Stage names:
Nakamura Utaemon III
Nakamura Tamasuke
Nakamura Baigyoku I
Nakamura Shikan I
Kagaya Fukunosuke I
Nicknames: Kagaya Utaemon, Baigyoku Utaemon
Pen name: Kanazawa Ryûgoku
Guild: Kagaya
Line number: SANDAIME (III)
Poetry names: Baigyoku, Shikan
Existence: 3 March 1778 ~ 13 July 1838
Connections:
Father: Nakamura Utaemon I
Son: Nakamura Hashinosuke I
Great-grandsons: Nakamura Tamashichi I, Nakamura Tsurusuke V
Adopted sons: Nakamura Utaemon IV, Nakamura Shikan III, Nakamura Matsue IV
Disciples: Nakamura Tomijûrô II, Nakamura Karoku I, Ogawa Kichitarô III, Nakamura Tomitaki, Nakamura Tôzô II, Nakamura Tôzô III, Nakamura Shibajûrô, Nakamura Shirobei.
Career:
1778 ~ 1788: born in Ôsaka. Son of Nakamura Utaemon I. The original plan of his father is to make him study medecine instead of acting but the stage call is stronger than anything else.
1788: he makes his first appearance on stage in Kyôto at Miyako Mandayû's theater, receiving the name of the name of Kagaya Fukunosuke I.
1790: Kagaya Fukunosuke takes the name of Nakamura Utaemon III.
March 1795: Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Komochi Yamamba", which was originally written for the puppet theater, is adapted to Kabuki for the first time, in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai; Utaemon plays the roles of Watanabe no Tsuna and the koshimoto Ozasa [casting].
November 1799: Utaemon is supposed to play at the Naka no Shibai but the performance is in fact staged in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai. He plays the role of Gumpei in the drama "Gion Sairei Shinkôki". His stage partners are Sawamura Sôjûrô III (Tôkichi), Kataoka Nizaemon VII (Zesai, Yamaguchi Kurojirô, Matsunaga Daizen) and Nakayama Ittoku I (Princess Yuki).
November 1800: first Kabuki adaptation of Chikamatsu Yanagi's puppet theater drama "Ehon Taikôki", which was written in July 1799. The play is produced by Nakayama Tokujirô in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai and Utaemon plays the role of Oda Harunaga [casting].
September 1801: premiere at the Kitagawa no Shibai of Shiba Shisô's drama "Hakone Reigen Izari no Adauchi"; Utaemon plays the role of Fudesuke [casting].
March 1804: Utaemon plays the roles of Sadakurô and Ishidô Umanojô in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which is produced in Kyôto by Hayagumo Chôdayû and Kameya Kumenojô at the Kitagawa no Shibai. His stage partners are Kataoka Nizaemon VII, Ichikawa Danzô IV, Arashi Sangorô III and Yamashita Yaozô I
May 1804: Utaemon plays in the same theater the role of Danshichi in "Yadonashi Danshichi Shigure no Karakasa". His stage partners are Kataoka Nizaemon VII (Umesuke) and Segawa Rokô III (Otomi).
August 1805: tour in Nagoya. Utaemon plays the role of Tanzaemon in the drama "Heike Nyogo-ga-Shima", which is performed in the precinct of the Seijuin temple. His stage partners are Kataoka Nizaemon VII (Shunkan), Fujikawa Tomokichi I (Chidori) and Ôtani Tomoemon II (Senoo Tarô).
September 1805: Utaemon is back in Kyôto to play the role of Tanigorô and Shûya in the drama "Go Taiheiki Shiraishi Banashi", which is produced by Fujikawa Tomosaburô at the Kitagawa no Shibai. He also plays the role of Kameya Chûbei in "Keisei Sandogasa", sharing the stage with Kataoka Nizaemon VII (Magoemon) and Fujikawa Tomokichi I (the courtesan Umegawa).
January 1806: Utaemon plays the role of Hanazono Michizune in the drama "Keisei Nazuna no Sekku", which is staged in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai [Shôkôsai print].
