Stage names:

Nakamura Rikô I
Nakamura Matsue I
Nakamura Matsuemon
Nakamura Senzaburô

Guild: Sakaiya

Line number: SHODAI (I)

Poetry names: Rikô, Rishô

Existence: 1742 ~ 11th day of the 10th lunar month of 1786

Connection:

Master: Nakamura Utaemon I

Disciple: Nakamura Otoza

Career:

1742: born in Kamigata. He starts his career at an early age as a disciple of the actor Nakamura Utaemon I, who gives him the name of Nakamura Senzaburô. He later on takes the name of Nakamura Matsuemon, at the beginning of the Hôreki era, because of his successful performance in the role of the boatman Matsuemon in the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki" in kodomo shibai.

1757: he becomes iroko in Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1759: he becomes wakaonnagata in Ôsaka.

Fall 1760: Matsuemon goes to Kyôto.

11th lunar month of 1760: Matsuemon plays at the Kitagawa no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Kiku Nagashi Kokka Taiheiki", which is produced by Nakamura Senzô and celebrates the shûmei of Nakamura Manbê.

Fall 1761: Matsuemon goes to Edo.

11th lunar month of 1761: Nakamura Matsuemon takes the name of Nakamura Matsue I at the Moritaza, playing in the kaomise drama "Misonô Banzei no Hachinoki".

1st lunar month of 1762: Matsue plays in the same theater the roles of Kewaizaka no Shôshô and Yaoya Oshichi in the new year drama "Koi Zakura Umewaka Soga".

11th lunar month of 1762: Matsue moves to the Ichimuraza and plays the role of the pearl-diving girl Murasame in the kaomise drama "Kisoe Uta Sakae Komachi"; his stage partners in the roles of Murasame's lover Ariwara no Yukihira and Murasame's sister Matsukaze (also in love with Yukihira) are Ichimura Uzaemon IX and Segawa Kikunojô II.

1st lunar month of 1763: Matsue's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is jô-jô (superior - superior) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1763: Matsue moves to the Nakamuraza and plays the role of Kumano Gozen in the kaomise drama "Daijôbu Takadachi Jikki", which celebrates the shûmei of Ichikawa Yaozô II and Ichikawa Komazô II.

1st lunar month of 1764: Matsue plays in the same theater the role of Ôiso no Tora in the new year drama "Hitokidori Harutsuge Soga".

3rd lunar month of 1764: Matsue achieves a great success in the same theater by playing the role of the courtesan Agemaki in "Sukeroku", the nibanme part of the new year drama; the roles of Agemaki's lover Sukeroku and Sukeroku's enemy Ikyû are played by Ichikawa Raizô I and Ôtani Hiroemon III.

5th lunar month of 1764: Matsue 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 Ichikawa Komazô II.

11th lunar month of 1764: Matsue plays at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Azuma no Hana Sôma no Dairi".

5th lunar month of 1765: Matsue plays in the same theater the role of Tonase in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

11th lunar month of 1765: Matsue plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Komachi, in reality Kujaku Saburô's wife, in the kaomise drama "Kagura Uta Amagoi Komachi", which celebrates the shûmei of Iwai Hanshirô IV; the role of Kujaku Saburô is played by Ichikawa Danjûrô IV.

1st lunar month of 1766: Matsue's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent) [visual].

5th lunar month of 1766: premiere of the play "Yaoya Oshichi Koi no Edozome", which is staged at the Nakamuraza; Matsue plays the role of Yaoya Oshichi; his stage partners in the roles of Noriyori and Kichisaburô are Ichikawa Danjûrô IV and Ichikawa Benzô I.

11th lunar month of 1766: Matsue plays at the Nakamuraza two roles in the kaomise drama "Kogane no Hana Kaijin Arasmusha", which celebrates the arrival in Edo of the Kamigata actor Kirishima Gizaemon I.

7th lunar month of 1767: Matsue plays in the same theater the role of Shizuka Gozen in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

8th lunar month of 1767: Matsue plays in the same theater the role of Princess Taema in the drama "Sono Namo Tsuki no Irobito" (similar to "Narukami"); the roles of the wicked priest Narukami, Hakuunbô (white cloud bonze) and Kokuunbô (dark cloud bonze) are played by Ichikawa Danjûrô IV, Arashi Otohachi I and Ichikawa Komazô II.

11th lunar month of 1767: Matsue moves to the Moritaza and plays in the kaomise drama "Sanada no Yoichi Banjaku no Iezuto", which welcomes in Edo the Kamigata actor Yamashita Kyônosuke.

