Stage names:
Nakamura Kanzaburô VIII
Nakamura Denkurô II
Nakamura Katsujûrô I
Guild: Kashiwaya
Line number: HACHIDAIME (VIII)
Existence: 1719 ~ 15th day of the 11th lunar month of 1777
Connections:
Great-grandfather: Nakamura Kanzaburô I
Grandfather: Nakamura Kankurô I
Father: Nakamura Kankurô II (Kanzaburô VI)
Brother: Nakamura Kanzaburô VII
Adopted son: Nakamura Kanzaburô IX
Son-in-laws: Nakamura Kanzaburô X, Nakamura Kanzaburô XI
Grandsons: Nakamura Kanzaburô XII, Nakamura Katsujûrô II
Disciple: Nakamura Daitarô
Career:
1719: born in Edo (according to some documents, his birthyear may be 1723). Younger son of the zamoto Nakamura Kanzaburô VI.
11th lunar month of 1733: first stage appearance, at the Nakamuraza, where he receives the name of Nakamura Katsujûrô I and plays a child role in the drama "Nagi no Ha Asahi Genji".
11th lunar month of 1745: Nakamura Katsujûrô takes the name of Nakamura Denkurô II at the Nakamuraza, playing in the drama "Suehiro Izu Nikki".
Printemps 1746: Denkurô achieves a great success at the Nakamuraza, playing the role of Kobayashi no Asaina in the drama "Fuji no Yuki Mitsugi Soga". This role is closely associated to the great actor Nakamura Denkurô I.
5th lunar month of 1747: the play "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami" is produced at the Nakamuraza for the first time; Denkurô plays the role of Umeômaru [casting].
1st lunar month of 1748: Denkurô plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Kobayashi no Asaina in the drama "Kazari Ebi Yoroi Soga".
5th lunar month of 1748: the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura" is performed for the first time in Edo, at the Nakamuraza; Denkurô plays the roles of Tokiaya Gimpei and Taira no Tomomori [casting].
6th lunar month of 1749: the play "Kanadehon Chûshingura" is produced at the Nakamuraza for the first time; Denkurô plays the role of Teraoka Heiemon [casting].
8th lunar month of 1750: his father retires, taking the name of Nakamura Kankurô II and giving the management of the Nakamuraza to his elder son Nakamura Akashi III, who becomes Nakamura Kanzaburô VII.
7th lunar month of 1751: first Kabuki adaptation of the puppet theater drama "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna", which was originally written by Miyoshi Shôraku and Yoshida Kanshi in the 2nd lunar month of 1751. The play is staged in Edo at the Nakamuraza; Denkurô plays the role of Yurugi no Saemon [casting].
4th lunar month of 1752: first Kabuki adaptation of the puppet theater drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki", which is staged in Edo at the Moritaza; Denkurô plays the roles of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane and the yakko Tagohei [casting].
11th lunar month of 1757: his father Nakamura Kankurô II dies.
11th lunar month of 1764: Denkurô achieves a great success at the Moritaza by playing in the drama "Gyosei Kanatami no Megumi".
2nd lunar month of 1773: the Nakamuraza celebrates its 150th anniversary.
2nd lunar month of 1775: his brother Nakamura Kanzaburô VII dies.
9th lunar month of 1775: Nakamura Denkurô II takes the name of Nakamura Kanzaburô VIII and becomes the new zamoto of the Nakamuraza.
11th lunar month of 1777: Kanzaburô suddenly falls ill and dies.
Comments:
Nakamura Kanzaburô VIII spent most of his career acting at the Nakamuraza. He was a good jitsugotoshi and an excellent dancer. He ended his career as zamoto of the Nakamuraza for two seasons (he died at the beginning of the third one). He was well-versed in Tea Ceremony and poetry. He was also the manager of a cosmetics shop in the district of Nihombashi, selling a successful dye named "Denkurô Some" (Denkurô's dye in Japanese).
Nakamura Denkurô II playing the role of Taira no Tomomori in the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura", which was staged at the Nakamuraza in the 5th lunar month of 1748 (print made by Torii Kiyomasu II)
Print made by Torii Kiyomasu in 1747
Print made by Torii Kiyomasu in 1748
The Nakamura Kanzaburô line of actors and theater managers