Stage names:
Nakamura Tomijûrô I
Yoshizawa Sakiya
Guild: Tennôjiya
Line number: SHODAI (I)
Crest: Yattsu Yaguruma
Existence: 1719 ~ 3 August 1786
Connections:
Father: Yoshizawa Ayame I
Adopted father: Nakamura Shingorô I
Brothers: Yoshizawa Ayame II, Yamashita Matatarô I, Yoshizawa Ayame III
Father-in-law: Yamashita Kinsaku I
Adopted sons: Nakamura Shingorô II, Nakamura Noshio II
Son-in-law: Nakamura Noshio I
Disciples: Nakamura Handayû (Yamashita Kinsaku II), Nakamura Ômachi, Nakamura Matsuyo, Nakamura Kyôjûrô II, Nakamura Tokusaburô, Nakamura Yoshimatsu, Nakamura Kichinosuke, Nakamura Tomiyo, Nakamura Man'yo
Career:
1719 ~ 1728: born in Ôsaka. Third son of the great star Yoshizawa Ayame I, who gives him the name of Yoshizawa Sakiya and trains him as an actor. He is adopted by Nakamura Shingorô I.
January 1729: he makes his first appearance on stage in Kyôto, as a wakaonnagata, taking the name of Nakamura Tomijûrô and playing in the drama "Keisei Isamiyama", which is produced by the zamoto Sanogawa Mangiku.
January 1731: Tomijûrô, his adopted father and Sanogawa Mangiku settle in Edo. The 3 actors play together at the Ichimuraza in the drama "Naresome Azuma Genji".
September 1731: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater in "Hana Shôbu Imagawa". Nakamura Shingorô, Sanogawa Mangiku and Tomijûrô go back to Kamigata after this performance.
November 1731: Tomijûrô triumphes in Kyôto by playing the role of the courtesan Tamayama in the kaomise drama "Hiragana Imagawajô", which is staged in Miyako Mandayû's theater.
September 1732: first Kabuki adaptation of Matsuda Bunkôdô and Hasegawa Senshi puppet theater drama "Dan no Ura Kabuto Gunki", which is produced in Kyôto by Arashi Kokuseki at Miyako Mandayû's theater; Tomijûrô plays the role of Okachi [casting].
November 1734: Tomijûrô becomes zamoto and produces in the same theater the play "Tomi Yakata Kogane no Yaguruma", written by the playwrights Tomimura Takichi, Iwai Izaemon and Sawamura Bunji. He works as a zamoto in Kyôto up to July 1737.
November 1735: Tomijûrô produces at Miyako Mandayû's theater the kaomise drama "Bankoku Ôshimadai".
Fall 1737: Tomijûrô settles in Ôsaka.
November 1737: Tomijûrô plays at the Kado no Shibai the role of the Shimabara pleasure quarter courtesan Konohana in the kaomise drama "Iwato Gura Kogane Masugata", which is produced by Iwai Hanshirô III.
November 1738: Tomijûrô is back in Kyôto and becomes zamoto, working with the nadai Kameya Kumenojô and producing Tomimura Takichi's kaomise drama "Ichi no Tomi Hôrai Yakata" in which he plays the role of Sonohana. He works as a zamoto in Kyôto up to October 1739.
January 1739: Tomijûrô produces the play "Keisei Arashiyama" in which he plays the roles of Mojiemon's daughter Osan, Princess Sakuragi and the courtesan Michinoku.
Fall 1739: Tomijûrô settles in Ôsaka.
September 1740: premiere in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai of the play "Hirakana Seisuiki", in which Tomijûrô plays the role of Chidori.
November 1740 ~ October 1741: Tomijûrô produces several plays in Ôsaka, notably "Yaguruma Yakata no Fuji".
November 1741: second stay in Edo in the company of Nakamura Shingorô I, Nakayama Shinkurô I and Ôtani Hiroji I. He triumphes at the Nakamuraza by playing in Hayakawa Denshirô's drama "En'ya Hangan Kokyô no Nishiki" and the dance "Shakkyô" ("The Stone Bridge"), a famous lion spirit's dance (shishimono).