11th lunar month of 1768: Matsue moves to the Ichimuraza and plays in the kaomise drama "Otokoyama Yunzei Kurabe".

5th lunar month of 1769: Matsue plays in the same theater the role of Okaru in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; the role of Hayano Kanpei is played by Ôtani Hiroji III.

11th lunar month of 1769: Matsue moves to the Nakamuraza and plays in the kaomise drama "Kawaranu Hanasakae Hachinoki".

1st lunar month of 1770: Matsue plays in the same theater the role of Ôiso no Tora in the new year drama "Kagamigaike Omokage Soga".

6th lunar month of 1770: Matsue plays in the same theater the role of the courtesan Umegawa in Sakurada Jisuke I's drama "Katakiuchi Chûkô Kagami".

11th lunar month of 1770: Matsue plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Munekiyo's wife Shirotae in the kaomise drama "Nue no Mori Ichiyô no Mato", which celebrates the shûmei of Matsumoto Kôshirô II, Ichikawa Danjûrô V, Nakamura Shôchô, Ichikawa Monnosuke II, Nakamura Shichisaburô III and Bandô Sanpachi II.

4th lunar month of 1771: Matsue plays in the same theater the role of Okaru in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; the role of Hayano Kanpei is played by Iwai Hanshirô IV.

7th lunar month of 1771: Matsue plays in the same theater the role of Yaoya Oshichi in the drama "Tamura Maro Nanae Gasane".

11th lunar month of 1771: Matsue plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Munetô's wife Sakuragi in the kaomise drama "Kuni no Hana Ono no Itsumoji"; the role of Munetô is played by Ichikawa Yaozô II.

Fall 1772: Matsue goes back to Kamigata.

11th lunar month of 1772: Matsue plays at the Naka no Shibai in Namiki Shôzô I's kaomise drama "Onoe Kikugorô no Baranu Banashi", which is produced by Nakamura Utaemon I.

Spring 1773: Matsue goes back to Edo before the end of his season in Ôsaka.

4th lunar month of 1773: Matsue plays at the Ichimuraza the roles of Owasa and Shizuka Gozen in the drama "Gosho Zakura Horikawa no Youchi".

9th lunar month of 1773: Matsue plays in the same theater the role of Okaru in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; the role of Hayano Kanpei is played by Onoe Kikugorô I, who celebrates his onagori kyôgen.

11th lunar month of 1773: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the play "Gohiiki Kanjinchô", performed as a kaomise drama; Nakamura Matsue I takes the name of Nakamura Rikô I and plays the roles of the spirit of a rooster and the courtesan Wakamatsu [casting]. This 46-days long performance is a tremendous success.

1st lunar month of 1774: Rikô plays in the same theater the role of Ôiso no Tora in the new year sogamono drama "Oatsuraezome Soga Hinagata"; his stage partners in the roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune, Kudô Saemon Suketsune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari (Tora's lover) are Ichikawa Monnosuke II, Ichikawa Danjûrô V and Matsumoto Kôshirô IV. A "meeting in the darkness" scene, which is played by Nakamura Nakazô I, Ôtani Hiroji III, Matsumoto Kôshirô IV and Rikô, is particularly well received by the audience.

5th lunar month of 1774: Rikô plays in the same theater the role of Shigenoi in the drama "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna".

7th lunar month of 1774: Rikô plays in the same theater the roles of Chiyo and Tonami in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". He also plays the roles of Kaoyo Gozen, Osono and Oishi in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

9th lunar month of 1774: Rikô plays in the same theater the roles of Oseki and Miyako in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki".

11th lunar month of 1774: Rikô plays at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Kaomise Ama no Iwato".

8th lunar month of 1775: Rikô plays in the same theater the role of Satsuki in the drama "Shusse Taiheiki".

11th lunar month of 1775: Rikô plays at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Hana Zumô Genji Biiki".

5th lunar month of 1775: Rikô plays in the same theater the roles of Kaoyo Gozen and Tonase in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

11th lunar month of 1776: Rikô plays at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Sakuya Kono Hana no Kaomise".

Summer 1777: the book "Yakusha Sensakuron" ('About actors prying') is published in Edo. It gives some private information on actors. Edo readers learn that Rikô lives in the district of Sakai-chô and his yearly salary is 500 ryô.

11th lunar month of 1777: Rikô moves to the Ichimuraza and plays in the kaomise drama "Chigo Torii Tobiiri Kitsune".

