Nakamura Kumetaro

Japanese: 中村粂太郎 - なかむら・くめたろう

Year of death: July 15, 6th year of An'ei (August 17, 1777)
Year of birth: 1724
A Kabuki actor in the mid-Edo period. His pen name was Koinaga. His stage name was Tanbaya. He was the son of Nakamura Kichisaburo. He first appeared in children's plays, but in 1735 (Kyoho 20), he made his debut in a major play at the Mandayu Theatre in Kyoto. In 1739 (Genbun 4), he became a young female actor and also served as a theater director. He performed on the stage in Edo from 1748 (Kan'en 1) to 1755 (Horeki 5), and was well-received. From 1755 onwards, he alternated between performing on the stage in Osaka and Kyoto. In 1774 (An'ei 3), he became a monk and lived a secluded life in Kyoto, where he took the name Kaiin. He was small in stature, but had a beautiful appearance and dignity. He excelled in the roles of princesses and courtesans, and was also skilled in manners. He excelled in calligraphy, painting, and haiku, and every summer women would ask him to write hokku (a verse) on their fans. The Kumetaro stage name continued until the third generation at the end of the Edo period, and all of them performed as young female actors. <References> "Kabuki Hyobanki Shusei" 1st and 2nd Edition, "Kokon Yakusha Daizen" ("Nihon Shomin Bunka Shiryo Shusei" Volume 6)

(Atsuko Kato)

Source: Asahi Japanese Historical Biography: Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. About Asahi Japanese Historical Biography

Japanese:

没年：安永6.7.15(1777.8.17)
生年：享保9(1724)
江戸中期の歌舞伎役者。俳名鯉長。屋号丹波屋。中村吉三郎の子。初め子供芝居に出ていたが,享保20(1735)年京都都万太夫座で大芝居の初舞台を踏む。元文4(1739)年若女形となり,また座本を兼ねる。寛延1(1748)年から宝暦5(1755)年まで江戸の舞台を勤め,好評であった。同6年以降は大坂と京都の舞台を交互に勤めた。安永3(1774)年出家して京都に閑居し,海印と号した。小柄だが容姿美しく,品格があった。姫,傾城を得意とし,また所作事をよくした。書,画,俳諧にすぐれ,毎年夏になると女性が扇に発句を書いてもらいたがったという。粂太郎の名跡は,幕末の3代目まで続き,いずれも若女形をよくした。<参考文献>『歌舞伎評判記集成』1・2期,『古今役者大全』(『日本庶民文化史料集成』6巻)

(加藤敦子)

出典　朝日日本歴史人物事典：（株）朝日新聞出版朝日日本歴史人物事典について　情報

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