Stage names:
Segawa Rokô IV
Segawa Michinosuke
Segawa Kikunosuke
Nakamura Sennosuke
Bandô Sennosuke
Other name: Segawa Kikunojô IV
Nickname: En'ya Rokô
Guild: En'ya, Hamamuraya
Line number: YODAIME (IV)
Poetry name: Rokô
Crest: Yui Wata
Existence: 1782 ~ 29 November 1812
Connections:
Adopted father: Nakamura Jûzô III
Father-in-law (and adopted father): Segawa Kikunojô III
Son-in-laws: Iwai Hanshirô VII, Segawa Kikunojô V
Career:
1782: born in Edo in the district of Kobiki-chô. His mother is the daughter of En'ya Ihachi, the owner of a shibai jaya. He does his training in a troupe of children-actors, playing under the name of Bandô Sennosuke.
1790: he is adopted by the actor Nakamura Jûzô III, who gives him the name of Nakamura Sennosuke.
January 1792: Sennosuke makes his first appearance on stage, at the Kawarazakiza, playing a koyaku role in the drama "Keisei Kin no Hakarime".
March 1798: Sennosuke becomes wakaonnagata at the Kiriza, playing the role of the courtesan Wakatake in the drama "Miotsukushi Naniwa no Nagame".
1799: he gets married with the daughter of Segawa Kikunojô III, is adopted by his father-in-law and receives the name of Segawa Kikunosuke.
August 1801: first grand shûmei for the Hamamuraya guild, at the Ichimuraza; Segawa Kikunojô III, Segawa Kikunosuke, Segawa Kikusaburô I and Segawa Matsunosuke respectively take the names of Segawa Rokô III, Segawa Michinosuke, Segawa Michisaburô I and Segawa Hamajirô. They play together in the drama "Dôjima Tamino no Tsumikomi".
November 1805: second grand shûmei for the Hamamuraya guild, at the Nakamuraza; Segawa Rokô III and Segawa Michinosuke respectively take the names of Segawa Senjo and Segawa Rokô IV. The two actors achieve a great success by playing in the drama "Kaikei Yuki no Konoshita".
July 1808: premiere at the Nakamuraza of Segawa Jokô II's drama "Zôho Izari no Adauchi"; Rokô plays the role of Katsugorô's wife Hatsuhana [casting].
4 December 1810: his adopted father Segawa Senjo dies.
November 1812: Rokô appears on stage for the last time, at the Nakamuraza, playing in the dramas "Edo Zakura Megumi no Takanori" and "Sekai no Iro Hana to iru Yuki".
Comments:
Segawa Rokô IV was a popular actor and a rival of Iwai Hanshirô V for the title of Edo best onnagata. He excelled in the roles of maiden or spouse in sewamono dramas. He was unfortunately cut down in his prime and posthumously received the name of Segawa Kikunojô IV.
Segawa Rokô IV playing the role of Tomoe Gozen in the "Onna Shibaraku" scene of the kaomise drama "Kaikei Yuki no Konoshita", which was staged at the Nakamuraza in November 1807 (print made by Utagawa Toyokuni I)