Nakamura Kanzaburō


Nakamura Kanzaburō is a stage name taken on by a series of Kabuki actors of the Nakamura family. Most of these were blood relatives, though some were adopted into the family. Kanzaburō, like other actors' names, is bestowed at grand naming ceremonies called shūmei in which a number of actors formally change their names. The bearer of the name was often also the zamoto, the head of the troupe and theatre manager, of the Nakamura-za theatre in Edo.

Lineage

  • Nakamura Kanzaburō I – founder of the Nakamura-za, and among the earliest generation of kabuki actors.
  • Nakamura Kanzaburō II – actor, zamoto and son of Kanzaburō I.
  • Nakamura Kanzaburō III – actor, zamoto and son of Kanzaburō I.
  • Nakamura Kanzaburō IV – actor, zamoto and son of Nakamura Kankurō I
  • Nakamura Kanzaburō V – actor, zamoto, and son of Kanzaburō III.
  • Nakamura Kanzaburō VI – zamoto and son of Kankurō I. Rarely appeared on stage.
  • Nakamura Kanzaburō VII – zamoto and son of Kankurō I. Rarely appeared on stage.
  • Nakamura Kanzaburō VIII – actor, zamoto, son of Kanzaburō VI.
  • Nakamura Kanzaburō IX – actor, zamoto, grandson of Nakamura Shichisaburō II, adopted by Kanzaburō VIII.
  • Nakamura Kanzaburō X – zamoto, merchant son-in-law of Kanzaburō VIII. Never appeared on stage.
  • Nakamura Kanzaburō XI – zamoto son-in-law of Kanzaburō VIII. Rarely appeared on stage.
  • Nakamura Kanzaburō XII – actor and zamoto, son of Kanzaburō XI. Arrested for falsification of documents.
  • Nakamura Kanzaburō XIII – last zamoto of the Nakamura-za. Rarely appeared on stage. Son of Kanzaburō XII.
  • Nakamura Nakazō III never formally held the name, but is counted as 14th in the lineage. Actor son-in-law of Kanzaburō XII, managed the Nakamura-za briefly from 1875 to its destruction in 1876.
  • Nakamura Akashi V never formally held the name, but is counted as 15th in the lineage. Actor son of Kanzaburō XIII and zamoto of the Saruwaka-za.
  • Nakamura Fujiko – likewise never formally held the name, but is counted as 16th in the lineage. Daughter of Akashi V, granddaughter of Kanzaburō XIII.
  • Nakamura Kanzaburō XVII – Actor son of Nakamura Karoku III. Took part of first kabuki tour in Western Europe, and in the opening ceremony of the National Theater.
  • Nakamura Kanzaburō XVIII – Actor son of Kanzaburō XVII. Most recent holder of the name. Appeared also in TV commercials and stage musicals and comedies outside of kabuki. Died from esophageal cancer on 5 December 2012.