December 1806: Utaemon takes part in the kaomise of the Kado no Shibai, with Ichikawa Danzô IV and Kataoka Nizaemon VII. The three stars perform together in the drama "Ôsakazuki Asahi no Hôrai", which is produced by Yoshizawa Minosuke.
March 1807: Utaemon plays the role of the sumô wrestler Nuregami Chôgorô in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki", which is staged in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai. His stage partner in the role of the rival sumô wrestler Hanaregoma Chôkichi is Asao Kuzaemon I.
January 1808: Utaemon plays the role of Nagoya Sanza in the drama "Keisei Inazuma Zôshi", which is staged in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai.
February 1808: Utaemon spends a few days performing in Nagoya and then settles in Edo in March, starting to play at the Nakamuraza.
May 1808: Utaemon plays the three leading male roles (Tadanobu, Tomomori, Gonta) of the classic "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura", which is staged in the same theater.
July 1808: premiere at the Nakamuraza of Segawa Jokô II's drama "Zôho Izari no Adauchi"; Utaemon plays the roles of Iinuma Sanzaemon and Iinuma Katsugorô [casting].
August 1808: Utaemon plays in the same theater the role of Matsuômaru in the great drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".
November 1808: Utaemon takes part in the Nakamuraza kaomise program "Gohiiki Onga no Shimadai".
1809: Utaemon gives 1500 ryô, a huge amount of money at that time, to the Jôshinji temple for the rebuilding of the Myôkendô pavillon.
May 1809: Utaemon plays at the Nakamuraza the roles of Ôboshi Yuranosuke, Kô no Moronô, Ono Sadakurô, Amakawaya Gihei and Tonase in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura". His stage partners are Seki Sanjûrô II (En'ya Hangan), Ichikawa Omezô I (Hayano Kampei) and Segawa Rokô IV (Oishi)
November 1809: Utaemon plays in the same theater the role of Abe no Sadatô [Utagawa Toyokuni I print] in the drama "Ôshû Dachiyuki no Kurogoma", whose plot and characters belong to the "Ôshû Adachi-ga-Hara" world.
March 1810: Utaemon plays the prestigious role of the king of thieves Ishikawa Goemon in the drama "Sanmon Gosan no Kiri", which is performed at the Nakamuraza. His stage partner in the role of Mashiba Hisayoshi is Bandô Hikosaburô III.
September 1810: Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Komochi Yamamba" is staged for the first time in Edo, at the Nakamuraza; Utaemon plays the role of Oginoya Yaegiri [casting]. He plays in the same theater the role of Nikki Danjô in the drama "Date Asobi Kuruwa Fûzoku", whose plot and characters belong to the "Meiboku Sendai Hagi" world. He also plays the role of Gotobei in "Yoshitsune Koshigoejô".
November 1810: Utaemon takes part in the Nakamuraza kaomise program "Setsugekka no Kuronushi".
March 1811: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the 7-role Nagauta-based hengemono "Osozakura Teniha no Nana Moji"; the seven roles are performed by Utaemon. The 4th role is still part of the current repertoire and is staged under the title "Echigo Jishi".
July 1811: Utaemon plays in the same theater the role of Umeômaru in the great drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". His stage partners are Sawamura Gennosuke I (Matsuômaru) and Onoe Matsusuke II (Sakuramaru).
May 1812: Utaemon plays in the same theater the role of the priest Seigen in the drama "Kiyomizu Seigen Omokage Zakura". His stage partner in the role of Princess Sakura is Arashi Tomisaburô II.
September 1812: the actor Utaemon, who is about to travel back to his native Kamigata after more than 4 years spent in Edo, performs his onagori kyôgen at the Nakamuraza, which includes the premiere of a sambasô titled "Mata Kuru Haru Suzuna no Tanemaki". The roles of Sambasô, Senzai and Okina were performed by Utaemon, Nakamura Akashi IV and Nakamura Shichisaburô IV.
Fall 1812: Utaemon goes back to Kamigata.
