| NAKAMURA KAN'EMON III |
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Stage names:
Real name: Mitsui Kanejirô Guilds: Narikomaya, Komamuraya, Owariya 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 made his first appearance on stage at the Ryûseiza, where he received the name of Nakamura Umemaru and played the role of Karasu Tengû in the drama "Yamanba". October 1910: he became disciple of Seki Sanjûrô V and received the name of Seki Hananosuke at the Hôraiza. His elder brother received the name of Owariya Umenosuke. 1911: following a dispute with Seki Sanjûrô V, he took back the name of Nakamura Umemaru. Fall 1911: he became disciple of Nakamura Shikan V. November 1911: Nakamura Umemaru and his elder brother Nakamura Umenosuke II respectively took the names of Nakamura Umenosuke III and Nakamura Kamon I at the Kabukiza; they performed in the special programs celebrating the shûmei of Nakamura Utaemon V. 27 April 1919: his father Nakamura Kan'emon II died. April 1920: he became nadai and took 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 was staged in Kanda at the Shingoeza and included 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 started a reformist theater magazine entitled Gekisen ('Theater Combat'). He had to leave his master's clan because of his radical stand. 1930: Kan'emon left the Shôchiku Company, 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 played 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 played at the Ichimuraza the roles of Hosokawa Katsumoto and Arajishi Otokonosuke in the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi". August 1932: Kan'emon played at the Shinbashi Enbujô the role of Tanomo in Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Kameyama no Adauchi". November 1933: the Zenshinza troupe produced 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 played at the Shinjuku Daiichi Gekijô the role of Kyûsaku in Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Osome no Nanayaku". 1941: Kan'emon played the role of Tominomori Sukeemon in the movie "Genroku Chûshingura", which was directed by Mizoguchi Kenji and produced by the Shôchiku Company. June 1942: Kan'emon plays for the first time the role of Sukeemon in the "Ohama Goten" scene of the drama "Genroku Chûshingura", which was 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 was staged during a Zenshinza Japan tour. 1952 ~ 1955: clandestine study stay in China. November 1958: Kan'emon played the role of Soga no Iruka in the bombastic drama "Zôhiki" (which belonged to the Kabuki Jûhachiban), revived by the Zenshinza and staged at the Yomiuri Hall (Tôkyô). December 1959: Kan'emon played at the Meijiza the role of Sasano Sangobê in Namiki Gohei I's drama "Godairiki Koi no Fûjime". His stage partners were Kawarasaki Chôjûrô IV (Satsuma Gengobê) and Kawarasaki Kunitarô V (Sakuraya Koman). 1965: Kan'emon played in the movie "Kwaidan", 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 was suddenly expelled from the Zenshinza. 1969: Kan'emon played in the movie "Tengû-tô", directed by Yamamoto Satsuo. December 1972: Kan'emon played for the last time the role of Sakanaya Sôgorô in the drama "Shin Sarayashiki Tsuki no Amagasa", which was staged during a Zenshinza tour in Japan. December 1975: Kan'emon played for the last time the role of Sukeemon in the "Ohama Goten" scene of the drama "Genroku Chûshingura", which was staged at the Shinbashi Enbujô. December 1978: Kan'emon played at the Shinbashi Enbujô the role of Gappô in Katsu Hyôzô I and Sakurada Jisuke II drama "Ehon Gappô-ga-Tsuji". 21 September 1989: Kan'emon died. 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"), Mohê ("Ippon Gatana Dohyô Iri") and Sukeemon ("Ohama Goten"). |
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Nakamura Kan'emon III playing the role of Sasano Sangobê in the drama "Godairiki Koi no Fûjime", which was staged in December 1959 at the Meijiza The Nakamura Umenosuke line of actors The Nakamura Kan'emon line of actors |
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