Stage names:
| Nakamura Jakuemon III |  |
| Nakamura Shibajaku IV | |
| Nakamura Emitarô | |
| Arashi Emitarô | |
Real name: Nakajima Emitarô
Guild: Kyôya
Line number: SANDAIME (III)
Existence: 2 January 1875 ~ 15 November 1927
Connections:
Father: Arashi Rishô II
Brother: Arashi Emisaburô
Adoptive father: Nakamura Jakuemon II
Son: Nakamura Shôkei (Shibajaku V)
Disciple: Nakamura Shigeijaku
Career:
January 1875: born in Ôsaka in the district of Shinmachi (a famous pleasure quarter).
January 1879: he makes his first appearance on stage, in Ôsaka at the Ebisuza, playing under the name of Arashi Emitarô.
5 April 1886: his father Arashi Rishô II dies.
1886 ~ 1890: he is adopted by Nakamura Jakuemon II and takes the name of Nakamura Emitarô.
March 1890: his adopted brother Nakamura Shibajaku III dies.
September 1891: Nakamura Emitarô takes the name of Nakamura Shibajaku IV in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai.
August 1904: Shibajaku plays at the Kadoza the role of the courtesan Kojorô in the drama "Koi Minato Hakata no Hitofushi". His stage partners are Jitsukawa Enjaku II (Kezori) and Arashi Tokusaburô V (Sôshichi).
December 1906: premiere at the Minamiza of Takayasu Gekkô's drama "Sakura Shigure"; Shibajaku plays the roles of Yoshinodayû and Otoku [casting].
June 1907: Shibajaku plays for the first time the role of Tamate Gozen in the drama "Sesshû Gappô-ga-Tsuji", which is staged in Ôsaka at the Kadoza. His stage partners are Kataoka Nizaemon XI (Gappô) and Arashi Kichisaburô VI (Shuntokumaru).
October 1913: revival at the Kabukiza of the drama "Zôhiki", which belongs to the Kabuki Jûhachiban; Shibajaku plays the role of Toshima Aoinosuke [more details].
August 1915: the drama "Kaidan Chibusa no Enoki" revised by Enjirô is staged for the first time in Tôkyô, at the Kabukiza; Shibajaku plays the role of Shigenobu's wife Oseki [casting].
December 1915: Shibajaku plays at the Naniwaza (Ôsaka) the role of Otoku in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Keisei Hangonkô"; the role of Matahei is played by Onoe Taminosuke.
February 1916: Shibajaku plays at the Hongôza (Tôkyô) the prestigious role of Sodehagi in the drama "Sodehagi Saimon".
September 1916: Shibajaku plays at the Shintomiza the role of Kuzu-no-Ha in the drama "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami".
October 1918: Nakamura Shibajaku IV takes the name of Nakamura Jakuemon III at the Naniwaza (Ôsaka).
May 1919: Jakuemon plays at the Naniwaza the prestigious role of the Princess Yaegaki in the drama "Honchô Nijûshikô". His stage partners are Nakamura Kaisha (Nureginu) and Nakamura Ganjirô I (Katsuyori).
April 1920: Jakuemon plays for the last time the role of Tamate Gozen in the drama "Sesshû Gappô-ga-Tsuji", which is staged at the Minatoza (Nagoya); the role of Gappô is played by Jitsukawa Enjaku II.
December 1922: Jakuemon plays at the Imperial Theater (Tôkyô) the prestigious role of Princess Yaegaki in the drama "Honchô Nijûshikô". His stage partners are Bandô Shûchô III (Nureginu) and Sawamura Sônosuke I (Katsuyori).
February 1924: Jakuemon plays at the Minamiza the role of Princess Toki in the drama "Kamakura Sandaiki". His stage partners in the roles of Sasaki Takatsuna and Miuranosuke are Jitsukawa Enjaku II and Sawamura Sôjûrô VII.
March 1924: Jakuemon plays at the Naniwaza (Ôsaka) the prestigious role of Princess Yaegaki in the drama "Honchô Nijûshikô". His stage partners in the roles of Nureginu and Katsuyori are Sawamura Sônosuke I and Nakamura Fukusuke IV.
February 1927: Jakuemon plays at the Matsushima Yachiyoza (Ôsaka) the prestigious role of Sodehagi in the play "Sodehagi Saimon".
May 1927: Jakuemon plays at the Nakaza the role of Nureginu in the drama "Honchô Nijûshikô". His stage partners in the roles of Princess Yaegaki and Katsuyori are Nakamura Fukusuke IV and Jitsukawa Enjaku II.
November 1927: Jakuemon appears on stage for the last time, at the Nakaza, playing the role of Princess Michitose in the drama "Honzô Shimoyashiki"; he collapses and dies on stage.
Comments:
Nakamura Jakuemon III was an outstanding Kamigata onnagata.
"Nakamura Jakuemon, the third, an Ôsaka onnagata, frequently plays in Tôkyô. He differs from all the other actors because he has persistently and consistently patterned after the marionettes, and seems to have associated with the dolls in such a familiar way as to belong to the sphere of elfs and fairies rather than to the ordinary characters of drama." (Zoë Kincaid in "Kabuki, the Popular Stage of Japan")
Nakamura Jakuemon III in the role of Yaoya Oshichi (print made by Natori Shunsen in 1927)
Print made by Ôta Masamitsu in 1950
The Nakamura Shibajaku line of actors
The Nakamura Jakuemon line of actors