| NAKAMURA KAN'EMON III |
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Stage names:
Real name: Mitsui Kanejirô Guilds: Narikomaya, Komamuraya Line number: SANDAIME (III) Existence: 2 February 1901 ~ 21 September 1989 Connections: Father: Nakamura Kan'emon II Masters: Nakamura Utaemon V, Seki Sanjûrô V Brother: Nakamura Nakasuke III Brother-in-law: Nakamura Kamon II Grandson: Nakamura Baijaku II Career: November 1905: he makes his first appearance on stage at the Ryûseiza, where he receives the name of Nakamura Umemaru and plays the role of Karasu Tengû in the drama "Yamanba". October 1910: he becomes disciple of Seki Sanjûrô V and receives the name of Seki Hananosuke at the Hôraiza. His elder brother receives the name of Owariya Umenosuke. 1911: following a dispute with Seki Sanjûrô V, he takes back the name of Nakamura Umemaru. Fall 1911: he becomes disciple of Nakamura Shikan V. November 1911: Nakamura Umemaru and his elder brother Nakamura Umenosuke II respectively take the names of Nakamura Umenosuke III and Nakamura Kamon I at the Kabukiza; they perform in the special programs celebrating the shûmei of Nakamura Utaemon V. 27 April 1919: his father Nakamura Kan'emon II dies. April 1920: he becomes nadai and takes the name of Nakamura Kan'emon III. February 1926: foundation with Bandô Utazô and Nakamura Utagorô of a reformist study group named Tomodachiza ("the friends troupe"). Their first show is staged in Kanda at the Shingoeza and includes the jidaimono "Youchi Soga Kariba no Akebono", the sewamono "Domo Mata" and the dance "Hashi Benkei". 1929: 17th and final show for the Tomodachiza. November 1929: he starts a reformist theater magazine name Gekisen ("Theater Combat"). He has to leave his master's clan because of his radical stand. 1930: Kan'emon leaves the Shôchiku, the main Kabuki show-producing company in Japan. September 1930: revival at the Meijiza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's masterpiece "Sakura Hime Azuma Bunshô", produced under the title "Tôryû Azuma Bunshô"; Kan'emon plays the role of the priest Zangetsu [casting]. May 1931: foundation of the Zenshinza troupe, a left-wing and progressive theater troupe led by Kawarasaki Chôjûrô IV and Kan'emon. April 1932: Kan'emon plays at the Ichimuraza the roles of Hosokawa Katsumoto and Arajishi Otokonosuke in the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi". August 1932: Kan'emon plays at the Shinbashi Enbujô the role of Tanomo in Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Kameyama no Adauchi". November 1933: the Zenshinza troupe produces for the first time the dance-drama "Kanjinchô" at the Shinbashi Enbujô with Kan'emon (Togashi), Kawarasaki Chôjûrô IV (Benkei) and Kawarasaki Kunitarô V (Yoshitsune). June 1938: Kan'emon plays at the Shinjuku Daiichi Gekijô the role of Kyûsaku in Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Osome no Nanayaku". 1941: Kan'emon plays the role of Tominomori Sukeemon in the movie "Genroku Chûshingura", which is directed by Mizoguchi Kenji and produced by the compagnie Shôchiku. June 1942: Kan'emon plays for the first time the role of Sukeemon in the "Ohama Goten" scene of the drama "Genroku Chûshingura", which is staged at the Shinbashi Enbujô. July ~ October 1947: Kan'emon plays for the first time the role of Sôgorô in the drama "Shin Sarayashiki Tsuki no Amagasa", which is staged during a Zenshinza Japan tour. 1952 ~ 1955: clandestine study stay in China. November 1958: Kan'emon plays the role of Soga no Iruka in the bombastic drama "Zôhiki" (which belongs to the Kabuki Jûhachiban), revived by the Zenshinza and staged at the Yomiuri Hall (Tôkyô). December 1959: Kan'emon plays at the Meijiza the role of Sasano Sangobê in Namiki Gohei I's drama "Godairiki Koi no Fûjime". His stage partners are Kawarasaki Chôjûrô IV (Satsuma Gengobê) and Kawarasaki Kunitarô V (Sakuraya Koman). 1965: Kan'emon plays in the movie "Kaidan", directed by Kobayashi Masaki. January 1967: ideological breaking off between Kawarasaki Chôjûrô IV and Kan'emon, the two mainstays of the Zenshinza; the former actor is suddenly expelled from the Zenshinza. 1969: Kan'emon plays in the movie "Tengûtô", directed by Yamamoto Satsuo. December 1972: Kan'emon plays for the last time the role of Sakanaya Sôgorô in the drama "Shin Sarayashiki Tsuki no Amagasa", which is staged during a Zenshinza Japan tour. December 1975: Kan'emon plays for the last time the role of Sukeemon in the "Ohama Goten" scene of the drama "Genroku Chûshingura", which is staged at the Shinbashi Enbujô. December 1978: Kan'emon plays at the Shinbashi Enbujô the role of Gappô in Katsu Hyôzô I and Sakurada Jisuke II drama "Ehon Gappô-ga-Tsuji". Comments: Nakamura Kan'emon III was the cofounder of the Zenshinza troupe and an amazing tachiyaku actor, who played an important role in the revivals of old classics or the productions of new dramas. His forte were sewamono dramas. Nakamura Kan'emon III's best roles : Shunkan ("Heike Nyogo no Shima"), Sakanaya Sôgorô ("Shin Sarayashiki Tsuki no Amagasa"), Mohei ("Ippon Gatana Dohyô Iri") and Sukeemon ("Ohama Goten"). The Nakamura Umenosuke line of actors |
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