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

Kabuki is a classical form of Theatre of Japan, Japanese theatre, mixing dramatic performance with Japanese traditional dance, traditional dance. Kabuki theatre is known for its heavily stylised performances, its glamorous, highly decorated costumes ...

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'' 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 theatre in

Edo Edo (), also romanized as Jedo, Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of Tokyo. Edo, formerly a (castle town) centered on Edo Castle located in Musashi Province, became the '' de facto'' capital of Japan from 1603 as the seat of the Tokugawa shogu ...

(now

Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...

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 people, Japanese actor active in kabuki, other forms of live theatre, television and television commercial, commercials. Kanzaburō was a versatile actor whose credits include farce, period pieces and Shin Kabuki. Lineage Kanz ...

(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 cancer Esophageal cancer (American English) or oesophageal cancer (British English) is cancer arising from the esophagus—the food pipe that runs between the throat and the stomach. Symptoms often include dysphagia, difficulty in swallowing and weigh ...

on 5 December 2012.

Hiroko Tabuchi Hiroko Tabuchi is a climate journalist who has reported from Japan and the United States, and is known for her coverage of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011 and its aftermath. She has worked for The New York Times since 2008, and p ...

Kanzaburo Nakamura, Stalwart of Kabuki, Dies at 57
''New York Times'', December 6, 2012

Lineage

Notes

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External links