Stage names:

Nakajima Kanzaemon II
Nakajima Kanroku I
Nakajima Sukeroku [3]

Other name:

Nakajima Kangorô [4]

Guild: Nakajimaya

Line number: NIDAIME (II)

Poetry names: Zeshô, Zekô

Existence: 1696 ~ 5th day of the 8th lunar month of 1762 ^[1]

Connection:

Grandfather: Abura Kanroku

Father: Nakajima Kanzaemon I

Son: Nakajima Kanzaemon III

Career:

1696: born in Edo. His first name was Nakajima Sukeroku ^[3]. Later on, As a tribute to his grandfather Abura Kanroku, he received the name of Nakajima Kanroku I.

11th lunar month of 1715: Kanroku played at the Moritaza the role of Sasabe Heiji in Mitsushima Shichirôzaemon's drama "Hayazaki Onna Shimabara".

22nd day of the 4th lunar month of 1716 ^[2]: his father Nakajima Kanzaemon I died.

11th lunar month of 1716: he took the name of Nakajima Kanzaemon II at the Moritaza, performing in the kaomise drama "Yomeiri Miyako no Tsunagi Uma".

Fall 1740: Kanzaemon went to Kyôto.

11th lunar month of 1740: Kanzaemon performed at Miyako Mandayû's theater in the kaomise drama "Asuka Miyako Jindai no Maki" and the drama "Hayazaki Taiheiki".

Fall 1742: Kanzaemon went back to Edo.

11th lunar month of 1742: Kanzaemon performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Keisei Akazawayama".

1st lunar month of 1747: Kanzaemon's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, katakiyaku section, was jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent) [visual].

5th lunar month of 1747: Kanzaemon played at the Nakamuraza the role of Sukune Tarô in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

11th lunar month of 1747: Kanzaemon played at the Moritaza the role of Suruga Zenji in the kaomise drama "Aruji Môke Onna Hachinoki", which celebrated the shûmei of Sawamura Sôjûrô.

1st lunar month of 1748: Kanzaemon's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, katakiyaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

6th lunar month of 1749: Kanzaemon played at the Nakamuraza the role of Ono no Kudayû in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

3rd lunar month of 1751: Kanzaemon's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, katakiyaku section, slightly fell below the jô-jô-kichi rank (superior - superior - excellent).

5th lunar month of 1755: Kanzaemon played at the Moritaza the role of Kô no Moronô in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; the role of En'ya Hangan was played by Matsuyama Sanjûrô.

2nd lunar month of 1762: Kanzaemon appeared on stage for the last time, in Edo at the Nakamuraza, where he played the role of Ômi no Kotôta in the new year sogamono drama "Soga Biiki Nihon Zakura". He fell ill and had to retire.

5th day of the 8th lunar month of 1762 ^[1]: Kanzaemon died in Edo; his tombstone was located in the cemetery of the Hôonji temple in the district of Honjo.

Comments:

Nakajima Kanzaemon II was a Edo katakiyaku actor, who made a successful career from the end of the Hôei era to the end of the Hôreki era. His ranking was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) for 3 years (1748~1750) and he excelled in warrior roles in jidaimono dramas.

[1] The 5th day of the 8th lunar month of the 12th year of the Hôreki era was the 22nd of September 1762 in the western calendar.

[2] The 22nd day of the 4th lunar month of the 6th year of the Shôtoku era was the 11th of June 1716 in the western calendar.

[3] Not reported in the latest edition (2012) of "Kabuki Haiyû Meiseki Benran".

[4] Not reported in Nojima Jusaburô's book "Kabuki Jinmei Jiten". In the latest edition (2012) of "Kabuki Haiyû Meiseki Benran", it was reported that he most likely held this name between 1714 and 1716.

Nakajima Kanzaemon II playing the role of the villain Wakasa no Zenji Yasumura in the kaomise drama "Miyakozome Kaoru Hachinoki", which was staged 11th lunar month of 1739 at the Nakamuraza

Prints & Illustrations

The Nakajima Kanzaemon line of actors