Stage names:

Nakamura Genzaemon II
Nakamura Sukegorô IV
Nakamura Sanzaemon V
Nakamura Nakasuke IV

Real name: Morinaga Renma

Guilds:

Nakamuraya
Sengokuya (during the Sukegorô years)

Line number: NIDAIME (II)

Existence: 11 April 1934 ~ 20 October 2006

Connections:

Masters: Nakamura Kanzaburô XVIII, Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII

Career:

March 1955: he becomes disciple of Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII and makes his first stage appearance, at the Meijiza, where he receives the name of Nakamura Nakasuke IV.

July 1964: he becomes nadai and takes the name of Nakamura Sanzaemon V at the Kabukiza, playing the role of Narita Fusamoto in the drama "Onna Shibaraku".

April 1976: Nakamura Sanzaemon V takes the long-forgotten name of Nakamura Sukegorô IV at the Kabukiza, playing the roles of a palanquin-bearer and a taiko mochi in "Suzu-ga-Mori" and "Iyasakae Shibai no Nigiwai".

16 April 1988: his master Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII dies.

March 2005: he joins the first league of Kabuki actors ("kambu shôshin") and takes the name of Nakamura Genzaemon II^* at the Kabukiza, playing the role of Yatsurugi Kageyu in the drama "Ichijô Ôkura Monogatari".

April 2006: Genzaemon appears on stage for the last time, in Shibuya (Tôkyô) at the Theater Cocoon, playing the roles of Yotsuya Samon, Osen and Akagaki Denzô in the drama "Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan".

20 October 2006: Genzaemon dies, victim of a cancer of the esophagus.

Comments:

Nakamura Genzaemon II^* was a talented supporting tachiyaku actor. His most notable roles were Mikawaya Giheiji in the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami" and Takuetsu in Tsuruya Namboku IV's masterpiece "Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan". He often performed supporting roles in duo with Nakamura Shirogorô VII.

(*) this is a long-forgotten name, which was first used by the Kamigata actor Nakamura Genzaemon I, who started his career as a disciple of Nakamura Shichisaburô I's disciple Nakamura Sen'ya I and later on became a playwright named Takagi Richû. He had an adopted son, Nakamura Genjûrô, who most likely took also the name of Nakamura Genzaemon, and was the master of Nakamura Utaemon I.

The Nakamura Sukegorô line of actors