Stage names:

Nakamura Genzaemon II
Nakamura Sukegorô IV
Nakamura Sanzaemon V
Nakamura Nakasuke IV

Real name: Morinaga Renma

Guilds:

Nakamuraya
Sengokuya ^[1]

Line number: NIDAIME (II)

Poetry name: Gyoraku ^[1]

Existence: 11 April 1934 ~ 20 October 2006

Connections:

Masters: Nakamura Kanzaburô XVIII, Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII

Career:

March 1955: he became disciple of Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII and made his first stage appearance, at the Meijiza, where he received the name of Nakamura Nakasuke IV.

July 1964: he became nadai and took the name of Nakamura Sanzaemon V at the Kabukiza, playing the role of Narita Fusamoto in the drama "Onna Shibaraku".

April 1976: Nakamura Sanzaemon V took the long-forgotten name of Nakamura Sukegorô IV at the Kabukiza, playing the roles of a palanquin-bearer and a taiko mochi in "Suzu-ga-Mori" and "Iya Sakae Shibai no Nigiwai".

July 1981: revival at the Kabukiza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Hitori Tabi Gojûsan Tsugi"; Sukegorô played the role of Kitahachi [casting].

16 April 1988: his master Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII died.

March 2005: he joined the first league of Kabuki actors (kanbu shôshin) and took the name of Nakamura Genzaemon II ^[2] at the Kabukiza, playing the role of Yatsurugi Kageyu in the drama "Ichijô Ôkura Monogatari".

April 2006: Genzaemon appeared on stage for the last time, in Shibuya (Tôkyô) at the Theatre Cocoon, playing the roles of Yotsuya Samon, Osen and Akagaki Denzô in the drama "Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan".

20 October 2006: Genzaemon died, victim of a cancer of the esophagus.

Comments:

Nakamura Genzaemon II ^[2] was a talented supporting tachiyaku actor. His most notable roles were Mikawaya Giheiji in the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami" and Takuetsu in Tsuruya Nanboku IV's masterpiece "Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan". He often performed supporting roles in duo with Nakamura Shirogorô VII.

[1] During the Sukegorô years.

[2] This was a long-forgotten name, which was first used by the Kamigata actor Nakamura Genzaemon I, who started his career as a disciple of Nakamura Shichisaburô I's disciple Nakamura Sen'ya I and became a playwright named Takagi Richû. He had an adopted son, Nakamura Genjûrô, who was the master of Nakamura Utaemon I.

The Nakamura Nakasuke line of actors

The Nakamura Sanzaemon line of actors

The Nakamura Sukegorô line of actors

The Nakamura Genzaemon line of actors