Stage names:

Nakamura Karoku III
Nakamura Tokizô I
Nakamura Baishi I
Nakamura Yonekichi I

Real name: Namino Tokizô

Nickname: Ôharima ^[1]

Guild: Harimaya

Line number: SANDAIME (III)

Poetry name: Shidô

Existence: 16th day of the 4th lunar month of 1849 ^[2] ~ 17 May 1919

Connections:

Father : Nakamura Karoku I

Brothers : Nakamura Tsunejirô, Bandô Shûka II (Nakamura Karoku II)

Sons: Nakamura Kichiemon I, Nakamura Tokizô III, Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII

Adopted son: Nakamura Tokizô II

Grandsons: Nakamura Tokizô IV, Yorozuya Kinnosuke, Nakamura Shidô I, Nakamura Kashô II, Nakamura Kazuo, Nakamura Kanzaburô XVIII

Great-grandsons: Matsumoto Hakuô II (Kôshirô IX), Nakamura Kichiemon II, Nakamura Manju (Nakamura Tokizô V), Nakamura Matagorô III, Nakamura Karoku V, Nakamura Shidô II, Nakamura Kinnosuke II, Nakamura Kankurô VI, Nakamura Shichinosuke II

Great-great-grandsons: Matsumoto Kôshirô X, Nakamura Tokizô VI, Nakamura Mantarô, Nakamura Kashô IV, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Nakamura Yonekichi V, Nakamura Ryûnosuke, Nakamura Hayato, Nakamura Kantarô III, Nakamura Chôzaburô II, Nakamura Haruki, Nakamura Natsuki

Great-great-great-grandsons: Ichikawa Somegorô VIII, Onoe Ushinosuke VII, Nakamura Tanetarô V, Nakamura Hidenosuke, Nakamura Baishi V

Career:

1849: born in Ôsaka in the pleasure quarter of Sôemon-chô. He was the third son of the Kamigata star Nakamura Karoku I.

1856: he made his first appearance on stage in Ôsaka at the Kadoza, where he received the name of Nakamura Yonekichi I.

1st day of the 7th lunar month of 1859 ^[3]: his father Nakamura Karoku I died.

Spring 1868: Nakamura Yonekichi I took the name of Nakamura Baishi I.

1st lunar month of 1869: Nakamura Baishi I became nadai and took the name of Nakamura Tokizô I at the Kado no Shibai, playing the roles of Hamada Jinzaburô and the yakko Tokihei in the drama "Keisei Hana no Koi Shigarami".

1873: Tokizô and his brother Nakamura Moshio II went together to Tôkyô.

March 1873: Tokizô played at the Murayamaza the roles of Sanpei, Torii Hikoemon and Yagenji in the drama "Taiko no Oto Chiyû Sanryaku", which celebrated also the shûmei of his brother Nakamura Karoku II.

September 1878: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Takeshiba Kinsaku I's drama "Tsûzoku Saiyûki"; Tokizô played the role of the Priest Sanzô [casting].

Summer 1880: tour in Sendai.

January 1881: Tokizô played at the Ichimuraza the role of Miuranosuke in the drama "Kamakura Sandaiki"; the roles of Sasaki Takatsuna and Princess Toki were played by Kataoka Gadô III and Suketakaya Takasuke IV.

1882 ~ 1884: stay in Ôsaka.

1884: Tokizô went back to Tôkyô and performed at the Ichimuraza.

5 May 1891: his brother Bandô Shûka II died.

April 1891 ~ Fall 1896: stay in Kamigata.

October 1896: Tokizô went back to Tôkyô and played at the Ichimuraza the role of Princess Yaegaki in the drama "Honchô Nijûshikô".

April 1899: Tokizô played at the Tôkyôza the roles of Saisaki Iga-no-Kami and the yakko Tsumahei in the drama "Shin Usuyuki Monogatari".

April 1901: tour in Matsuyama with Nakamura Shibajaku IV.

1901 ~ 1903: stay in Kamigata.

January 1904: Tokizô went back to Tôkyô and played at the Meijiza.

Fall 1904: Tokizô went back to Kamigata, performing in Ôsaka and Kôbe.

Summer 1905: Tokizô went back to Tôkyô and played at the Meijiza the role of Shiratayû in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

1905 ~ 1908: Tokizô mainly played in small theaters like the Engiza, the Kokkaza or the Miyatoza, where his popularity kept on rising.

April 1908: Nakamura Tokizô I and his adopted son Nakamura Kashô I respectively took the names of Nakamura Karoku III and Nakamura Tokizô II at the Meijiza; the new Karoku played the roles of Sodehagi and Abe no Sadatô in the drama "Ôshû Adachi-ga-Hara".

18 September 1909: his adopted son Nakamura Tokizô II died.

October 1913: revival at the Kabukiza of the drama "Zôhiki" ^[4]; Karoku played the role of Funakata Hyôe [more details].

August 1917: the play "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami" was produced at the Kabukiza for the first time; Karoku played the role of Tsuribune Sabu [casting].

17 May 1919: Karoku died.

Comments:

Nakamura Karoku III was a popular kaneru yakusha, excelling in jidaimono. His three sons became stage giants of the Shôwa era.

[1] Literally 'the Grand Harima'.

[2] The 16th day of the 4th lunar month of the 2nd year of the Kaei era was the 8th of May 1849 in the western calendar.

[3] The 1st day of the 7th lunar month of the 6th year of the Ansei era was the 30th of July 1859 in the western calendar.

[4] This drama belongs to the Kabuki Jûhachiban.

Nakamura Karoku III playing the role of Yojirô's mother in the drama "Horikawa" (print made by Ôta Masamitsu in 1950)

Prints & Illustrations

The Nakamura Yonekichi line of actors

The Nakamura Baishi line of actors

The Nakamura Tokizô line of actors

The Nakamura Karoku line of actors