January 1742: Tomijûrô plays the role of the courtesan Ôiso no Tora in the drama "Musume Soga Gaijin Yashima", which is performed at the Nakamuraza.
July 1742: premiere in Edo at the Nakamuraza of the play "Keisei Hangonkô" in which Tomijûrô plays the role of the courtesan Katsuragi [casting].
November 1742: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the role of Princess Tatsu in the kaomise program "Keisei Akazawayama".
January 1743: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the role of the courtesan Hidaka in the new year drama "Kadomidori Tokiwa Soga". His stage partners are Ôtani Hiroji I (Kurofune Chûemon), Sanogawa Mangiku (Yamabuki) and Sawamura Sôjûrô I (Ume no Yoshibei). Tomijûrô also plays the role of Osome, in duo with Sanogawa Ichimatsu I in the role of Hisamatsu in the dance "Osome Hisamatsu no Michiyuki".
April 1743: Tomijûrô visits the Kishibô Shrine in the district of Zôshigaya and offers a votive picture tablet.
May 1743: special performance at the Nakamuraza related to the exhibition of a sacred image of Shôtoku Taishi in the Shitennôji Temple in the district of Yûshima. Tomijûrô plays the roles of Ukamuse Hachibei's wife Kiku and the fox spirit of the temple Tennôji in the drama "Yamato Morokoshi Aishô Kagami". He also plays the role of Osan in duo with Utagawa Shirogorô in the role of Mohei in the drama "Daikyôji".
Fall 1743: Tomijûrô and Sawamura Sôjûrô I play in the same theater the roles of the courtesans Yatsuhashi and Yufuran in the drama "Futari Yatsuhashi". They decide to go back together to Ôsaka.
November 1743: Tomijûrô plays the role of the courtesan Konohana in Namiki Sôsuke's kaomise drama "Futatsu Biki Nishiki no Manmaku", produced at the Ônishi no Shibai by the zamoto Nakamura Jûzô I. His stage partner in the role of Ashikaga Yorikane is Sawamura Sôjûrô I.
December 1743: Tomijûrô and Sawamura Sôjûrô I play in the same theater the roles of the courtesan Tôyama and Saitô Shôkurô in the drama "Ômonguchi Yoroi Gasane".
March 1744: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Ono no Komachi and Shinobu in the drama "Ôshû Shinobu Ishi".
January 1745: première of the play "Keisei Hangonkô" in Kyôto at the Minamigawa no Shibai, in which Tomijûrô and Nakamura Shingorô I play the role of the courtesan Tôyama and the painter Matahei.
November 1745: Tomijûrô plays the role of Oshio in Namiki Eisuke's play "Toragoyomi Hoteibukuro", produced in Kyôto by Nakamura Kumetarô I.
October 1746: Tomijûrô plays the roles of Yae and Chiyo in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", which is produced by Asao Motogorô in Kyôto at Ebisuya Kichirôbei's theater.
January 1748: Tomijûrô plays the roles of Oritsu and Sakurado in the drama "Keisei Yoake no Kane", which is produced by Nakamura Kumetarô I in Kyôto at the Minamigawa no Shibai.
February 1748: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the role of Tomokirimaru in the drama "Tsuizen Soga Zoroe".
July 1748: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the role of the female hairdresser Otsuge in the drama "Keisei Momiji Gun".
Fall 1748: Tomijûrô achieves a great success in the same theater by playing the main role of the lion spirit dance "Shakkyô".
November 1748: Tomijûrô takes part in the kaomise program, playing the roles of Tokiwa Gozen and the fox Tokiwa in the drama "Sugamori Hiru-ga-Kojima", which is produced in Kyôto by Arashi San'emon IV. His stage partners are Fujikawa Heikurô, Yamashita Matatarô I, Sakurayama Shirosaburô II, Hanakawa Ichinojô, Sanogawa Hanazuma II and Imamura Shichisaburô II.
January 1749: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the role of Osaga in the drama "Keisei Chikai no Fumizuka".
May 1749: tour in Ise. Tomijûrô plays the role of Kuzu-no-Ha in the drama "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami", which is staged at the Naka-no-Jizô no Shibai.
