Stage names:
Ôtani Tomoemon VI
Nakamura Tôzô V
Nakamura Komasuke
Nakamura Omocha
Nakamura Kanbei
Real name: Aoki Yaetarô
Guild: Akashiya
Line number: ROKUDAIME (VI)
Existence: June 1886 ~ 1 September 1943
Connections:
Father: Nakamura Sagisuke II
Master: Nakamura Utaemon V
Brother: Nakamura Fukunojô
Son: Nakamura Jakuemon IV
Grandsons: Ôtani Tomoemon VIII, Nakamura Shibajaku VII
Great-grandsons: Ôtani Hirotarô III, Ôtani Hiromatsu II
Career:
1886: born in Tôkyô in the district of Asakusa.
1891: he appears on stage for the first time, as a disciple of Nakamura Fukusuke IV, playing at the Asakusaza under the name of Nakamura Kambei.
November 1898: Nakamura Kambei takes the name of Nakamura Omocha at the Shintomiza, playing the role of Katsuyori in the drama "Keisei Awa no Naruto".
June 1902: Nakamura Omocha takes the name of Nakamura Komasuke at the Ichimuraza, playing in the drama "Toyotomi Tenka Bunroku Monogatari".
November 1911: Nakamura Komasuke takes the name of Nakamura Tôzô V at the Kabukiza, playing in the drama "Kamakura Bushi Kagami".
April 1920: Nakamura Tôzô V the prestigious name of Ôtani Tomoemon VI, which was unused for almost half a century.
February 1922: Tomoemon plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Matsuômaru in the "Terakoya" scene of the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". His stage partners are Onoe Kikugorô VI (Genzô), Sawamura Sônosuke I (Chiyo) and Ichikawa Kigan V (Tonami).
April 1926: Tomoemon plays at the Hongôza the roles of Moronô and Sadakurô in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
October 1927: revival at the Hongôza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's masterpiece "Sakura Hime Azuma Bunshô", produced under the title "Kiyomizudera Azuma Bunshô", which has not been staged since March 1817; Tomoemon plays the roles of Tsurigane no Gonsuke and Shinobu no Sôta [casting].
November 1928: Tomoemon plays at the Hongôza (Tôkyô) the roles of Yuranosuke, Kô no Moronô and Oribe Yajibei in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura". His stage partners are Ichikawa Sumizô VI (Hayano Kampei), Sawamura Tosshi VIII (Teraoka Heiemon) and Bandô Shûchô III (En'ya Hangan, Okaru).
December 1929: Tomoemon plays at the Shinjuku Shinkabukiza (Tôkyô) the roles of Yuranosuke, Kô no Moronô, Sadakurô and Oribe Yajibei in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura". His stage partners are Ichikawa Sumizô VI (Hayano Kampei, Teraoka Heiemon) and Bandô Shûchô III (En'ya Hangan, Okaru).
September 1943: he dies while on tour, victim of a terrible earthquake that hits the province of Shimane.
Comments:
Ôtani Tomoemon VI was a talented and popular supporting tachiyaku, specialized in katakiyaku and oyajigata roles. He was a stage partner for the stars Onoe Kikugorô VI and Ichikawa Ennosuke II.
Ôtani Tomoemon VI in the role of Kan Shôjô in a print made by Natori Shunsen (1925)
Print made by Ôta Masamitsu in 1950
The Nakamura Tôzô line of actors
The Ôtani Tomoemon line of actors