He was adopted by Shikan NAKAMURA (the forth) in 1875, and two years later, as Kotaro NAKAMURA (the first) he made his stage debut at Mitsui-za Theater of Kofu in 1877, playing the role of Aburaya-Musuko (son of the oil seller) in "Ise Ondo."
1875年（明治8年）中村芝翫(4代目)の養子となり、初代中村児太郎として二年後の1877年（明治10年）甲府三井座で『伊勢音頭』の油屋息子役で初舞台。