November 1749: Tomijûrô takes part in the kaomise program, playing 2 roles in the kaomise drama "Tokitsukazeyasu Keizu", which is produced in Kyôto by Sakakiyama Shirotarô II; his stage partners are Yamashita Matatarô I, Kasaya Matakurô I, Sakakiyama Koshirô I and Sakurayama Shirosaburô II.
January 1750: Tomijûrô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent). He plays in the same theater the role of Sendai no Otsuru in the drama "Keisei Kodamazuka".
November 1750: Tomijûrô moves to Ôsaka and plays at the Naka no Shibai the roles of the fortune-teller Ohyaku and a female fox in the kaomise drama "Yasa Heike Sakiwake Musha", which is produced by Nakamura Jûzô I.
December 1750: the play "Keisei Hangonkô" is performed for the first time at the Naka no Shibai. It is produced by the zamoto Nakamura Jûzô I for the nadai Shioya Kuroemon and performed under the title "Keisei Tôyama Zakura". Tomijûrô plays the role of the courtesan Tôyama [casting].
January 1751: Tomijûrô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent).
April 1752: Tomijûrô plays the roles of Tonase and Osono in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which is produced by the zamoto Arashi San'emon IV in Kyôto. The role of Tonase's daughter Konami is played by the actor Yamamoto Iwanojô.
November 1752: third stay in Edo. Tomijûrô and Yamashita Kinsaku II play together at the Nakamuraza in the drama "Akazawayama Sumô Nikki".
March ~ June 1753: Tomijûrô achieves an huge success for several months by playing the main role of the dance "Kyôganoko Musume Dôjôji", which is performed at the Nakamuraza. His fame in the Shogun capital is equal to the late star Segawa Kikunojô I's.
March 1754: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the dance "Hanabusa Shûjaku no Shishi"; the leading role of this dance is played by Tomijûrô.
November 1754: great shûmei at the Nakamuraza. Matsumoto Kôshirô II and Matsumoto Kôzô take the respective names of Ichikawa Danjûrô IV and Matsumoto Kôshirô III. Tomijûrô plays the role of Tsukisayo in the kaomise drama "Miura no Ôsuke Bumon no Kotobuki".
August 1756: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the role of Chiyo in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".
January 1758: Tomijûrô plays at the Ichimuraza in the drama "Kujûsanki Ôyose Soga".
June 1759: Tomijûrô returns to Kamigata.
November 1759: Tomijûrô plays at the Kado no Shibai the role of Otomi in Namiki Shôzô I's kaomise drama "Saiwai Genji Chôkyû no Maki", which is produced by Nakayama Bunshichi I.
April 1761: Tomijûrô plays the role of Kuzu-no-Ha in the great drama "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami", which is produced at the Kado no Shibai by Nakayama Bunshichi I.
February 1763: Tomijûrô plays the role of the courtesan Tôyama in the play "Keisei Hangonkô", which is produced by Mimasu Daigorô I at the Naka no Shibai. His stage partners are Mimasu Daigorô I (Matahei), Arashi Sangorô II (Shirojirô) and Iwata Somematsu (Otoku).
July 1763: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Yae and Kan Shôjô in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".
November 1763: Tomijûrô plays the role of a fox spirit in the drama "Shôchikubai Ôshimadai", which is performed in Kyôto.
November 1764: Tomijûrô plays the role of Kan Shôjô in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", which is performed in Kyôto.
November 1766: Tomijûrô plays at the Naka no Shibai the roles of Tamamo-no-Mae and a white fox spirit in Namiki Jûsuke's kaomise drama "Yamato Uta Hikime no Yaguruma", which is produced by Nakamura Utaemon I.
March 1770: Tomijûrô plays the roles of Miyako and Oseki in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki", which is staged in Kyôto.
1770: tour in Ise.
November 1770: fourth stay in Edo; Tomijûrô plays 3 roles in the kaomise drama "Miyako Zome Giô Katsugi", which is performed at the Moritaza.
May 1771: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Sadanobu and Suke-no-Tsubone in the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura".