March 1813: Utaemon plays the role of Danshichi in the drama "Yadonashi Danshichi Shigure no Karakasa", which is staged in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai.
June 1814: Utaemon plays the role of the sumô wrestler Hanaregoma Chôkichi [Utagawa Toyokuni I print] in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki", which is staged in Edo at the Nakamuraza. His stage partner in the role of the rival sumô wrestler Nuregami Chôgorô is Bandô Mitsugorô III.
August 1814: Utaemon plays in the same theater the roles of Honda Dainaiki and Ishidome Busuke in the drama "Igagoe Norikake Gappa".
September 1814: Utaemon plays in the same theater the role of Iwanaga Saemon in the drama Dan no Ura Kabuto Gunki. His stage partners in the roles of Akoya and Shigetada are Nakamura Matsue III and Bandô Mitsugorô III.
November 1814: Utaemon takes part in the Nakamuraza kaomise program "Ninin Mukomi Kurai Sadame".
April 1815: Utaemon plays in the same theater the role of Heiji in "Hirakana Seisuiki".
July 1815: Utaemon celebrates his last performance in Edo at the Nakamuraza by playing the role of Matahei in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Keisei Hangonkô". The performance is a great success.
November 1815: Utaemon is back in Ôsaka, at the Kado no Shibai, playing the roles of Ôboshi Yuranosuke, Jûtarô and Yasaku in the drama "Taiheiki Chûshin Kôshaku". His stage partners are Ichikawa Ebijûrô I, Nakayama Bunshichi III and Nakayama Shinkurô III. He also plays the roles of Omiwa and Soga no Iruka in "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".
January 1816: Utaemon plays the roles of Sasaki Tan'emon, Honda Dainaiki and Ishidome Busuke in the drama "Igagoe Norikake Gappa", which is produced by Nakamura Utagorô in the same theater. He also plays the role of Kameya Chûbei in "Koi Bikyaku Yamato Ôrai", sharing the stage with Nakayama Yoshio I in the role of the courtesan Umegawa.
March 1816: Utaemon performs in the same theater in the 9-roles dance "Sono Kokonoe Saishiki Zakura".
May 1816: Utaemon plays in the same theater the roles of Tôkichi and Ranmaru in the drama "Gion Sairei Shinkôki".
August 1816: Utaemon moves to the Horie no Shibai at the beginning of the month, performing in the drama "Danshichi Mohei". He's back at the Kado no Shibai at the end of the month and plays the roles of Jiroemon and Sanai in "Oriawase Tsuzure no Nishiki".
September 1816: Utaemon plays in the same theater the roles of Ashikaga Yorikane, Watanabe Gekizaemon and Saibara Kakeyu in the drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi". He also plays the male role of the dance "Tsuri Gitsune", in duo with Nakayama Yoshio I.
November 1816: Utaemon moves to Kyôto, performing in the Kitagawa no Shibai kaomise program in the company of Ichikawa Ebijûrô I, Nakayama Yoshio I and Arashi Sangorô III.
January 1817: Utaemon is back in Ôsaka, playing in the drama "Keisei Chikugo-ga-Fuchi", which is produced by Nakamura Utagorô at the Kado no Shibai.
March 1817: Utaemon plays in the same theater the role of Funakoshi Kuhachi in the drama "Katakiuchi Midô no Mae". He also plays the role of the monkey trainer Yojirô in the drama "Sarumawashi Kadode no Hitofushi".
May 1817: Utaemon plays in the same theater the roles of Yokozô, Yamamoto Kansuke and Takasaka Danjô in the drama "Honchô Nijûshikô". He also plays the role of Kon'ya Tokubei in the drama "Kasane Izutsu".
August 1817: Utaemon agrees to perform in Edo at the Nakamuraza.
Winter 1817/1818: Utaemon goes to Edo.
February 1818: Nakamura Utaemon III takes the name of Nakamura Shikan I at the Nakamuraza; the play "Kamakura Sandaiki" is staged for the first time in Edo and Shikan plays the role of Sasaki Takatsuna [casting].
