Stage names:

Nakajima Kanzaemon III
Nakajima Kanroku III
Nakajima Dennosuke

Guild: Nakajimaya

Line number: SANDAIME (III)

Poetry names: Zeshô, Tôshi

Existence: 1738 ~ 13th day of the 1st lunar month of 1794

Connection:

Great-grandfather: Abura Kanroku

Grandfather: Nakajima Kanzaemon I

Father: Nakajima Kanzaemon II

Disciple: Nakajima Kanzaemon IV

Career:

1738: born in Edo. His first stage name is Nakajima Dennosuke.

11th lunar month of 1753: Nakajima Dennosuke takes the name of Nakajima Kanroku III at the Ichimuraza, playing as a katakiyaku with his father in the kaomise drama "Kamuri Kurabe Yatsushi Kuronushi".

5th day of the 8th lunar month of 1762: his father Nakajima Kanzaemon II dies.

11th lunar month of 1762: Nakajima Kanroku III takes the name of Nakajima Kanzaemon III at the Nakamuraza, playing the role of Ecchû no Jirôbei in the kaomise drama "Nagi no Ha Izu no Sugatami", which also celebrates the shûmei of Ôtani Hiroemon III and Ichikawa Somegorô I.

11th lunar month of 1768: Kanzaemon performs at the Moritaza in the kaomise drama "Mutsuchidori Meika no Yumitori".

2nd lunar month of 1769: the play "Sekitori Senryô Nobori", which was originally written for the puppet theater and staged for the first time in the 8th lunar month of 1767 in Ôsaka at the Takemotoza, is adapted for Kabuki for the first time, in Edo at the Moritaza; Kanzaemon plays the role of a sumô referee [casting].

4th lunar month of 1780: first Kabuki adaptation of Utei Enba, Kijô Tarô and Yô Yôdai puppet theater drama "Go Taiheiki Shiraishi Banashi". The play is staged in Edo at the Moritaza; Kanzaemon plays the roles of Igaya Daishichi and Kumiya Yazaemon [casting].

1st lunar month of 1792: Kanzaemon is the kanjiku for katakiyaku actors in the Edo hyôbanki.

1st lunar month of 1793: Kanzaemon's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, katakiyaku section, is jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent) [visual].

5th lunar month of 1793: Kanzaemon plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Kô no Moronô in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

Fall 1793: Kanzaemon plays in the same theater the role of Hôjô Tokimasa in the drama "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata".

11th lunar month of 1793: Kanzaemon appears on stage for the last time, playing at the Kawarasakiza the role of Higekuro no Ôji, the evil prince of the "Shibaraku" scene, in the drama "Nigiwai Genji Hana Saku Mon".

13th day of the 1st lunar month of 1794: Kanzaemon dies in Edo.

Comments:

Nakajima Kanzaemon III was a katakiyaku actor, who made all his career in Edo during the second half of the 18th century. He was said to look like the actor Ôtani Ryûzaemon II. He was also able to play old women roles in his latter years.

Nakajima Kanzaemon III in a print made by Katsukawa Shunshô in 1770

The Nakajima Kanzaemon line of actors