NAKAMURA JAKUEMON III

Stage names:

Nakamura Jakuemon III In Japanese
Nakamura Shibajaku IV In Japanese
Nakamura Emitarô In Japanese
Arashi Emitarô In Japanese

Real name: Nakajima Emitarô

Guild: Kyôya

Line number: SANDAIME (III)

Poetry names: Shito, Baito

Existence: 2 January 1875 ~ 15 November 1927

Connections:

Father: Arashi Rishô II

Brother: Arashi Emisaburô

Adoptive father: Nakamura Jakuemon II

Son: Nakamura Shôkei (Shibajaku V)

Disciple: Nakamura Shigeijaku

Career:

January 1875: born in Ôsaka in the district of Shinmachi.

January 1879: he made his first appearance on stage, in Ôsaka at the Ebisuza, performing under the name of Arashi Emitarô.

5 April 1886: his father Arashi Rishô II died.

1886 ~ 1890: he was adopted by Nakamura Jakuemon II and took the name of Nakamura Emitarô.

17 March 1890: his adopted brother Nakamura Shibajaku III died.

September 1891: Nakamura Emitarô took the name of Nakamura Shibajaku IV in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai.

20 July 1895: his adoptive father Nakamura Jakuemon II died.

August 1904: Shibajaku played at the Kadoza the role of the courtesan Kojorô in the drama "Koi Minato Hakata no Hitofushi"; his stage partners were Jitsukawa Enjaku II (Kezori) and Arashi Tokusaburô V (Sôshichi).

December 1906: premiere at the Minamiza of Takayasu Gekkô's drama "Sakura Shigure"; Shibajaku played the roles of Yoshinodayû and Otoku [casting].

June 1907: Shibajaku played for the first time the role of Tamate Gozen in the drama "Sesshû Gappô-ga-Tsuji", which was staged in Ôsaka at the Kadoza; his stage partners were Kataoka Nizaemon XI (Gappô) and Arashi Kichisaburô VI (Takayasu Shuntokumaru).

October 1913: revival at the Kabukiza of the drama "Zôhiki", which belonged to the Kabuki Jûhachiban; Shibajaku played the role of Toshima Aoinosuke [more details].

August 1915: the drama "Kaidan Chibusa no Enoki" revised by Enjirô was staged for the first time in Tôkyô, at the Kabukiza; Shibajaku played the role of Shigenobu's wife Oseki [casting].

December 1915: Shibajaku played at the Naniwaza (Ôsaka) the role of Otoku in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Keisei Hangonkô"; the role of Matahei was played by Onoe Taminosuke.

February 1916: Shibajaku played at the Hongôza (Tôkyô) the prestigious role of Sodehagi in the drama "Sodehagi Saimon".

September 1916: Shibajaku played at the Shintomiza the role of Kuzu-no-Ha in the drama "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami".

October 1918: Nakamura Shibajaku IV took the name of Nakamura Jakuemon III at the Naniwaza (Ôsaka).

May 1919: Jakuemon played at the Naniwaza the prestigious role of the Princess Yaegaki in the drama "Honchô Nijûshikô"; his stage partners were Nakamura Kaisha (Nureginu) and Nakamura Ganjirô I (Katsuyori).

April 1920: Jakuemon played for the last time the role of Tamate Gozen in the drama "Sesshû Gappô-ga-Tsuji", which was staged at the Minatoza (Nagoya); the role of Gappô was played by Jitsukawa Enjaku II.

December 1922: Jakuemon played at the Imperial Theater (Tôkyô) the prestigious role of Princess Yaegaki in the drama "Honchô Nijûshikô"; his stage partners were Bandô Shûchô III (Nureginu) and Sawamura Sônosuke I (Katsuyori).

February 1924: Jakuemon played at the Minamiza the role of Princess Toki in the drama "Kamakura Sandaiki"; his stage partners in the roles of Sasaki Takatsuna and Miuranosuke were Jitsukawa Enjaku II and Sawamura Sôjûrô VII.

March 1924: Jakuemon played at the Naniwaza (Ôsaka) the prestigious role of Princess Yaegaki in the drama "Honchô Nijûshikô"; his stage partners in the roles of Nureginu and Katsuyori were Sawamura Sônosuke I and Nakamura Fukusuke IV.

February 1927: Jakuemon played at the Matsushima Yachiyoza (Ôsaka) the prestigious role of Sodehagi in the drama "Sodehagi Saimon".

May 1927: Jakuemon played at the Nakaza the role of Nureginu in the drama "Honchô Nijûshikô"; his stage partners in the roles of Princess Yaegaki and Katsuyori were Nakamura Fukusuke IV and Jitsukawa Enjaku II.

November 1927: Jakuemon appeared on stage for the last time, in Ôsaka at the Nakaza, playing the role of Princess Michitose in the drama "Honzô Shimoyashiki"; he collapsed and died on stage.

Comments:

Nakamura Jakuemon III was an outstanding Kamigata onnagata actor, who was active from the end of the 1870s to the second half of the 1920s. "Nakamura Jakuemon, the third, an Ôsaka onnagata, frequently plays in Tôkyô. He differs from all the other actors because he has persistently and consistently patterned after the marionettes, and seems to have associated with the dolls in such a familiar way as to belong to the sphere of elfs and fairies rather than to the ordinary characters of drama." (Zoë Kincaid in "Kabuki, the Popular Stage of Japan")

Nakamura Jakuemon III in the role of Yaoya Oshichi (print made by Natori Shunsen in 1927)

Prints & Illustrations

The Nakamura Shibajaku line of actors

The Nakamura Jakuemon line of actors

 
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