Stage names:

Nakamura Shikaku II
Nakamura Utanosuke III
Nakamura Yoshimaru II

Real name: Sobue Yoshio

Guild: Shinkomaya

Line number: NIDAIME (II)

Poetry name: Keishû (?)

Existence: 14 April 1900 ~ 3 September 1981

Connections:

Adopted father: Nakamura Denkurô VI

Master: Nakamura Utaemon V

Career:

February 1905: first stage appearance, at the Shintomiza, where he receives the name of Nakamura Yoshimaru II and plays a kamuro role in the drama "Kagotsurube Sato no Eizame".

November 1911: Nakamura Yoshimaru II takes the name of Nakamura Utanosuke III at the Kabukiza. This name, which was first used by Nakamura Utaemon I, is given to him by his new master Nakamura Utaemon V.

May 1919: Nakamura Shikaku I and his adopted son Nakamura Utanosuke III respectively take the names of Nakamura Denkurô VI and Nakamura Shikaku II at the Kabukiza; the new Shikaku plays in the drama "Tanzen Asaina".

20 July 1923: his adopted father Nakamura Denkurô VI dies.

October 1926: Shûchô plays at the Kabukiza the role of Tonase's daughter Konami in the acts VIII and IX of the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; the roles of Tonase's husband Honzô and Tonase are played by Ichikawa Chûsha VII and Bandô Shûchô III.

September 1930: revival at the Meijiza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's masterpiece "Sakura Hime Azuma Bunshô", produced under the title "Tôryû Azuma Bunshô"; Shikaku plays the role of Katsushika no Ojû [casting].

12 September 1940: his master Nakamura Utaemon V dies.

February 1955: Izumi Kyôka's drama "Tenshu Monogatari" is staged for the first time with Kabuki actors, at the Kabukiza; Shikaku plays the role of Shitanaga Uba [casting].

November 1959: revival at the Kabukiza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's masterpiece "Sakura Hime Azuma Bunshô", which is supervised by Mishima Yukio; Shikaku plays the role of Nagaura [casting].

March 1961: the actors Matsumoto Kôshirô VIII and Shikaku sign exclusive contracts with the Tôhô and leave the Shôchiku.

1975: Shikaku joins back the Shôchiku.

February 1981: Shikaku appears on stage for the last time, playing at the Kabukiza the role of Shitanaga Uba in Izumi Kyôka's drama "Tenshu Monogatari".

Comments:

Nakamura Shikaku II was an important 20th century supporting onnagata actor.

"Active in both Tôkyô and Ôsaka, he was well versed in old onnagata customs and wrote books such as "Kabuki Zuihistu" ("Kabuki Jottings") and "Yakusha no Sekai" ("The Actor's World")." (Samuel Leiter in "New Kabuki Encyclopedia")

Nakamura Shikaku II playing the role of Shizuka Gozen in a print made by Natori Shunsen in 1925

The Nakamura Shikaku line of actors