Stage names:

Nakamura Tomosa I
Nakamura Tomosaburô

Guild: Kyôya

Line number: SHODAI (I)

Poetry name: Gankô

Existence: 1762 ~ 14 January 1819

Connection:

Master: Nakamura Jiroza II

Son: Nakamura Tomosa II

Career:

End of the 1780s: this disciple of Nakamura Jiroza II starts his career in Ôsaka in hama shibai. His first stage name is Nakamura Tomosaburô. Later on, he is called Nakamura Tomosa I.

February 1790: his master Nakamura Jiroza II dies.

1798: Tomosa is considered as the best katakiyaku in hama shibai.

January 1814: Tomosa's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, dôkegata section, is jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent). He achieves a great success at the Kado no Shibai by playing the role of Hagino Yûzen in the drama "Keisei Tsukushi no Tsumagoto". This is the first performance in Kabuki history of a play based on the "Asagao Nikki" world [casting].

April 1814: "Keisei Tsukushi no Tsumagoto" is staged with the same casting in Kyôto at the Minamigawa no Shibai.

November 1814: Tomosa plays at the Minamigawa no Shibai the roles of Jûbei and Gentôta in the drama "Hôjô Jiraiki". He also achieves a great success by playing the role of the decchi Chôkichi in the drama "Katsuragawa Renri no Shigarami". We don't know what happens to him afterwards.

14 January 1819: Tomosa dies.

Comments:

Nakamura Tomosa I was a katakiyaku and dôkegata actor, who gained in popularity in Ôsaka in hama shibai at the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th centuries. He joined the ôshibai in 1813 and was very good in roles like Yûzen ("Keisei Tsukushi no Tsumagoto"), Yajirobei ("Kamikakete Chikai no Tsumagushi"), the evil clerk Zenroku ("Somemoyô Imose no Kadomatsu") or the decchi Chôkichi ("Katsuragawa Renri no Shigarami").

The actors Nakamura Tomosa I (bottom) and Arashi Kanjûrô I (top/right) playing the roles of Hagino Yûzen and Keian in the drama "Keisei Tsukushi no Tsumagoto", which was staged in January 1814 at the Kado no Shibai

The Nakamura Tomosa line of actors