Stage names:
Nakamura Karoku III
Nakamura Tokizô I
Nakamura Baishi I
Nakamura Yonekichi I
Real name: Namino Tokizô
Nickname: Ôharima (the grand Harima)
Guild: Harimaya
Line number: SANDAIME (III)
Poetry name: Shidô
Existence: 16 April 1849 ~ 17 May 1919
Connections:
Father : Nakamura Karoku I
Brothers : Nakamura Tsunejirô, Nakamura Karoku II
Sons: Nakamura Kichiemon I, Nakamura Tokizô III, Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII
Adopted son: Nakamura Tokizô II
Grandsons: Nakamura Tokizô IV, Yorozuya Kinnosuke, Nakamura Shidô I, Nakamura Kashô II (Karoku IV), Nakamura Kazuo, Nakamura Kanzaburô XVIII
Great-grandsons: Matsumoto Kôshirô IX, Nakamura Kichiemon II, Nakamura Tokizô V, Nakamura Kashô III, Nakamura Karoku V, Nakamura Shidô II, Nakamura Kinnosuke II, Nakamura Kantarô II, Nakamura Shichinosuke II
Great-great-grandsons: Ichikawa Somegorô VII, Nakamura Baishi IV, Nakamura Mantarô, Nakamura Tanetarô IV, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Nakamura Yonekichi V, Nakamura Ryûnosuke, Nakamura Hayato
Career:
1849: born in Ôsaka in the pleasures district of Sôemon-chô. He is the third son of the Kamigata star Nakamura Karoku I.
1856: he makes his first appearance on stage in Ôsaka at the Kadoza, where he receives the name of Nakamura Yonekichi I.
July 1859: his father Nakamura Karoku I dies.
Spring 1868: Nakamura Yonekichi I takes the name of Nakamura Baishi I.
January 1869: Nakamura Baishi I becomes nadai and takes the name of Nakamura Tokizô I at the Kado no Shibai, playing the roles of Hamada Jinzaburô and the yakko Tokihei in the drama "Keisei Hana no Koi Shigarami".
1873: Tokizô and his brother Nakamura Moshio II go together to Tôkyô.
March 1873: Tokizô plays at the Murayamaza the roles of Sampei, Torii Hikoemon and Yagenji in the drama "Taiko no Oto Chiyû Sanryaku", which celebrates also the shûmei of his brother Nakamura Karoku II.
Summer 1880: tour in Sendai.
January 1881: Tokizô plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Miuranosuke in the drama "Kamakura Sandaiki"; the roles of Sasaki Takatsuna and Princess Toki were played by Kataoka Gadô III and Suketakaya Takasuke IV.
1882 ~ 1884: stay in Ôsaka.
1884: Tokizô goes back to Tôkyô and plays at the Ichimuraza.
May 1891: his brother Bandô Shûka II dies.
April 1891 ~ Fall 1896: stay in Kamigata.
October 1896: Tokizô goes back to Tôkyô and plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Princess Yaegaki in the drama "Honchô Nijûshikô".
April 1899: Tokizô plays at the Tôkyôza the roles of Saisaki Iga-no-Kami and the yakko Tsumahei in the drama "Shin Usuyuki Monogatari".
April 1901: tour in Matsuyama with Nakamura Shibajaku IV.
1901 ~ 1903: stay in Kamigata.
January 1904: Tokizô goes back to Tôkyô and plays at the Meijiza.
Fall 1904: Tokizô goes back to Kamigata, playing in Ôsaka and Kôbe.
Summer 1905: Tokizô goes back to Tôkyô and plays at the Meijiza the role of Shiratayû in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".
1905 ~ 1909: Tokizô mainly plays in sall theaters like the Engiza, Kokkaza or Miyatoza, where his popularity keeps on rising.
April 1909: Nakamura Tokizô I takes the name of Nakamura Karoku III at the Meijiza; he plays the roles of Sodehagi and Abe Sadatô in the drama "Ôshû Adachi-ga-Hara".
August 1917: the play "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami" is produced at the Kabukiza for the first time; Karoku plays the role of Tsuribune Sabu [casting].
Comments:
Nakamura Karoku III was a popular kaneru yakusha, excelling in jidaimono. His three sons became stage giants of the Shôwa era.
Nakamura Karoku III playing the role of Yojirô's mother in the drama "Horikawa" (print made by Ôta Masamitsu in 1950)
The Nakamura Tokizô line of actors
The Nakamura Karoku line of actors