Stage names:
Nakamura Utaemon VI
Nakamura Shikan VI
Nakamura Fukusuke VI
Nakamura Kôtarô III
Real name: Kawamura Fujio
Guild: Narikomaya
Line number: ROKUDAIME (VI)
Existence: 20 January 1917 ~ 31 March 2001
Connections:
Father: Nakamura Utaemon V
Brother: Nakamura Fukusuke V
Adopted sons: Nakamura Baigyoku IV, Nakamura Kaishun II
Career:
October 1922: he makes his first stage appearance, at the Shintomiza, where he receives the name of Nakamura Kotarô III and plays in the drama "Shinden Sandaiki".
August 1933: his brother Nakamura Fukusuke V dies.
November 1933: Nakamura Kotarô III takes the name of Nakamura Fukusuke VI at the Kabukiza.
May 1936: revival of "Nanatsu Men" at the Kabukiza; Fukusuke plays the role of Princess Sakura [casting].
September 1940: his father Nakamura Utaemon V dies.
October 1941: Nakamura Fukusuke VI takes the name of Nakamura Shikan VI at the Kabukiza, playing in "Ehon Taikôki", "Rokkasen" (the role of Ono no Komachi), "Kanadehon Chûshingura" and "Suzu-ga-Mori" (the role of Gompachi).
March 1951: Shikan plays for the first time the difficult role of Masaoka in the drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi", which is staged at the Meijiza. His stage partner in the role of the cruel Yashio is Morita Kan'ya XIV.
April 1951: Nakamura Shikan VI takes the name of Nakamura Utaemon VI at the Kabukiza, playing the roles of Omiwa, the snake disguised as the dancing girl Hanako and Princess Yuki in the drama "Mikasayama Goten", the dance "Kyôganoko Musume Dôjôji" and the drama "Kinkakuji".
June 1953: Utaemon plays at the Kabukiza the role of the keisei Yayoi (in reality the spirit of a shishi) in the dance "Makura Jishi", which is based on a new choreography created by Fujima Kanjûrô VI.
July 1953: premiere at the Meijiza of Hôjô Hideji's drama "Ukifune"; Utaemon plays the role of Ukifune [casting].
November 1954: premiere at the Kabukiza of Mishima Yukio's comical play "Iwashi Uri Koi no Hikiami"; Utaemon plays the role of the courtesan Hotarubi, in reality the Princess of Tankaku Castle, [casting].
February 1955: Izumi Kyôka's drama "Tenshu Monogatari" is staged for the first time with Kabuki actors, at the Kabukiza; Utaemon plays the role of Princess Tomi [casting].
July 1955: premiere at the Tôhô Takarazuka Gekijô of Uno Nobuo's drama "Mômoku Monogatari"; Utaemon plays the role of Oichi-no-Kata.
July 1956: revival at the Kabukiza of the michiyuki "Chô no Michiyuki", in which Utaemon plays the role of Komaki; the role of Sukekuni is played by Matsumoto Kôshirô VIII.
November 1959: revival at the Kabukiza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's masterpiece "Sakura Hime Azuma Bunshô", which is supervised by Mishima Yukio; Utaemon plays the roles of Princess Sakura and Fûrin Ohime [casting].
June ~ July 1960: Utaemon takes part in the first Kabuki tour in the USA; He plays the roles of the courtesan Yatsuhashi, Osato, Kaoyo Gozen, the snake disguised as the dancing girl Hanako in the dramas "Kagotsurube Sato no Eizame", "Tsubosaka Reigenki", "Kanadehon Chûshingura" and the dance "Kyôganoko Musume Dôjôji" [casting].
December 1988: Utaemon plays for the last time the role of Masaoka in the drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi", which is staged at the National Theater. The cruel Yashio is played by Kawarazaki Gonjûrô III.
Comments:
Nakamura Utaemon VI was the best onnagata of the second half of the twentieth century.
Nakamura Utaemon VI's best roles: Masaoka ("Sendai Meiboku Hagi"), Princess Yaegaki ("Honchô Nijûshikô"), Princess Yuki ("Gion Sairei Shinkôki"), Princess Toki ("Kamakura Sandaiki"), Ono no Komachi/Sumizome/the spirit of the cherry tree ("Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To"), Akoya ("Dan no Ura Kabuto Gunki"), Princess Takiyasha ("Masakado"), Kasane ("Iro Moyô Chotto Karimame").
Nakamura Utaemon VI playing the leading role of the dance "Musume Dôjôji" (print made by Natori Shunsen in 1951)
Print made by Ôta Masamitsu in 1951
The Nakamura Kôtarô line of actors
The Nakamura Fukusuke line of actors
The Nakamura Shikan line of actors
The Nakamura Utaemon line of actors