At first he was a disciple of Shichisaburo NAKAMURA the fourth, but later converted to a disciple of Utaemon NAKAMURA the fourth (in the days of Shikan NAKAMURA the second).
中村七三郎(4代目)の門下から中村歌右衛門(4代目)（二代目中村芝翫時代）の門人。