He was born in Bakuro-cho, Nihonbashi, Tokyo (Chuo Ward, Tokyo), and was first on stage at age 11 in April 1888 as a child-actor playing the role of a woman with the name of Fukuji NAKAMURA as a student of Fukusuke NAKAMURA (Fukusuke TAKASAGOYA who later became Baigyoku NAKAMURA II).
東京日本橋(東京都中央区)馬喰町の生まれ、11歳の1888年4月に中村福助（高砂屋福助、後の中村梅玉(2代目)）の門下で中村福次の名で子役の女形で初舞台。