KATAOKA NIZAEMON — MYŌSEKI
Kataoka Nizaemon
Kataoka Nizaemon is the principal hereditary name of the Matsushimaya house. The first holder was active mainly in Osaka from the Genroku era. The name lapsed for a time and was revived by the seventh holder; the current holder, the fifteenth, took the name at the Kabukiza in January–February 1998.
According to the Matsushimaya official site, the name was restored in 1787 when Asao Kunigorō II succeeded as Nizaemon VII. Nizaemon XI was active in the Meiji era, moving to Tokyo and taking the name in 1907.
The Kabuki Encyclopedia records that the first holder excelled in villain roles and that Kataoka Gadō V was posthumously granted the name Nizaemon XIV. The Kataoka Jūnishū, gathering the plays of Nizaemon XI, is the house art.
NAME VARIANTS
Notation: 片岡仁左衛門 / 仁左衛門 / Kataoka Nizaemon
- Author
- KABUKI Universe Editorial Team
- Published
- Sep 12, 2026
- Updated
- Sep 12, 2026