August 1771: Tomijûrô performs in the same theater in an amazing seven roles Nagauta-based dance called "Kiku ha Yae Shichinin Geshô". The seven sections are "Kanjo" (the court lady), "Harukoma" (a dance using a horse head look-alike puppet), "Wakashû Tanzen" (a boy in Tanzen style), "Keisei" (a high-ranking courtesan), "Yamagatsu" (the mountaineer), "Nuno Zarashi" (the bleached cotton dance) and "Yari Odori" (the spear dance).
November 1771: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the role of Nagoya Osan in the kaomise drama "Fukikaete Tsuki no Yoshiwara", which celebrates the arrival of the new zagashira Ichikawa Danjûrô V.
January 1772: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the role of Kudô Saemon Suketsune (almost unbelievable!) in the new year drama "Hatsu Akebono Niwatori Soga". The roles of Soga Jûrô Sukenari and Soga Gorô Tokimune are played by Ichikawa Danjûrô V and Nakamura Jûzô II.
November 1772: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the role of Osaga in the kaomise drama "Izu Goyomi Shibai no Ganjitsu", which celebrates the shûmei of Sawamura Chôjûrô IV, Sawamura Kijûrô II and Mikuni Fujigorô.
November 1774: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the role of Miyagino in the kaomise drama "Ichi no Tomi Tsuki no Kaomise", which celebrates the arrival in Edo of his adopted son Nakamura Shingorô II.
January 1775: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the roles of the dancer Ukigusa, the Sendai zatô Mukuichi and the spirit of Masakado in the new year program "Shida Yuzuriha Hôrai Soga". He is also the leading actor in the seven roles Tomimoto-based dance "Sono Saishiki Nanaori Ôgi".
May 1775: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the role of Yae in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". The role of Yae's husband Sakuramaru is played by Iwai Hanshirô IV.
August 1775: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the role of the courtesan Tôyama in the drama "Keisei Tsuki no Miyako".
November 1775: the departure of Matsumoto Kôshirô IV and Iwai Hanshirô IV to the Ichimuraza is a hard blow for the Moritaza. Tomijûrô stays and plays the roles of Bijomaru and Kiyoaki's wife in the kaomise drama "Kikujidô Shuen no Iwaya". He also plays the eponymous role of the dance "Sambasô".
January 1776: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the role of the courtesan Ôiso no Tora in the new year program "Sono Kyôdai Fuji no Sugatami".
February 1776: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the role of Osugi in second part (nibanme) of the new year program "Sono Kyôdai Fuji no Sugatami". His stage partners in the roles of Yaoya Oshichi and Kichisaburô are Yoshizawa Iroha I and Ichikawa Monnosuke II.
May 1776: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the role of Okoma in the Tokiwazu-based dance "Ayame Fukuhana no Itazura", sharing the stage with Ichikawa Danjûrô V, Ôtani Hiroji III and Ichikawa Monnosuke II.
July 1776: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the role of Kuzu-no-Ha in the drama "Kikyôzome Onna Urakata", whose plot and characters are similar to "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami". He also plays the role of Bikuni in the Tokiwazu-based dance "Hana Fubuki Fuji no Sugegasa", performed in duo with Bandô Mitsugorô I in the role of Fuji Tarô.
November 1776: Tomijûrô moves to the Nakamuraza and plays the role of Gion Okaji in the kaomise drama "Sakuya Kono Hana no Kaomise". He also plays the leading role of the Tokiwazu-based dance "Tono Gonomi Koi no Utaura".
November 1777: premiere at the Ichimuraza of the Tomimoto-based dance-drama "Meotozake Kawaranu Nakanaka" (commonly called "Kurama Jishi"); Tomijûrô plays the role of the female fox [casting].
19 November 1777: his two adopted sons, Nakamura Noshio I and Nakamura Shingorô II die the same day.
1778: Tomijûrô is back in Kamigata, after a short stay in Nagoya to perform the dance "Musume Dôjôji".
December 1778: Tomijûrô plays the role of Okinu in Namiki Gohei I's drama "Ishii no Jô Onna Nawabari", which is produced by Ogawa Kichitarô I in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai.
