Stage names:

Nakamura Nakazô IV
Nakamura Kangorô XII
Nakamura Ginnosuke I

Real name: Iwaki Yonekichi

Guild: Maizuruya

Line number: YODAIME (IV)

Poetry name: Shûkaku

Existence: 1855 ~ 31 January 1916

Connection:

Masters: Nakamura Nakazô III, Nakamura Kanzaburô XIII

Adopted son: Nakamura Ginnosuke II

Career:

1855 ~ 1861: born in Edo. His father is the owner of a rice cake shop in the district of Yotsuya Araki-chô. He is later on adopted by a man called Musashiya Kintarô.

1861: he starts his career as a disciple of Nakamura Kanzaburô XIII, who gives him the name of Nakamura Ginnosuke I

November 1884: he becomes nadai and takes the name of Nakamura Kangorô XII at the Saruwakaza, playing the roles of Masaki Dansuke, Ichihara Hankurô and Nagasaki Jirô in the drama "Shinbutai Echigo no Tateyomi".

December 1886: his master Nakamura Nakazô III dies.

September 1893: Kangorô plays for the first time the role of Kômori Yasu in the drama "Yo no Mukashi Shima no Shinwa", which is staged at the Harukiza; the roles of Yosaburô and Otomi are played by Ichikawa Yaozô VII and Iwai Matsunosuke IV.

January 1896: revival at the Harukiza of the dance "Kashiragaki Ise Monogatari", staged under the title "Noriaibune Ehô Manzai", with Ichikawa Ennosuke I and Kangorô performing the two comic dancers.

July 1901: premiere at the Tôkyôza of "Tsuri Onna", the Kabuki version of the kyôgen "Tsuribari", originally written in 1883 by Kawatake Mokuami (lyrics) and Kishizawa Shikisa VI (music) and revised for the stage by Takeshiba Shinkichi. It stars Ichikawa Ennosuke I and Kangorô in the roles of Tarôkaja and the ugly girl.

September 1907: Kangorô achieves a great success at the Kokkaza by playing the roles of Gombei, Takuetsu, Shôbei and Jôhachi in the drama "Amayo no Kane Yotsuya Kaidan".

September 1909: revival at the Meijiza of the drama "Kenuki", a long-forgotten play belonging to the kabuki jûhachiban; Kangorô plays the role of Yatsurugi Gemba [casting].

April 1915: Nakamura Kangorô XII takes the name of Nakamura Nakazô IV at the Kabukiza, playing the role of Kampera Mombei in the drama "Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura".

Comments:

Nakamura Nakazô IV was a short-sized actor, who had no great presence on stage but was appreciated by the audience in katakiyaku or fukeyaku supporting roles. His most notable performances were Takuetsu ("Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan"), Mikawaya Giheiji ("Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami"), Chôbei ("Kamiyui Shinza") and Onoemon ("Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi"). He was also good in some of the best roles of his late master Nakamura Nakazô III, like Kômori Yasu ("Yowa Nasake Ukina no Yokogushi") or Naosuke Gombei ("Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan").

Nakamura Nakazô IV playing the role of Shirokiya Shôbei in the drama "Koi Musume Mukashi Hachijô"

The Nakamura Nakazô line of actors