Stage names:

Nakamura Kankurô VI
Nakamura Kantarô II

Real name: Namino Masayuki

Guild: Nakamuraya

Line number: NIDAIME (II)

Birthday: 31 October 1981

Connections:

Great-great-great-great-grandfathers: Onoe Kikugorô III, Ichimura Uzaemon XI

Great-great-great-grandfather: Ichimura Takenojô V

Great-great-grandfathers: Onoe Kikugorô V, Nakamura Karoku I, Nakamura Utaemon V

Great-grandfathers: Onoe Kikugorô VI, Nakamura Karoku III, Nakamura Fukusuke V

Grandfathers: Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII, Nakamura Shikan VII

Father: Nakamura Kanzaburô XVIII

Brother: Nakamura Shichinosuke II

Sons: Nakamura Kantarô III, Nakamura Chôzaburô II

Career:

November 1983: he made his first appearance on stage (omemie), in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza, where he played the role of a little monk in the dance "Kyôganoko Musume Dôjôji".

January 1987: he received the name of Nakamura Kantarô II at the Kabukiza, playing the role of the eldest Momotarô in the drama "Kadonde Futari Momotarô" ^[1] ('The Two Momotarô' - his youngest brother Nakamura Shichinosuke II played the role of the youngest Momotarô).

June 1991: premiere at the Shinbashi Enbujô of Hagiwara Yukio's dance-drama "Sakuragawa"; Kantarô played the role of the temple page Ryûchin [casting].

April 2000: Kantarô plays for the first time the main role of the lion spirit dance " Shunkyô Kagami Jishi", which was performed at the Kabukiza in a special show commemorating the 12th anniversary (13th memorial service) of the death of his grandfather Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII.

1 January 2001: Kantarô, his father and his brother performed in the dance "Renjishi" at the break of New Year in Naruto, east of Tôkyô, on a temporary stage built on the shore of the Kujukuri Beach.

March 2001: Kantarô played for the first time the role of Konami in the 8th act of the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which was performed at the Kabukiza. His stage partner in the role of Konami's mother Tonase was the great star Bandô Tamasaburô.

June 2001: 4th edition of the Cocoon Kabuki with the production of "Sannin Kichisa"; Kantarô played the role of Otose [more details].

June 2005: 6th edition of the Cocoon Kabuki (the first one without Nakamura Kanzaburô XVIII) with the production of "Sakura Hime"; Kantarô played the role of Iruma Akugorô [more details].

June 2007: 8th edition of the Cocoon Kabuki with the production of "Sannin Kichisa"; Kantarô played the role of Jûzaburô [more details].

July 2007: second Heisei Nakamuraza tour in the USA, in New York (Lincoln Center, 16~22 July) and Washington (Warner Theatre, 26 July); Kantarô played in New York the roles of the Lion cub and Yôsuke in "Renjishi" and "Sumidagawa Gonichi no Omokage". He also played in Washington the roles of Kataoka Hachirô and Tarôkaja in "Kanjinchô" and "Migawari Zazen" [more details].

May~June 2008: first Heisei Nakamuraza tour in Europe, in Berlin at the The House of World Cultures (Germany) from the 14th to the 21st of May 2008 and in Sibiu (Rumania) from the 29th of May to the 1st of June 2008 for the International Theatre Festival; Kantarô played the role of Tokubê's wife Otatsu in the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami" [casting].

June 2008: 9th edition of the Cocoon Kabuki with the production of "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami"; Kantarô played the roles of Tokubê's wife Otatsu and Tamashima Isonojô [more details].

September 2009: Heisei Nakamuraza in Nagoya [more details].

February 2010: revival at the Kabukiza of the Nagauta-based dance "Tsumeô", which was staged to commemorate the 22nd anniversary (23rd memorial service) of late Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII; Kantarô played the role of the fox [casting].

