Great-great-great-grandfathers: Onoe Kikugorô III, Ichimura Uzaemon XI

Great-great-grandfather: Ichimura Takenojô V

Great-grandfathers: Onoe Kikugorô V, Nakamura Karoku I

Grandfathers: Onoe Kikugorô VI, Nakamura Karoku III

Father: Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII

Father-in-law: Nakamura Shikan VII

Brother-in-laws: Nakamura Fukusuke IX, Nakamura Hashinosuke III

Sons: Nakamura Kantarô II, Nakamura Shichinosuke II

April 1959: he makes his first appearance on stage at the Kabukiza, receiving the name Nakamura Kankurô V and playing in "Mukashi Banashi Momotarô".

January 1966: Kankurô plays at the Kabukiza the role of Sankichi in the "Shigenoi Kowakare" scene of the drama "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna"; the role of Shigenoi is played by Onoe Baikô VII.

April 1988: Kankurô plays for the first time the role of the hairdresser Shinza in the play "Kamiyui Shinza" which is performed at the National Theater. His father Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII dies the 16^th of April.

June 1989: the drama "Kaidan Botan Dôrô" using Ônishi Nobuyuki's script is staged for the first time with a full Kabuki casting, at the Shimbashi Embujô; Kankurô plays the role of San'yûtei Enchô [casting].

November 2000: Kankurô supervises the construction of a temporary Theater in the district of Asakusa in Tôkyô, called Heisei Nakamuraza (the Nakamuraza of the Heisei Era), and produces the play "Sumidagawa Gonichi no Omokage" (commonly called "Hôkaibô").

1 January 2001: Kankurô and his 2 sons perform in the dance "Renjishi" at the break of New Year in Naruto, east of Tôkyô, on a temporary stage built on the shore of the Kujukuri Beach.

August 2001: Kankurô and the noted modern theatre director Noda Hideki present for the 12^th edition of Nakamura Kankurô's summer program at the Kabukiza a modern version of the drama "Togidatsu no Utare". The performance is a great success and, unusual fact in the Kabuki world, ends with a standing ovation.

November 2001: second edition of the Heisei Nakamuraza in Asakusa. Kankurô produces the play "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura" in which he plays 3 great roles: Taira no Tomomori, Igami no Gonta and the fox Tadanobu/Genkurô

November 2002: third edition of the Heisei Nakamuraza, staged in Ôsaka for the first time; Kankurô produces the plays "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami" and "Sumidagawa Gonichi no Omokage".

October 2003: fourth edition of the Heisei Nakamuraza; Kankurô produces the dramas "Kagamiyama Gonichi no Iwafuji", "Benten Musume Meo no Shiranami" (the "Hamamatsuya" and "Inasegawa" scenes), "Ninjô Banashi Bunshichi Mottoi" and the dance "Kitsunebi".

July 2004: Fifth edition of the Heisei Nakamuraza, staged abroad for the first time; Kankurô and his troupe (including Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Senjaku, Bandô Yajûrô, Kataoka Kamezô and Nakamura Shichinosuke) perform in Boston (8~10 July, Cutler Majestic Theatre), New York City (17~25 July, Lincoln Center) and Washington DC (28 July, Warner Theater). In Boston and Washington, the troupe presents the dances "Bô Shibari" and "Renjishi". In New York, an Edo 545-seat traditional theater is built within the Lincoln Center and the troupe presents the great Kamigata drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami".

Nakamura Kankurô V is one of the most popular and dynamic actors of the 21^st Century ! He will take the prestigious name of Nakamura Kanzaburô XVIII in Spring 2005.

"Kankurô is particularly adept at portraying good characters who are driven insane by rage, jealousy or the trauma of tragic circumstances and, whether he is playing historical heroes or Edo-period commoners, he always manages to incorporate an element of surprise and suspense. However, Kabuki accounts for only part of Kankurô's work. He also acts in musicals and comedies and can sometimes be seen in commercials." (from an article written by Jean Wilson for the website Metropolis)

Interesting links:

Nakamura Kankurô's official website

Interview of Nakamura Kankurô