Stage names:

Nakajima Mihoemon III
Nakajima Mihozô II
Nakajima Shigazô

Guild: Nakajimaya

Line number: SANDAIME (III)

Poetry names: Ryûshi, Rijû

Existence: 1736 ~ 4 December 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.

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

February 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].

June 1780: tour in the province of Echigo with Matsumoto Kôshirô IV.

September 1780: Mihozô plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Sagisaka Bannai in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

17 December 1782: his master Nakajima Mihoemon II dies.

28 October 1783: a fire breaks out in Edo in the district of Kodemma-chô, which spreads and burns both the Ichimuraza and the Nakamuraza.

November 1783: Nakajima Mihozô II takes the name of Nakajima Mihoemon III without performing in any kaomise program because of the October disaster.

4 December 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