamura Tomijûrô I but he unfortunately died in his prime.
Nakamura Noshio I playing in the kaomise drama "Fukikaete Tsuki no Yoshiwara", which was staged in November 1771 at the Moritaza (print made by Ippitsusai Bunchô)