Nakamura Kichiemon

Kabuki actor. Stage name: Harimaya.

He was the eldest son of Nakamura Karoku III, the first Kabuki performer (1886-1954). His real name was Hanno Tatsujiro. He was the older brother of Nakamura Tokizo III and Nakamura Kanzaburo XVII. His haiku name was Shuzan. He made his debut in 1897 (Meiji 30) under the stage name Nakamura Kichiemon. From the end of the Meiji period to the beginning of the Taisho period, he performed at the Ichimura-za in Nichomachi with Onoe Kikugoro VI, ushering in the so-called Ichimura-za period (also known as the Nichomachi period), bringing a breath of fresh air to the world of Kabuki after the deaths of Ichikawa Danjūrō ​​IX and Onoe Kikugoro V. He was praised alongside "Kiku-Kichi" (Kiku and Yoshi), and marked a period in modern Kabuki. He inherited the artistic style of Danjūrō ​​IX and skillfully absorbed the Kamigata style of his father Ukaroku III, becoming a leading figure in Showa Kabuki as an orthodox period piece actor. He thrilled audiences with his passionate acting, which he poured emotion into his roles, and his excellent dialogue delivery. His roles as Ishikiri Kajiwara, Moritsuna, Kumagai, and Kiyomasa were particularly well-received. He became a member of the Japan Art Academy in 1947 (Showa 22), and received the Order of Culture in 1951.

The second generation (1944-2021), real name Hanno Tatsujiro. He was the second son of the first generation Matsumoto Hakuo, who was the husband of the first generation. He was adopted by the first generation. In October 1966 (Showa 41), he took the stage name of the second generation Kichiemon from Nakamura Mannosuke. Along with his brother, the 9th generation Matsumoto Koshiro (later the second generation Hakuo), he was active as one of the leading actors of the Heisei era of Kabuki. In 2002 (Heisei 14), he became a member of the Japan Art Academy, in 2011 he became a holder of an Important Intangible Cultural Property (Living National Treasure), and in 2017 he became a Person of Cultural Merit. Note that there were two actors of the same name, the first and second generation, in Kamigata during the Horeki and Bunka eras (1751-1818), but they were not related to Kichiemon of Harimaya.

[Yukio Hattori]

"Kichiemon Diary" (1956, Engeki Shuppansha) ▽ "Nakamura Kichiemon by Toyotaka Komiya (1962, Iwanami Shoten)" ▽ "Monogatari" by Nakamura Kichiemon II (1996, Magazine House) ▽ "Nakamura Kichiemon's Kabuki World" (1998, Shogakukan)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

歌舞伎(かぶき)俳優。屋号播磨(はりま)屋。

初世
（1886―1954）3世中村歌六(かろく)の長男。本名波野辰次郎。3世時蔵、17世勘三郎の兄。俳名秀山(しゅうざん)。1897年（明治30）中村吉右衛門の芸名で初舞台。明治末期から大正初期にかけて、6世尾上(おのえ)菊五郎とともに二長町(にちょうまち)の市村座に出演し、いわゆる市村座時代（二長町時代ともいう）を築き、9世市川団十郎、5世尾上菊五郎亡きあとの歌舞伎界に新風を送り、「菊・吉」と並び称されて近代歌舞伎の一時期を画した。9世団十郎の芸風を継承するとともに、父3世歌六から教えられた上方(かみがた)風の芸風を巧みに吸収し、正統派の時代物役者として昭和歌舞伎の代表的名優となった。役に感情を込めた情熱的な演技と、卓越した台詞(せりふ)術を駆使して観客を沸かせた。石切梶原(いしきりかじわら)、盛綱(もりつな)、熊谷(くまがい)、清正などは格別の当り役だった。1947年（昭和22）日本芸術院会員となり、1951年に文化勲章を受けた。

2世
（1944―2021）本名波野辰次郎。初世の女婿である初世松本白鸚(はくおう)の次男。初世の養子となる。1966年（昭和41）10月、中村万之助から2世吉右衛門を襲名した。兄の9世松本幸四郎（のちの2世白鸚）とともに、平成歌舞伎を代表する俳優の一人として活躍した。2002年（平成14）日本芸術院会員、2011年重要無形文化財保持者（人間国宝）、2017年文化功労者となる。　なお、宝暦(ほうれき)～文化年間（1751～1818）に、上方に初世・2世の同名の俳優があったが、播磨屋の吉右衛門とは関係がない。

［服部幸雄］

『『吉右衛門日記』（1956・演劇出版社）』▽『小宮豊隆著『中村吉右衛門』（1962・岩波書店）』▽『2世中村吉右衛門著『物語り』（1996・マガジンハウス）』▽『『中村吉右衛門の歌舞伎ワールド』（1998・小学館）』

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例