April 1818: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the dance "Sono Sugata ha Hana no Utsushie", ending a program called "Higashiyama Dono Kabuki no Danmaku" (nibanme). Shikan, his Edo rival Bandô Mitsugorô III and the great onnagata Iwai Hanshirô V play together. This dance, commonly called "Mitsu Ningyô" (literally "The three puppets"), is still in the current Kabuki repertoire.
May 1818: Shikan plays in the same theater the roles of Fukashichi and Sadaka in "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".
July 1818: Shikan plays in the same theater the role of Rokusuke in the drama "Katakiuchi Doremo Wazamono", whose plot and characters belong to the "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi" world. His stage partner in the role of Osono is Iwai Hanshirô V.
November 1818: Shikan takes part in the Nakamuraza kaomise program "Higashiyama Dono Kabuki no Danmaku". He plays the roles of Kazusanosuke Hiromitsu, Taira no Kiyomori and Demura Shimbei in the drama "Ise Heiji Hiiki no Kamikaze". There is also a "Sayaate" scene, in which Shikan plays the role of Nagoya Sanza [Utagawa Toyokuni I print], confronting on stage Sanza's rival in love Fuwa Banzaemon, who is portrayed by Matsumoto Kôshirô V. The role of the courtesan Katsuragi is played by Segawa Kikunojô V.
March 1819: Shikan plays in the same theater the role of the Ohatsu in the drama "Yayoi no Hana Onna Hinagata", whose plot and characters belong to the "Kagamiyama" world. His stage partners are Bandô Mitsugorô III (Iwafuji) and Nakamura Daikichi I (Onoe). He also plays the role of the villain Ikyû in the drama "Sukeroku Kuruwa no Momoyogusa", sharing the stage with Onoe Kikugorô III (Sukeroku) and Iwai Kumesaburô II (Agemaki).
April 1819: Shikan plays in the same theater the roles of Shiratayû and Takebe Genzô in the great drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".
May 1819: Shikan plays in the same theater the role of Danshichi Kurobei in "Natsu Matsuri Yomiya no Tateire", whose plot and characters belong to the "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami" world. His stage partners are Bandô Mitsugorô III (Issun Tokubei) and Seki Sanjûrô II (Tsuribune Sabu).
June 1819: Shikan plays in the same theater the role of Gotobei in "Yoshitsune Koshigoejô". He also plays the role of the sumô wrestler Tetsugadake in the drama "Sekitori Senryô Nobori".
September 1819: Shikan celebrates his last performance at the Nakamuraza by playing all the roles of a 9-roles dance program called "Onagori Oshie no Mazebari". The roles are Tennin (a heavenly being [Utagawa Toyokuni I print]), Kyôran (the madness [Utagawa Kunisada I print]), Kurombô (the black creature [Utagawa Kunisada I print]), Tomomori (the legendary warrior Taira no Tomomori [Utagawa Toyokuni I print]), Tobae (this section is based on of Toba Sôjô Kakuyû who was a high-ranking prient of the Tendai sect and a renowned painter [Utagawa Kunisada I print]), Miko (a shaman [Utagawa Toyokuni I print]), Kan'u (a famous Chinese warlord [Utagawa Toyokuni I print]), Keisei (a high-ranking courtesan [Utagawa Toyokuni I print]) and Tamamo-no-Mae (the leading character of the play "Tamamo-no-Mae Asahi no Tamoto" [Utagawa Toyokuni I print])
Fall 1819: Shikan returns to Kamigata and takes back his previous name of Nakamura Utaemon III.
November 1819: Utaemon plays the role of the sumô wrestler Hanaregoma Chôkichi in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki", which is staged in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai. His stage partner in the role of the rival sumô wrestler Nuregami Chôgorô is Ichikawa Ebijûrô I.
March 1820: Utaemon plays in the same theater the roles of Igami no Gonta and the fox Tadanobu in the classic "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura". He also plays the role of Inanoya no Hanbei in the drama "Koina Hanbei Kuruwa no Iroage".
