Stage names:

Nakajima Mihoemon III
Nakajima Mihozô II
Nakajima Shigazô

Guild: Nakajimaya

Line number: SANDAIME (III)

Poetry names: Ryûshi, Rijû

Existence: 1736 ~ 4th day of the 12th lunar month of 1783

Connection:

Master: Nakajima Mihoemon II

Son: Nakajima Mihoemon IV

Grandson: Nakajima Mihoemon V

Career:

1736: born in Edo. He starts his career as a disciple of Nakajima Mihozô I, who gives him the name of Nakajima Shigazô.

11th lunar month of 1764: Nakajima Shigazô takes the name of Nakajima Mihozô II at the Nakamuraza, performing in the kaomise drama "Azuma no Hana Sôma no Dairi".

2nd lunar month of 1767: first Kabuki adaptation, at the Ichimuraza, of Chikamatsu Hanji's puppet theater drama "Taiheiki Chûshin Kôshaku"; Danzô plays the roles of Yakushiji Jirozaemon and Ono no Kudayû [casting].

6th lunar month of 1780: tour in the province of Echigo with Matsumoto Kôshirô IV.

9th lunar month of 1780: Mihozô plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Sagisaka Bannai in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

17th day of the 12th lunar month of 1782: his master Nakajima Mihoemon II dies.

28th day of the 10th lunar month of 1783: a fire breaks out in Edo in the district of Kodenma-chô, which spreads and burns both the Ichimuraza and the Nakamuraza.

11th lunar month of 1783: Nakajima Mihozô II takes the name of Nakajima Mihoemon III without performing in any kaomise program because of the 10th lunar month disaster.

4th day of the 12th lunar month of 1783: the new Mihoemon dies in Edo.

Comments:

Nakajima Mihoemon III was a 18th century actor specialized in katakiyaku and handôgataki roles, like Sagisaka Bannai in "Kanadehon Chûshingura". He died before being able to perform the atariyaku of his master, like Kô no Moronô in "Kanadehon Chûshingura" or Fujiwara no Shihei in "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

Nakajima Mihoemon III in a print made by Katsukawa Shunshô in 1770

The Nakajima Mihozô line of actors

The Nakajima Mihoemon line of actors