Real name: Itô Susumu

Other name: Taguchi Daizô

Guild: Harimaya

Line number: NIDAIME (II)

Birthday: 4 June 1933

Connections:

Masters: Nakamura Matagorô II, Bandô Mitsugorô VIII

Career:

1958: he graduates from Sophia University (Tôkyô) and becomes disciple of the famous actor Bandô Mitsugorô VIII.

1961: he becomes disciple of Nakamura Matagorô II.

1962: he makes his first appearance on stage, playing in the classic "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura".

May 1967: he becomes nadai and takes the name of Nakamura Matazô II.

1982: 4-week seminar at the Munich University (Germany). Matazô plays the role of Taira no Tomomori in the dance "Funa Benkei".

May 1984: seminar in Germany.

April 1986: Kabuki tour in South America [more details].

June 1987: seminar at the Dartington College of Arts in Devon (England).

April ~ June 1989: Matazô is invited by the Strasbourg University (France) for a Kabuki workshop.

May 1990: Matazô takes part in a theatre festival in Berlin.

August ~ September 1996: tour in Hungary and Austria with Nakamura Shijaku II.

May 1998: Kabuki seminar in Berlin organized by the Goethe Institut. It includes a scene from the play "Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie" and the dance "Sakura".

May 1999: seminar in London.

March 2000: tour in Vietnam and Australia with Nakamura Kyôzô. The two actors play together in the dance "Masakado".

Comments:

Nakamura Matazô II is a supporting tachiyaku of the Harimaya guild and an indefatigable traveler who tours the World to perform and talk about Kabuki.

Official website http://www5a.biglobe.ne.jp/~kabuki/indexe.html

Nakamura Matazô is also the author of a great book on Kabuki, "Kabuki-Backstage, Onstage: An Actor's Life" published by Kôdansha International in 1990 [review].