Nakamura Kanzaburō is a stage name taken on by a series of

Kabuki is a classical form of Japanese dance- drama. Kabuki theatre is known for its heavily-stylised performances, the often-glamorous costumes worn by performers, and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers. Kabuki is though ...

actors of the Nakamura family. Most of these were blood relatives, though some were adopted into the family. Kanzaburō, like other actors' names, is bestowed (or given up) at grand naming ceremonies called ''

shūmei ''Shūmei'' (, "name succession") are grand naming ceremonies held in kabuki theatre. Most often, a number of actors will participate in a single ceremony, taking on new stage-names. These stagenames, most often those of the actor's father, gran ...

'' in which a number of actors formally change their names. The bearer of the name was often also the ''zamoto'', the head of the troupe and theatre manager, of the

Nakamura-za was one of the three main ''kabuki'' theatres of Edo alongside the Morita-za and Ichimura-za. History It was founded in 1624 by Nakamura Kanzaburō 1st. The Nakamura-za relocated to the new capital Tokyo in 1868 and reopened under Nakamura ...

theatre in Edo (now

Tokyo Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and List of cities in Japan, largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, ...

Lineage

* Nakamura Kanzaburō I (1598 – June 1658) – founder of the Nakamura-za, and among the earliest generation of kabuki actors. * Nakamura Kanzaburō II (1662 – August 1674)Note: with the exception of Kanzaburō I, who kept the same stage name throughout his life, the dates given here for the remainder of the lineage do not represent the birth/death dates of the actor; rather, they indicate the period during which the actor held the name Kanzaburō. – actor, ''zamoto'' and son of Kanzaburō I. * Nakamura Kanzaburō III (September 1674 – August 1678) – actor, ''zamoto'' and son of Kanzaburō I. * Nakamura Kanzaburō IV (August 1678 – December 1683) – actor, ''zamoto'' and son of Nakamura Kankurō I * Nakamura Kanzaburō V (October 1684 – September 1701) – actor, ''zamoto'', and son of Kanzaburō III. * Nakamura Kanzaburō VI (October 1701 – July 1750) – ''zamoto'' and son of Kankurō I. Rarely appeared on stage. * Nakamura Kanzaburō VII (August 1750 – February 1775) – ''zamoto'' and son of Kankurō I. Rarely appeared on stage. * Nakamura Kanzaburō VIII (September 1775 – November 1777) – actor, ''zamoto'', son of Kanzaburō VI. * Nakamura Kanzaburō IX (January 1778 – 29 July 1785) – actor, ''zamoto'', grandson of Nakamura Shichisaburō II, adopted by Kanzaburō VIII. * Nakamura Kanzaburō X (June 1786 – April 1787) – ''zamoto'', merchant son-in-law of Kanzaburō VIII. Never appeared on stage. * Nakamura Kanzaburō XI (April 1787 – August 1829) – ''zamoto'' son-in-law of Kanzaburō VIII. Rarely appeared on stage. * Nakamura Kanzaburō XII (November 1829 – March 1850) – actor and ''zamoto'', son of Kanzaburō XI. Arrested for falsification of documents. * Nakamura Kanzaburō XIII (April 1850 – 1875) – last ''zamoto'' of the Nakamura-za. Rarely appeared on stage. Son of Kanzaburō XII. * Nakamura Nakazō III never formally held the name, but is counted as 14th in the lineage. Actor son-in-law of Kanzaburō XII, managed the Nakamura-za briefly from 1875 to its destruction in 1876. * Nakamura Akashi V never formally held the name, but is counted as 15th in the lineage. Actor son of Kanzaburō XIII and ''zamoto'' of the Saruwaka-za. *Nakamura Fujiko – likewise never formally held the name, but is counted as 16th in the lineage. Daughter of Akashi V, granddaughter of Kanzaburō XIII. * Nakamura Kanzaburō XVII (b. 1909; held the name January 1950 – April 1988) – Actor son of Nakamura Karoku III. Took part of first kabuki tour in Western Europe, and in the opening ceremony of the National Theater. *

Nakamura Kanzaburō XVIII , was a Japanese actor active in kabuki, other forms of live theatre, television and commercials. Kanzaburō was a versatile actor whose credits include farce, period pieces and Shin Kabuki. Lineage Kanzaburō was the eighteenth in the line ...

(30 May 1955 – 5 December 2012; held the name March 2005 – December 2012) – Actor son of Kanzaburō XVII. Most recent holder of the name. Appeared also in TV commercials and stage musicals and comedies outside of kabuki. Died from esophageal cancerHiroko Tabuchi – ''Kanzaburo Nakamura, Stalwart of Kabuki, Dies at 57'' – ''New York Times'', December 6, 2012
/ref> on 5 December 2012.

Lineage

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External links