Stage names:

Nakamura Kamon II
Ichikawa Kikunosuke
Ichikawa Kotonosuke
Nakamura Fukuen

Real name: Machida Masaru

Guild: Komamuraya

Line number: NIDAIME (II)

Poetry name: Hanatsuma

Existence: 15 November 1911 ~ 11 December 1989

Connection:

Masters: Nakamura Utaemon VI, Ichikawa Ennosuke II, Nakamura Utaemon V

Brother-in-law: Nakamura Kan'emon III

Career:

15 November 1911: born in Tôkyô in the district of Shitaya. His father was the rakugo storyteller Danjûrô Enshi II ^[1]. His elder sister became the spouse of Nakamura Kan'emon III.

April 1925: he made his debut on stage, in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza as a disciple of Nakamura Utaemon V, who gave him the name of Nakamura Fukuen.

Second half of the 1920s ~ first half of the 1930s: he joined Ichikawa Ennosuke II and received the name of Ichikawa Kotonosuke at unknown times. He left the Kabuki world to work in the movie world.

December 1933: he joined the Zenshinza troupe and took the name of Ichikawa Kikunosuke.

August 1955: he took the name of Nakamura Kamon II ^[2].

1965: he left the Zenshinza troupe.

April 1966: he became disciple of Nakamura Utaemon VI.

February 1979: revision by Uno Nobuo at the Shinbashi Enbujô of Sakurada Jisuke III's drama "Sanzesô Nishiki Bunshô"; Kamon played the role of Enma Daiô [casting].

January 1985: Kamon played at the Kabukiza the roles of the doctor Dôan and Shimaya Kinbê in the dramas "Fûin Giri" and "Nezumi Kozô Jirokichi".

Feburary 1985: Kamon played at the Shinbashi Enbujô the role of the evil old woman Yamane in the drama "Chûjô Hime Koseki no Matsu"; the roles of Princess Chûjô and Teruhi-no-Mae were played by Nakamura Kotarô V and Nakamura Tomijûrô V.

March 1985: Kamon appeared on stage for the last time, in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza, where he played the roles of the farmer Yoneji and Lord Akimoto, kami of Tajima, in the drama "Higashiyama Sakura Sôshi".

11 December 1989 ^[3]: Kamon died.

Comments:

Nakamura Kamon II made a 60-year long career as a supporting actor. After almost 22 years at the service of the Zenshinza troupe, he spent his latter years, from 1966 to 1985, in ôshibai. He was able to perform a wide range of supporting roles

[1] Danjûrô Enshi II was a disciple of Kingorô Kosan II who was a disciple of Danjûrô Enshi I who was a friend of Ichikawa Danjûrô IX. This explains this original Kabuki-related family name of Danjûrô.

[2] Nakamura Kan'emon III's older brother Nakamura Nakasuke III held the name of Nakamura Kamon I from November 1911 to October 1936.

[3] Nakamura Kamon II died 81 days after his brother-in-law Nakamura Kan'emon III, who passed away the 21st of September 1989.

Nakamura Kamon II

The Nakamura Kamon line of actors