1781: tour in Nagoya.
September 1781: Tomijûrô plays the roles of Omiwa and Sadaka in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin", which is produced by Yoshizawa Iroha I in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai. His stage partners are Nakamura Utaemon I (Soga no Iruka), Nakayama Bunshichi I (Daihanji no Kiyosumi, Shibaroku), Nakamura Noshio II (Hinadori) and Yoshizawa Iroha I (Koganosuke, Princess Tachibana).
November 1781: Tomijûrô moves to Kyôto and plays the role of Ayatsuru in the drama "Shin Yakata Fukki no Ishizue", which is staged at the Kitagawa no Shibai.
May 1782: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the role of Miyako in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki".
July 1782: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Omiwa and Sadaka in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin". His stage partners are Onoe Kikugorô I (Daihanji no Kiyosumi), Fujikawa Hachizô II (Shibaroku), Yamamoto Giemon (Soga no Iruka), Nakamura Noshio II (Hinadori), Yoshizawa Iroha I (Koganosuke) and Onoe Tamizô I (Princess Tachibana).
January 1783: Tomijûrô plays the role of Shizuka Gozen in the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura", which is performed in Kyôto at the Nishigawa no Shibai. His stage partner in the role of Tadanobu is Arashi Hinasuke I.
January ~ April 1784: tour in Nagoya. Tomijûrô plays at the Inari Shrine in the dramas "Tana Biku Kogane no Shirahata" and "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".
May 1784: tour in Ise, Yamada and Matsuzaka. Tomijûrô plays among others the roles of Omiwa and Sadaka in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".
November 1784: Tomijûrô plays the role of Onna Kompira in Namiki Gohei I and Namiki Jûsuke play "Yunzei Kompira Musume", produced in Ôsaka by the young zamoto Onoe Ushinosuke I. Tomijûrô plays also the roles of Chiyo and Kan Shôjô in the great drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".
January 1786: Tomijûrô plays the role of Okame in the drama "Keisei Inabayama", which is performed in Kyôto at Miyako Mandayû's theater. He returns quickly in Ôsaka in order to perform at the Ônishi no Shibai before going back to the Imperial Capital.
March 1786: Tomijûrô appears on stage for the last time, in Kyôto at Miyako Mandayû's theater, performing in the drama "Onna Hachinoki".
August 1786: Tomijûrô dies in Kyôto. His tombstone is located in the precinct of the Yakuôji temple in Ôsaka.
Comments:
Nakamura Tomijûrô was an amazing eighteenth-century onnagata actor who found fame in both Edo.
One of his forte were the roles of women belonging to the samurai class (onna budôgoto), proud of their chivalrous spirit and involved in complicated revenge plots. Nakamura Tomijûrô created many female version of famous Kabuki characters, like "Onna Narukami" ("The Narukami woman"), "Onna Yuranosuke" ("The Yuranosuke women" - Yuranosuke is the main male role of the great play "Kanadehon Chûshingura"), "Onna Kagekiyo" ("The Kagekiyo woman" - Kagekiyo is the great warrior Taira no Kagekiyo), "Onna Kurofune" ("The Kurofune woman") and "Onna Asaina" ("The Asaina woman" - Kobayashi no Asaina is a famous character belonging to the sogamono world). "He was loved in all types of female roles - from proper young ladies to courtesans to samurai wives to amazons" (Samuel Leiter, "New Kabuki Encyclopedia").
Tomijûrô's best roles: the snake spirit dancer Hanako ("Kyôganoko Musume Dôjôji"), Hangaku ("Wada Gassen Onna Maizuru"), Chiyo ("Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"), Shigenoi ("Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna") and Chidori ("Hirakana Seisuiki").
Nakamura Tomijûrô
Prints and illustrations of Nakamura Tomijûrô I
Print made by Torii Kiyohiro in 1753
Print made by Torii Kiyohiro in 1753
Print made by Torii Kiyohiro in 1754
Print made by Torii Kiyohiro in 1756
Print made by Tôshûsai Sharaku 1794~1795
The Nakamura Tomijûrô line of actors