11th lunar month of 1778: Rikô moves to the Nakamuraza and plays in the kaomise drama "Motomishi Yuki Sakae Hachinoki", which celebrates the shûmei of Yoshizawa Ayame IV and the first stage appearance of Bandô Mitahachi I.

1st lunar month of 1779: Rikô plays in the same theater the role of Ôiso no Tora in the new year program "Gohiiki Nennen Soga"; the role of Tora's lover Soga Jûrô Sukenari is played by Bandô Mitsugorô I.

11th lunar month of 1779: Rikô moves to the Moritaza and plays in the kaomise drama "Uta Kurabe Tôsei Moyô".

4th lunar month of 1780: first Kabuki adaptation of Utei Enba, Kijô Tarô and Yô Yôdai puppet theater drama "Go Taiheiki Shiraishi Banashi". The play is staged in Edo at the Moritaza; Rikô plays the role of Yamabuki Gozen [casting].

5th lunar month of 1780: Rikô suddenly falls ill and has to rest for a while; he later on goes on tour in Sendai.

11th lunar month of 1780: Rikô is back on stage at the Nakamuraza, performing in the kaomise drama "Kite Kaeru Nishiki no Wakayaka".

11th lunar month of 1781: Rikô plays at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise program "Shitennô Tonoi no Kisewata".

1st lunar month of 1782: Rikô plays in the same theater the role of Ôiso no Tora in the new year program "Nanakusa Yosooi Soga"; the role of Tora's lover Soga Jûrô Sukenari is played by Sawamura Sôjûrô III.

5th lunar month of 1782: Rikô plays in the same theater the role of Agemaki in the drama "Sukeroku Kuruwa no Natori Gusa"; the roles of Sukeroku, Ikyû and Shinbê are played by Ichikawa Danjûrô V, Nakamura Nakazô I and Sawamura Sôjûrô III.

11th lunar month of 1782: Rikô moves to the Ichimuraza and plays in the kaomise drama "Ise Heiji Eika Goyomi".

3rd lunar month of 1783: Rikô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

6th lunar month of 1783: Rikô plays in the same theater the roles of Oishi and Okaru in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; the role of Hayano Kanpei is played by Matsumoto Kôshirô IV.

11th lunar month of 1783: Rikô performs in the precincts of the Sankôin temple in the district of Yotsuya.

1st lunar month of 1784: Rikô is the kanjiku of the wakaonnagata actors in the Edo hyôbanki.

2nd lunar month of 1784: Rikô plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Akoya in the drama "Kagekiyo Rô Yaburi", staged to commemorate the 6th anniversary (7th memorial service) of late Ichikawa Ebizô III.

3rd lunar month of 1784: Rikô plays in the same theater the role of Agemaki in the drama "Sukeroku Kuruwa no Natori Gusa"; the roles of Sukeroku and Ikyû are played by Ichikawa Yaozô III and Ichikawa Danjûrô V.

7th lunar month of 1784: Rikô plays in the same theater the roles of Suke-no-Tsubone and Kosen in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

8th lunar month of 1784: Rikô plays in the same theater the role of Osono in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

11th lunar month of 1784: Rikô plays at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise program "Ôakinai Hiru-ga-Kojima".

8th lunar month of 1785: Rikô plays in the same theater the role of Kan Shôjô in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

9th lunar month of 1785: Rikô plays in the same theater the role of Tamasono in the drama "Osana Najimi Kasane Kotoba".

11th lunar month of 1785: Rikô plays at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise program "Yuki Motsu Take Furisode Genji".

8th lunar month of 1786: Rikô appears on stage for the last time, at the Nakamuraza, playing the roles of Omatsu, Koyoshi and Yoshitoki's wife in the drama "Mitsugimono Shida no Dekiaki". He falls ill and has to retire.

11th day of the 10th lunar month of 1786: Rikô dies in Edo. His tombstone is located in the cemerery of the Zôjôji temple.

Comments:

Nakamura Rikô I was a talented onnagata actor of the second half of the 18th century. His physical appearance and his diction were both outstanding. He was born and trained in Kamigata but made most of his career in Edo, where he reached the prestigious jô-jô-kichi rank in 1783. He excelled in spouses or keisei roles in sewamono. His most notable roles were the courtesan Agemaki ("Sukeroku"), Okaru ("Kanadehon Chûshingura") and Ôiso no Tora (sogamono).

Nakamura Rikô I in a print made by Katsukawa Shunshô

Print made by Ippitsusai Bunchô in 1769

Print made by Katsukawa Shunshô in 1776

Print made by Katsukawa Shunshô

The Nakamura Matsue line of actors