NAKAMURA NAKAZÔ
   
FIVE GENERATIONS
Nakamura Nakazô I
  The founder of the line Nakamura Nakazô I held this name from the 11th lunar month of 1761 to the 10th lunar month of 1785, then from the 11th lunar month of 1786 to the 4th lunar month of 1790.

The actor Nakamura Nakazô I playing the role of Sekibê in the dance-drama "Seki no To" in a print made by Utagawa Toyokuni III (1862~1863)

Nakamura Nakazô 1.2
 

Born in 1768. He was the elder son of the actor Yoshizawa Ayame IV. He made his first stage appearance in the 1st lunar month of 1777, in Edo at the Ichimuraza, where he received the name of Yoshizawa Tsurumatsu and played in the new year drama "Tsukisenu Haru Hagoromo Soga". He took the name of Yoshizawa Kichijûrô II in the 11th lunar month of 1782 at the Ichimuraza, playing in the kaomise drama "Ise Heiji Eika Goyomi". He achieved a great success the following year in the same theater by performing in the soga matsuri dance. He was adopted by Nakamura Nakazô I and took the name of Nakamura Mansaku in the 11th lunar month of 1784 at the Kiriza, playing in the kaomise drama "Jûni Hitoe Komachi Zakura". Nakamura Nakazô I and his adopted son respectively took in the 11th lunar month of 1785 the names of Nakayama Kojûrô VI and Nakamura Nakazô at the Nakamuraza, playing in the kaomise drama "Yuki Motsutake Furisode Genji". The new Nakazô did not keep his new name more than a year: Nakayama Kojûrô VI and Nakamura Nakazô took back their previous names, Nakamura Nakazô I and Nakamura Mansaku, in the 11th lunar month of 1786 at the Kiriza, playing in the kaomise drama "Mutsu no Hana Izu no Hataage". As a consequence of this failure, he was not acknowledged as a member of the Nakamura Nakazô line of actors. He took the name of Nakayama Kojûrô VII in the 11th lunar month of 1788 at the Nakamuraza, playing in Sakurada Jisuke I's kaomise drama "Tôzumô Hana no Edokata". He gave up acting in 1791 and became choreographer at the Nakamuraza, teaching dance under the name of Shigayama Mansaku IX. He died the 29th 9th lunar month of 1798.

Nakamura Nakazô II
  The actor Nakamura Nakazô II held this name from the 11th lunar month of 1794 to the 11th lunar month of 1796.

The actor Nakamura Nakazô II playing the role of Sadakurô in the fifth act of the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura" in a print made by Utagawa Toyokuni III (1862~1863)

Nakamura Nakazô III
  The actor Nakamura Nakazô III held this name from the 9th lunar month of 1865 to December 1886.

The actor Nakamura Nakazô III playing the role of Kômori Yasu in the drama "Yowa Nasake Ukina no Yokogushi" (commonly called "Kirare Yosa") in a print made by Toyohara Kunichika in 1881

Nakamura Nakazô IV
  The actor Nakamura Nakazô IV held this name from April 1915 to January 1916.
Nakamura Nakazô V
 

Born the 30th November 1935. He was the great-grandson of Nakamura Tomijûrô III and the grandson of Ichikawa Dan'emon II. He made his first stage appearance in October 1951, performing under the name of Ichikawa Tarô. He became a disciple of Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII and took the name of Nakamura Kangorô XIII in May 1970 at the Kabukiza, playing the role of Magohachi in the drama "Numazu". He finally took the prestigious name of Nakamura Nakazô V in April 1989 at the Kabukiza, playing the role of Shundô Genba in the drama "Terakoya". He unfortunately held this name only for a few years, dying the 8th December 1992. He was a talented supporting tachiyaku actor.

Real name Yagô
Nakamura Shôtarô Maizuruya

 
There was also another line of minor Kamigata actors, who also held the name of Nakamura Nakazô (four generations):
Nakamura Nakazô I (Kamigata)
 

He started his career in Ôsaka in koshibai venues, playing under the name of Sanogawa Mankichi. Later on, he became a disciple of Nakamura Iwazô, who gave him the name of Nakamura Nakazô I. He made almost all his career in hama shibai, from the Tenmei era to the Kansei era. He was a tachiyaku actor, specialized in jitsugotoshi and budôgoto roles.

Haimyô Yagô
Suchô Himejiya

Nakamura Nakazô II (Kamigata)
 

Son of Nakamura Nakazô I, he started his career under the name of Nakamura Ryûzô. He took the name of Nakamura Nakazô II a few years after the death of his father. He was a low-ranking actor, who performed tachiyaku, jitsuaku and fukeyaku roles.

Haimyô Yagô
Suchô Himejiya, Izutsuya

Nakamura Nakazô III (Kamigata)
 

He started his career in Ôsaka in koshibai venues, playing under the name of Onoe Tokujirô. He was later on adopted by Nakamura Nakazô II and took the name of Nakamura Nakazô III during the Bunka era, after the death of his adoptive father. His career was short and he never performed in ôshibai theaters.

Haimyô Yagô
Unknown Himejiya

Nakamura Nakazô IV (Kamigata)
 

The actor Nakamura Kashichi IV held the name of Nakamura Nakazô IV from the 1st lunar month of 1848 to the 10th lunar month of 1853.

 
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