July 1820: Utaemon plays in the same theater the role of Komagata Kuranoshin in the drama "Tenjiku Tokubei Ikoku Banashi". His stage partner is the Edo star Onoe Kikugorô III.
September 1820: Utaemon plays in the same theater the role of Satô Masakiyo in the drama "Hachijin Shugo no Honjô" [print].
January 1821: Utaemon plays the roles of Takechi Mitsuhide, Senoo Tarô and Ohatsu in the dramas "Ehon Taikôki", "Gempei Nunobiki no Taki" and "Keisei Kagamiyama", which are produced at the Kado no Shibai by Nakamura Matsuyo. He shares the stage with his stage rival, the Edo star Bandô Mitsugorô III.
March 1821: premiere at the Kado no Shibai of the drama "Kajiwara Heizô Kôbai Tazuna", a new version of the third act of "Miura no Ôsuke Ôbai Tazuna", revised by Utaemon under his pen name of Kanazawa Ryûgoku; the star plays the role of Kajiwara Heizô Kagetoki [casting]. He also plays in the same theater the roles of Fukashichi and Sadaka in the drama "Imoseyma Onna Teikin". His stage partners are Arashi Koroku IV (Omiwa, Koganosuke), Bandô Mitsugorô III (Daihanji, Iruka, Fujiwara no Tankai) and Nakamura Matsue III (Hinadori).
May 1821: Utaemon plays in the same theater the roles of Kô no Moronô, Takubei and Katô Yomoshichi [Asayama Ashikuni print] in the drama "Taiheiki Chûshin Kôshaku".
July 1821: Utaemon moves to the Naka no Shibai, playing the roles of Arajishi Otokonosuke and Hosokawa Katsumoto in the play "Hagi ha Sendai Na ha Matsumoto", whose plot and characters belong to the "Meiboku Sendai Hagi" world.
August 1821: Utaemon plays in the same theater the role of Akamatsu Enshin in the drama "Akamatsu Enshin Midori no Jinmaku".
September 1821: Utaemon is back at the Kado no Shibai, playing in the drama "Taiheiki Kikusui no Maki" but the performance is not a success because of a quarrel between Utaemon and Ichikawa Danzô V.
February 1822: the rivalry between Utaemon and Bandô Mitsugorô III reaches its climax when both actors play simultaneously the prestigious larger-than-life role of Ishikawa Goemon in the drama "Kinmon Gosan no Kiri". Utaemon plays at the Naka no Shibai and Mitsugorô at the Kado no Shibai. Utaemon's stage partner in the role of Hisayoshi is Kataoka Nizaemon VII.
November 1822: premiere at the Kitagawa no Shibai of the drama "Kajiwara Heizô Kidai no Ishikiri", a new version of the third act of "Miura no Ôsuke Ôbai Tazuna", revised by Utaemon under his pen name of Kanazawa Ryûgoku; the star plays the role of Kajiwara Heizô Kagetoki [casting].
March 1823: amazing performance done by Utaemon, who plays 7 roles in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", which is produced by Nakamura Kajinosuke at the Kado no Shibai.
November 1823: Utaemon settles in Kyôto and plays the role of Iwanaga Saemon in the drama "Dan no Ura Kabuto Gunki", which is performed at the Kitagawa no Shibai. His stage partners are Nakamura Karoku I (Akoya) and Ichikawa Ebijûrô I (Shigetada).
April 1825: Utaemon plays the role of Shunkan [Yoshikuni print] in the drama "Hime Komatsu Ne-no-Hi no Asobi", which is performed in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai.
1826: Nakamura Utaemon III takes the name of of Nakamura Baigyoku I and keeps it a few months.
September 1829: Utaemon plays the role of Matahei in the drama "Keisei Hangonkô", which is produced at the Kado no Shibai by Nakamura Umematsu. His stage partners are Nakamura Matsue III (Otoku), Arashi Rikan II (Utanosuke) and Kataoka Nizaemon VII (Shôgen). The same play is performed with the same casting in November at the Kitagawa no Shibai in Kyôto.
