NAKAMURA SHICHISABURÔ I

Line number: SHODAI (I)

Poetry name: Shôchô

Existence: 1662 ~ 3 February 1708

Connections:

Father: Amatsu Shichirôemon

Disciples: Nakamura Sen'ya I (master of Nakamura Genzaemon I, the adopted father of Nakamura Utaemon I's master Nakamura Genjûrô), Sengoku Hikosuke I, Nakamura Kichisaburô I, Nakamura Gentarô, Nakamura Gennosuke, Nakamura Shirogorô I

Career:

May 1682: Shichisaburô achieves a great success at the Ichimuraza by playing in the wagoto style the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari in the drama "Kôshoku Kamakura Gonin Onna". This performance definitively puts the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari in the repertoire of the wagotoshi.

January 1686: Shichisaburô plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Ôtomo Mimbu in the drama "Wankyû Ukiyo Jikkai".

March 1688: Shichisaburô achieves a great success at the Ichimuraza by performing in dances in the style tanzen, as part of the program "Tanzen Sugata Kagami".

November 1689: Shichisaburô goes to Ôsaka.

Fall 1691: Shichisaburô goes back to Edo.

November 1691: Shichisaburô achieves a great success at the Yamamuraza by playing the role of Sano Tsuneyo in the drama "Shusse Nishikigi".

1695: Shichisaburô and Ogino Sawanojô achieve a great success together at the Nakamuraza by playing in the drama "Oguri Renri no Eda".

January 1696: Shichisaburô achieves a great success at the Yamamuraza by playing the role of Nagoya Sanza in the drama "Fuwa Nagoya Uikamuri"; the role of Fuwa Banzaemon, Sanza's rival in love, is played by Murayama Heijûrô I.

November 1696: Shichisaburô plays at the Nakamuraza in the drama "Neko no Koneko". His stage partners are Ogino Sawanojô, Nakamura Denkurô I, Sodeoka Masanosuke II, Ôtani Hiroemon I, Murayama Jûheiji and Nakajima Kanzaemon I.

March 1697: Shichisaburô plays in the same theater in the drama "Kantô Koroku". His stage partners in the roles of Tamakura and Yagorô are Ogino Sawanojô and Ichikawa Danjûrô I.

November 1697 ~ Fall 1699: second stay in Kamigata.

November 1697: Shichisaburô plays in the drama "Miyako no Ehô Yomeiri Bunshô", which is produced in Kyôto by Yamashita Hanzaemon at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater.

January 1698: Shichisaburô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent). He plays in the same theater the role of Koroku in the drama "Kantô Koroku Imayô Sugata". Premiere at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater of the drama "Keisei Asamagadake", which is produced by Yamashita Hanzaemon; Shichisaburô plays the role of Asama Tomoenojô [casting]. Shichisaburô is the author of this long run play whose main theme, the apparition of a the ghost of a dead courtesan to her unfaithful lover, will be used again and again in countless numbers of drama. This is also the beginning of a deep friendship with the actor Sakata Tôjûrô I.

Spring 1699: Shichisaburô plays in Kyôto the roles of Tonomonosuke and Nagoya Sanzaemon in the dramas "Keisei Hana Ikada" and "Nagoya Sanza", which are produced by Yamashita Hanzaemon.

Fall 1699: Shichisaburô and the actor Murayama Jûemon go together to Edo.

November 1699: Shichisaburô plays at the Yamamuraza the leading roles of the dramas "Kantô Koroku Kokyô no Nishikie", "Onna Nuetsuya Yorimasa", "Kyô Miyage Keisei Asamagadake".

December 1699: Shichisaburô receives a gift from his friend Sakata Tôjûrô I: some water from the Kamogawa river, which flows in Kyôto.

February 1702: Shichisaburô plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari in the drama "Akebono Soga Yoichi"; the role of Soga Gorô Tokimune is played by Miyazaki Denkichi. This drama, which mixes elements of the akô rôshi events with the Soga brothers sekai, is forbidden for "political" reasons by the authorities after 3 days of performances.

January 1703: Shichisaburô plays at the Yamamuraza the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari in the drama "Keisei Asama Soga"; the role of Soga Gorô Tokimune is played by Bandô Matatarô I.

November 1703: Shichisaburô plays at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Shinshun Niwatori Taiheiki".

January 1707: Shichisaburô plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari in the drama "Hôei Soga".

January 1708: Shichisaburô appears on stage for the last time, playing the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari in the drama "Keisei Arashi Soga", which is staged at the Nakamuraza. The roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune and Kobayashi no Asaina are played by Tomizawa Hanzaburô I and Nakamura Denkurô I.

Comments:

Nakamura Shichisaburô I was one of the most outstanding and popular actors of the Genroku era. He was equally at home in sewamono or jidaimono dramas. His main field of excellence was wagoto, a style originally created in Kamigata but, to Shichisaburô's credit, we must point out that he created the Edo wagoto, whose most representative role is Soga Jûrô Sukenari in the sogamono plays. His others fields of excellence were nuregoto, yatsushigoto and the tanzen style.

"Nakamura Shichisaburô was exactly the opposite to Ichikawa Danjûrô in his stage methods. He belonged to Sakata Tôjûrô's real school, and was quiet and restrained on the boards. Danjûrô was bold and exaggerated, Shichisaburô effeminate and mild. They represented the two currents of the popular mind during Genroku. Danjûrô was not altogether welcome in Kyôto and Ôsaka, Tôjûrô's stronghold, where his style was not wholly appreciated, although he was acknowledged to be a great actor. Shichisaburô, on the contrary, met with great success on the stages of these towns." (Zoë Kincaid in "Kabuki, the Popular Stage of Japan")

Nakamura Shichisaburô I, Ichikawa Danjûrô I and Nakamura Denkurô I were in Edo the leading triumvirat of Genroku stars.

Nakamura Shichisaburô I in a print made by Torii Kiyonobu I (1702)

Print made by Torii Kiyonobu I in 1702

The Nakamura Shichisaburô line of actors