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 makes his first appearance on stage at the Kabukiza, playing a little monk role in the dance "Kyôganoko Musume Dôjôji".

January 1987: he receives the name of Nakamura Kantarô II at the Kabukiza, playing the role of the eldest Momotarô in the drama "Kadonde Futari Momotarô" ("The two Momotarô" - his youngest brother Nakamura Shichinosuke II plays the role of the youngest Momotarô).

June 1991: premiere at the Shinbashi Enbujô of Hagiwara Yukio's dance-drama "Sakuragawa"; Kantarô plays 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 is 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 perform 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 plays for the first time the role of Konami in the 8th act of the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which is performed at the Kabukiza. His stage partner in the role of Konami's mother Tonase is the great star Bandô Tamasaburô.

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

June 2007: 8th edition of the Cocoon Kabuki with the production of "Sannin Kichisa"; Kantarô plays 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 plays in New York the roles of the Lion cub and Yôsuke in "Renjishi" and "Sumidagawa Gonichi no Omokage". He also plays 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 plays 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 plays 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 is staged to commemorate the 22nd anniversary (23rd memorial service) of late Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII; Kantarô plays the role of the fox [casting].

February 2012: Nakamura Kantarô II takes 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 celebrates his shûmei in Tôkyô at the Heisei Nakamuraza (the family theater!); Kankurô plays the roles of Lord Ôkura and Gorozô in "Ichijô Ôkura Monogatari" and "Gosho no Gorozô" [more details].

September 2012: Nakamura Kankurô VI celebrates 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 celebrates 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].

December 2012: Nakamura Kankurô VI celebrates 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 is led by Kankurô who plays 3 roles in the summer kaidanmono "Kaidan Chibusa no Enoki" [more details].

October 2014: the October Grand Kabuki at the Kabukiza commemorates 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].

Comments:

The career of this young actor, which fits in with the continuity of a great line of actors, looks very promising.

Official website: http://www.mypixel.co.jp/kabuki/nakamura/kantaro.html

The mon of Nakamura Kankurô VI (the ginkgo tree)

The Nakamura Kantarô line of actors

The Nakamura Kankurô line of actors