Stage names:

Nakamura Fukusuke V
Nakamura Kotarô II

Real name: Nakamura Keiji

Nickname: Keichan Fukusuke

Guild: Narikomaya

Line number: GODAIME (V)

Poetry names: Baigan, Shûu

Existence: 10 May 1900 ~ 1 August 1933

Connections:

Father: Nakamura Utaemon V

Brother: Nakamura Utaemon VI

Son: Nakamura Shikan VII

Grandsons: Nakamura Fukusuke IX, Nakamura Shikan VIII

Great-grandsons: Nakamura Kankurô VI, Nakamura Shichinosuke II, Nakamura Kotarô VI, Nakamura Hashinosuke IV, Nakamura Fukunosuke III, Nakamura Utanosuke IV

Great-great-grandsons: Nakamura Kantarô III, Nakamura Chôzaburô II

Career:

July 1904: first stage appearance, in Tôkyô at the Tôkyôza, where he received the name of Nakamura Kotarô II.

April 1916: Nakamura Kotarô II took the name of Nakamura Fukusuke V at the Kabukiza, where he played the role of the shirabyôshi Hanako in the dance-drama "Musume Dôjôji"; it ended with the oshimodoshi grand finale with Ichimura Uzaemon XV in the role of the Ôdate Samagorô.

February 1917: Fukusuke played at the Minamiza the role of Shizuka Gozen in the michiyuki "Yoshinoyama"; the role of Tadanobu was played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV.

February 1918: Fukusuke played at the Kabukiza the role of Irie Tanzô in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

March 1920: Fukusuke played at the Minamiza the role of Matsushima in the drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi".

April 1920: Fukusuke played at the Kabukiza the role of Matsushima in the drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi".

March 1921: Fukusuke played at the Yokohama Gekijô the role of Matsushima in the drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi".

October 1921: Fukusuke played at the Kabukiza the role of Konami in the 9th act of "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; the role of Konami's mother Tonase was played by Fukusuke's father Nakamura Utaemon V.

February 1922 ~ April 1924: Fukusuke was the leader of the Hagoromokai, a society dedicated to the study and the development of shosagoto.

February 1922: revival at the Imperial Theater of the Nagauta-based dance-drama "Tsuki no Kao Monaka no Natorigusa", which was entitled "Oniji Hyôshimai"; Fukusuke played the role of Matsu-no-Mae [more details].

September 1922: Fukusuke played at the Shintomiza the role of Chidori in the drama "Heike Nyogo no Shima".

March 1923: Fukusuke played at the Imperial Theater the leading role of the dance "Onna to Kage" ('The Woman and the Shadow'), based on a story written by Paul Claudel and a music made by Kineya Sakichi.

October 1924: Fukusuke played at the Hongôza the role of Konami in the 9th act of "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; the role of Konami's mother Tonase was played by Fukusuke's father Nakamura Utaemon V.

November 1924: Fukusuke played at the Imperial Theater the role of Matsushima in the drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi".

November 1925: Fukusuke played at the Kabukiza the role of Rikiya in the 9th act of "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

July 1927: Fukusuke played at the Hongôza the roles of Kokingo and Osato in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

June 1928: Fukusuke played at the Meijiza the role of Suke-no-Tsubone in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

October 1928: Fukusuke played at the Kabukiza the role of Okinoi in the drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi".

November 1928: premiere at the Kabukiza of Oka Onitarô's dance-drama "Kakuju Senzai"; Fukusuke played the role of a merchant [more details].

July 1929: Fukusuke played at the Meijiza the role of Osai in the 6th act of "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

January 1931: Fukusuke played at the Tôkyô Gekijô the role of Chiyo in the "Terakoya" scene of the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"; his stage partners were Onoe Kikugorô VI (Matsuômaru), Nakamura Kichiemon I (Genzô) and Onoe Taganojô III (Tonami).

June 1931: Fukusuke played at the Tôkyô Gekijô the role of Suke-no-Tsubone in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

July 1931: premiere in Tôkyô at the Tôkyô Gekijô of the play "Ippon Gatana Dohyô Iri", written by Hasegawa Shin, in which Kikugorô played the role of Otsuta; the role of Môhei was played by Onoe Kikugorô VI [casting].

June 1932: premiere at the Kabukiza of Hasegawa Shin's drama "Irezumi Chôhan"; Fukusuke played the role of Onaka [casting].

November 1932: revival at the Kabukiza of the drama "Gedatsu", a play belonging to the Kabuki Jûhachiban; Fukusuke played the role of Kagekiyo's daughter Hitomaru [more details].

March 1933: Fukusuke appeared on stage for the last time, in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza, where he played the roles of Satsuki, Motome and Okuma in the dramas "Toki-ha Ima Kikyô no Hataage", "Imoseyama Onna Teikin" (the "Mikasayama Goten" scene) and "Tsuyu Kosode Mukashi Hachijô".

1 August 1933: Fukusuke died.

Comments:

Nakamura Fukusuke V was a talented onnagata actor, who unfortunately died too young. He could have been Nakamura Utaemon VI but he met with a tragic and early end.

Nakamura Fukusuke V playing the role of Ohan in the drama "Katsuragawa Renri no Shigarami" (print made by Natori Shunsen in 1928)

Prints & Illustrations

The Nakamura Kotarô line of actors

The Nakamura Fukusuke line of actors