January 1830: his rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki is murui (literally "unequaled"). He shares the same rank with 2 others stars: Kataoka Nizaemon VII and Matsumoto Kôshirô V. Utaemon plays the roles of Ishikawa Goemon, Ishida no Tsubone and Sanigoroshichi in the drama "Keisei Setsugekka", whose plot and characters belong to the "Kinmon Gosan no Kiri" world and which is performed in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai.
March 1830: Utaemon plays in the same theater the role of Soga Jûrô, [Shigeharu print] disguised as a sake-seller, in the drama "Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura". His stage partners in the roles of Sukeroku and Agemaki are Ichikawa Hakuen II and Nakamura Matsue III.
June 1830: tour in Miyajima in the company of Nakamura Matsue III. They perform in "Hirakana Seisuiki".
August 1830: Utaemon plays the roles of Rokusuke and Hosokawa Yasôzaemon in the drama "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi", which is produced in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai by Sawamura Kamekichi. The role of Osono is played by Nakamura Matsue III.
September 1830: Utaemon moves to the Kado no Shibai and plays the roles of Abe no Yasuna and the yakko Yakampei in the drama "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami".
November 1830: Utaemon plays the role of Matsuômaru in the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", which is performed at the Kitagawa no Shibai in Kyôto. He also plays the role of Tadanobu in one act of the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura", which is performed at the end of the programm.
January 1831: Utaemon is back in Ôsaka, playing 3 roles in the drama "Keisei Shigeshige Yawa", produced by Nakamura Baika I at the Naka no Shibai. His rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki is kokon murui (literally "unequaled through all ages").
March 1831: the troupe performing at the Naka no Shibai moves to the Kado no Shibai. Utaemon plays 3 roles in the drama "Onna Setsuyô Emon Kagami". Utaemon and Nakamura Noshio III end the program by performing in duo in the dance Kyôganoko Musume Dôjôji. Noshio falls suddenly ill and Utaemon has to perform the dance alone.
May 1831: Utaemon plays in the same theater the roles of Tokaiya Gimpei and Taira no Tomomori in the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura". He also plays the role of Kagekiyo in "Onna Kagekiyo".
July 1831: the troupe performing at the Kado no Shibai moves to the Naka no Shibai. Utaemon plays the role of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane in the drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki". He also plays the role of Kameya Chûbei in "Koi Bikyaku Yamato Ôrai", sharing the stage with Nakamura Matsue III in the role of the courtesan Umegawa.
September 1831: Utaemon plays in the same theater the role of Asama in the drama "Takane no Nami".
November 1831: Utaemon and his troupe move to Kyôto, performing for the Kitagawa no Shibai kaomise program. He plays the roles of Kô no Moronô, Hayano Kampei and Ôboshi Yuranosuke in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
January 1832: Utaemon and his troupe are back in Ôsaka, playing in the drama "Keisei Hana no Yamazaki", which is produced by Nakamura Tamanosuke at the Naka no Shibai.
February 1832: the troupe moves to the Kado no Shibai. Utaemon plays the roles of Kamatari, Daihanji no Kiyosumi and Fukashichi in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin", which is produced by Sawamura Montarô.
September 1832: Matsue plays in the same theater the roles of Takemura Sadanoshin, Sagisaka Sanai and Shigenoi in the drama "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna".
November 1832: Utaemon takes part in the kaomise program of the Kado no Shibai, playing in the dance "Tokiwa Akizuki no Aki", which is produced by Nakamura Umematsu.
January 1833: his disciple Nakamura Matsue III takes the prestigious name of Nakamura Tomijûrô II, which has not been held since August 1786. They celebrate this shûmei by performing together at the Kado no Shibai in the new year drama "Keisei Chigo-ga-Fuchi". This is also the premiere of "Chichi Morai", staged as the second part of "Keisei Chigo-ga-Fuchi", in which Utaemon plays the role of Kanô Shirojirô [casting].