February 2012: Nakamura Kantarô II took the name of Nakamura Kankurô VI at the Shinbashi Enbujô, playing the roles of the priest Chichû (in reality the spirit of the ground spider), Matsue and Yayoi (in reality the spirit of the Lion) in "Tsuchi-gumo", "Kôchiyama" and "Kagami Jishi" [more details].

March 2012: Nakamura Kankurô VI celebrated his shûmei in Tôkyô at the Heisei Nakamuraza (the family theater!); Kankurô played the roles of Lord Ôkura and Gorozô in "Ichijô Ôkura Monogatari" and "Gosho no Gorozô" [more details].

September 2012: Nakamura Kankurô VI celebrated his shûmei in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza, playing the roles of Ofuku, Banba no Chûtarô, a friendly stage attendant and six roles in "Dango Uri", "Mabuta no Haha", "Onna Shibaraku" and "Amagoi Gitsune" [more details].

October 2012: Nakamura Kankurô VI celebrated his shûmei in Nagoya at the Misonoza, playing the roles of Fukuoka Mitsugi and Tadanobu in "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba" and "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura" [more details].

5 December 2012: his father Nakamura Kanzaburô XVIII died.

December 2012: Nakamura Kankurô VI celebrated his shûmei in Kyôto at the Minamiza, playing the roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune and Shizuka/Tomomori in the dramas "Soga no Taimen" and "Funa Benkei" [more details].

June 2014: 14th edition of the Cocoon Kabuki [more details].

July 2014: third Heisei Nakamuraza performances in New York City, from the 7th to the 12th of July at the Rose Theater (in the Lincoln Center); the troupe was led by Kankurô who played 3 roles in the summer kaidanmono "Kaidan Chibusa no Enoki" [more details].

October 2014: the October Grand Kabuki at the Kabukiza commemorated the 26th anniversary (27th memorial service) and the 2nd anniversary (3rd memorial service) of late Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII and late Nakamura Kanzaburô XVIII [more details].

June 2016: 15th edition of the Cocoon Kabuki [more details].

February 2017: the Saruwaka Festival February Grand Kabuki was staged at the Kabukiza to celebrate the 390th anniversary of Edo Kabuki ^[2]. Kankurô's two sons Nakamura Kantarô III and Nakamura Chôzaburô II made their debut on stage (hatsubutai) [more details].

November 2019: Heisei Nakamuraza in Kitakyûshû [more details].

October 2022: Heisei Nakamuraza in Tôkyô in Asakusa [more details].

November 2022: Heisei Nakamuraza in Tôkyô in Asakusa [more details].

May 2023: Heisei Nakamuraza in Himeji [more details].

November 2023: Heisei Nakamuraza in Kitakyûshû [more details].

February 2024: the Saruwaka Festival February Grand Kabuki was staged at the Kabukiza to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Saruwakaza Theatre (later, the Nakamuraza) by Saruwaka (Nakamura) Kanzaburô I ^[3] [more details].

March 2024: Heisei Nakamuraza in Nagoya [more details].

Comments:

Nakamura Kankurô VI is the heir of the Nakamuraya guild. His career fits in with the continuity of a great line of actors and it looks very promising.

Official website: Nakamuraya

[1] It also celebrated the 360th anniversary of Edo Kabuki. Saruwaka Kanzaburô received a license from the authorities to open a theater in Edo the 15th day of the 2nd lunar month of the 10th year of the Genna era, which was the 2nd of April 1624 in the western calendar. In 1627, the Saruwaka no Mai, the Saruwaka Dance, was staged for the first time in Edo.

[2] The family theater was authorized in Edo in 1624 but the Saruwaka no Mai, the Saruwaka Dance, was premiered in 1627.

[3] Saruwaka Kanzaburô received a license from the authorities to open a theater in Edo the 15th day of the 2nd lunar month of the 10th year of the Genna era, which was the 2nd of April 1624 in the western calendar.

The mon of Nakamura Kankurô VI (the ginkgo tree)

The Nakamura Kantarô line of actors

The Nakamura Kankurô line of actors