Stage names:

Nakamura Kosanza II
Nakamura Shiomi
Nakamura Chôkichi
Nakamura Koyone

Real name: Fukui Sadao

Guild: Nakamuraya

Line number: NIDAIME (II)

Existence: 20 August 1920 ~ 6 April 2015

Connections:

Masters: Nakamura Kanzaburô XVIII, Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII

Career:

October 1926: he becomes disciple of Nakamura Yonekichi III and appears on stage for the first time, at the Hongôza, where he receives the name of Nakamura Koyone and plays the role of Jûtarô's son in the drama "Taiheiki Chûshin Kôshaku". He later on takes the name of Nakamura Chôkichi.

June 1948: he becomes nadai and takes the name of Nakamura Shiomi at the Tôkyô Gekijô, playing in the drama "Manaita Chôbê".

April 1959: Nakamura Shiomi takes the name of Nakamura Kosanza II at the Kabukiza, playing in the drama "Mukashi Banashi Momotarô", which celebrates the first stage appearance of his master's son Nakamura Kankurô V.

November 1961: premiere in Kabuki at the Ôsaka Shinkabukiza of Hôjô Hideji's drama "Korikori Banashi"; Kosanza plays the role of Okoma [casting].

16 April 1988: his master Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII dies.

5 December 2012: his second master Nakamura Kanzaburô XVIII dies.

January 2015: Kosanza appears on stage for the last time, in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza, where he plays the role of Omatsu in the drama "Ippon Gatana Dohyô Iri".

6 April 2015: Kosanza dies.

Comments:

Nakamura Kosanza II was a veteran onnagata actor of the Nakamuraya and a faithful stage/backstage assistant of both Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII and Nakamura Kanzaburô XVIII. The former actor once said, while he was sick, "if I die, put Kosanza with me in my coffin". His most notable role was Takuetsu's wife Oiro in Tsuruya Nanboku IV's masterpiece "Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan".

The mon of Nakamura Kosanza II (the ginkgo tree)