March 1833: Utaemon is back in Kyôto and plays the roles of Soga no Iruka, Daihanji no Kiyosumi and Fukashichi in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin", which is staged at the Kitagawa no Shibai. Premiere at the Kitagawa no Shibai of "Hana Fubuki Koi no Tekagami", in which Utaemon plays the role of Kanô Shirojirô [casting].
May 1833: Utaemon is back in Ôsaka, playing the role of Kanki in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Kokusen'ya Gassen", which is staged at the Kado no Shibai. The role of Watônai is played by Arashi Rikan II.
July 1833: Utaemon moves to Kyôto, performing in the drama "Kokusen'ya Gassen" and "Gokusaishiki Musume Ôgi", which are staged at the Kitagawa no Shibai.
December 1833: Utaemon is back in Ôsaka, playing the role of Yoshitsune in the drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki", which is produced by Nakamura Tsurunosuke at the Kado no Shibai.
November 1834: Utaemon settles in Kyôto and takes part in the kaomise of the Kitagawa no Shibai. He plays the role of Yoshitsune in the "Kumagai Jin'ya" scene of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki". He also plays the role of Gotobei in "Yoshitsune Koshigoejô".
April 1835: tour in Ise in the company of Arashi Kichisaburô III and Asao Kuzaemon II. Utaemon performs in the dramas "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki" and "Yoshitsune Koshigoejô", which are staged at the Naka-no-Jizô Shibai.
May 1835: Utaemon performs in the same theater in the drama "Konoshita Kage Hazama Gassen" and the 7-roles dance "Shichimai Tsuzuki Naniwa no Sugatae".
January 1836: Utaemon decides to adopt his disciple Nakamura Shikan II and to give him his name. Nakamura Shikan II, Nakamura Utaemon III and Nakamura Tsurusuke II respectively take the names of Nakamura Utaemon IV, Nakamura Tamasuke and Nakamura Shikan III, playing together in the drama "Keisei Haru no Tori", which is produced by the zamoto Nakamura Umezô in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai.
May 1838: Tamasuke appears on stage for the last time, at the Naka no Shibai in Ôsaka, playing the roles of Kajiwara Heizô Kagetoki and Tatara Shindô Saemon in the dramas "Kajiwara Heizô Kôbai Tazuna" and "Karukaya Dôshin Tsukushi no Iezuto".
Comments:
Nakamura Utaemon III was an outstanding kaneru yakusha, who won fame for himself first in Kamigata, then in Edo. He was also famous for his acting rivalries with Arashi Kichisaburô II in Ôsaka, then with Bandô Mitsugorô III and Matsumoto Kôshirô V in Edo. One of his fields of excellence was the hengemono dances. He performed up to 9 roles/costums changes during the same dance.
Nakamura Utaemon III's best roles: Matsuômaru ("Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"), Kumagai Jirô Naozane ("Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki"), Taira no Tomomori/Igami no Gonta/Tadanobu ("Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura") and Gotobei ("Yoshitsune Koshigoejô").
It is worth noting that Nakamura Utaemon III was also a playwright, writing around 25 plays under the pen name of Kanazawa Ryûgoku.
If you have a bit of time during your stay in Tôkyô, there is a place where you can pay your respect to Nakamura Utaemon III. A stone was erected after his death in the precinct of Jôshinji temple, in memory of his generosity. This stone is called Baigyoku no Hi, literally "the monument of Baigyoku".
Nakamura Utaemon III playing the role of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane in the drama "Kumagai Jin'ya"
Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1811
Print made by Utagawa Kunisada in 1818
Print made by Utagawa Kunisada in 1819
Print made by Jukôdô Yoshikuni in 1820
Print made by Jukôdô Yoshikuni in 1826
Print made by Utagawa Kunihiro in 1827
Print made by Jukôdô Yoshikuni in 1828
Print made by Asayama Ashiyuki in 1829 (courtesy of V.)
Print made by Utagawa Kunihiro in 1830
The Nakamura Shikan line of actors
The Nakamura Baigyoku line of actors
The Nakamura Utaemon line of actors