Stage names:
Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII
Nakamura Moshio IV
Nakamura Yonekichi III
Real name: Namino Seiji
Guild: Nakamuraya
Line number: JÛSHICHIDAIME (XVII)
Existence: 29 July 1909 ~ 16 April 1988
Connections:
Grandfather: Nakamura Karoku I
Father: Nakamura Karoku III
Father-in-law: Onoe Kikugorô VI
Brothers: Nakamura Kichiemon I, Nakamura Tokizô III
Grandsons: Nakamura Kantarô II, Nakamura Shichinosuke II
Career:
November 1916: first stage appearance, at the Ichimuraza, where he receives the name of Nakamura Yonekichi III , playing in the drama "Hanakawado Uwasa no Manaita".
April 1926: Yonekichi plays at the Hongôza the role of Ôboshi Rikiya in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
October 1927: revival at the Hongôza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's masterpiece "Sakura Hime Azuma Bunshô", produced under the title "Kiyomizudera Azuma Bunshô", which has not been staged since March 1817; Yonekichi plays the role of Yoshida Matsuwaka [casting].
October 1929: Nakamura Yonekichi III takes the name of Nakamura Moshio IV at the Meijiza.
January 1950: Nakamura Moshio IV takes the name of Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII at the Tôkyô Gekijô.
July 1953: premiere at the Meijiza of Hôjô Hideji's drama "Ukifune"; Kanzaburô plays the role of Niou-no-Miya [casting].
November 1954: premiere at the Kabukiza of Mishima Yukio's comical play "Iwashi Uri Koi no Hikiami"; Kanzaburô plays the role of Sarugenji [casting].
July 1955: premiere at the Tôhô Takarazuka Gekijô of Uno Nobuo's drama "Mômoku Monogatari"; Kanzaburô plays the roles of Tôkichirô/Hideyoshi and Yaichi.
June ~ July 1960: Kanzaburô takes part in the first Kabuki tour in the USA; He plays the roles of Togashi, Sawaichi, En'ya Hangan, Yamakage Ukyô, Tarôkaja and Jirozaemon in the dramas "Kanjinchô", "Tsubosaka Reigenki", "Kanadehon Chûshingura" "Migawari Zazen", "Takatsuki" and "Kagotsurube Sato no Eizame" [casting].
June 1963: Namiki Shôzô I's drama "Yadonashi Danshichi Shigure no Karakasa" is produced for the first time at the Kabukiza; Kanzaburô plays the role of the playwright Namiki Shôzô [casting].
October 1965: first Kabuki tour in Western Europe, in West Berlin at the Der Freien Volksbühne (2~8 october), in Paris at the Théâtre de l'Odéon (15~24 october) and in Lisbonne at the Teatro São Luis (29~31 october); Kanzaburô plays the roles of Shunkan, Kô no Moronô and Yayoi in Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's drama "Heike Nyogo-ga-Shima", the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura" and the dance "Kagami Jishi" [more details].
November 1966: opening ceremony of the National Theatre in Tôkyô with the full length performance of the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"; Kanzaburô plays the role of Kan Shôjô [casting].
May 1968: revival at the National Theatre of "Ura Omote Sendai Hagi"; Kanzaburô plays the roles of Yorikane, Kosuke, Yashio and Nikki Danjô [casting].
April 1971: revival at the National Theatre of Nagawa Shimesuke I's drama "Sumidagawa Gonichi no Omokage"; Kanzaburô plays the role of Hôkaibô [casting].
Comments:
Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII was an amazing kaneru yakusha of the Shôwa era. He was the actor of more than 800 roles.
Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII's best roles: Shunkan ("Heike Nyogo-ga-Shima"), Ichijô Ôkura Naganari ("Ichijô Ôkura Monogatari"), the hairdresser Shinza ("Kamiyui Shinza"), Sodehagi ("Sodehagi Saimon"), Sawaichi ("Tsubosaka Reigenki").
Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII was the first of this line to be an actor without being a zamoto.
Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII playing the role of Tabakoya Genshichi in the drama "Komochi Yamamba"
The Nakamura Kanzaburô line of actors and theater managers
