Stage names:

Nakamura Nakazô IV
Nakamura Kangorô XII
Nakamura Ginnosuke I
Nakamura Yonekichi [1]

Real name: Iwaki Yonekichi

Guild: Maizuruya

Line number: YODAIME (IV)

Poetry name: Shûkaku

Existence: 1855 ~ 31 January 1916

Connection:

Masters: Nakamura Nakazô III, Nakamura Kanzaburô XIII

Adopted son: Nakamura Ginnosuke II

Career:

1855 ~ 1861: born in Edo. His father was the owner of a rice cake shop in the district of Yotsuya Araki-chô. He was adopted by the actor Onoe Waichi II, then, later on, by a man named Musashiya Kintarô and related to the Nakamuraza.

1859: he became disciple of Nakamura Kanzaburô XIII and received the name of Nakamura Yonekichi ^[1].

1861: he became disciple of Nakamura Nakazô III, who gave him the name of Nakamura Ginnosuke I.

23 May 1880: premiere at the Saruwakaza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Arimatsuzome Sumô Yukata"; Ginnosuke played the roles of Onogawa's disciple Hanabishi Otozô and the jochû Iwanami [more details].

March 1884: premiere at the Harukiza of Takeshiba Kinsaku I's drama "Chûjô Hime Taima Engi"; Ginnosuke played the role of Yamane [casting].

November 1884: he became nadai and took the name of Nakamura Kangorô XII at the Saruwakaza, playing the roles of Masaki Dansuke, Ichihara Hankurô and Nagasaki Jirô in the drama "Shinbutai Echigo no Tateyomi".

24 December 1886: his second master Nakamura Nakazô III died.

March 1891: premiere at the Kabukiza of Fukuchi Ôchi's drama "Buyû no Homare Shusse Kagekiyo", a revised revival of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's jidaimono "Shusse Kagekiyo"; Kangorô played the role of Akoya's brother Iba-no-Jûzô [casting].

September 1893: Kangorô played for the first time the role of Kômori Yasu in the drama "Yo no Mukashi Shima no Shinwa", which was staged at the Harukiza; the roles of Yosaburô and Otomi were played by Ichikawa Yaozô VII and Iwai Matsunosuke IV.

19 October 1895: his first master Nakamura Kanzaburô XIII died.

January 1896: revival at the Harukiza of the dance "Kashiragaki Ise Monogatari", staged under the title "Noriaibune Ehô Manzai", with Ichikawa Ennosuke I and Kangorô performing the two comic dancers.

July 1901: premiere at the Tôkyôza of "Tsuri Onna", the Kabuki version of the kyôgen "Tsuribari", originally written in 1883 by Kawatake Mokuami (lyrics) and Kishizawa Shikisa VI (music) and revised for the stage by Takeshiba Shinkichi. It starred Ichikawa Ennosuke I and Kangorô in the roles of Tarôkaja and the ugly girl.

September 1907: Kangorô achieved a great success at the Kokkaza by playing the roles of Naosuke Gonbê, Takuetsu, Shôbê and Jôhachi in the drama "Amayo no Kane Yotsuya Kaidan".

18 September 1907: his adopted son Nakamura Ginnosuke II

September 1909: revival at the Meijiza of the drama "Kenuki", a long-forgotten play belonging to the Kabuki Jûhachiban; Kangorô played the role of Yatsurugi Genba [casting].

April 1915: Nakamura Kangorô XII took the name of Nakamura Nakazô IV at the Kabukiza, playing the role of Kanpera Monbê in the drama "Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura".

31 January 1916: Nakazô died in Tôkyô.

Comments:

Nakamura Nakazô IV was a short-sized actor, who had no great presence on stage but was appreciated by the audience in katakiyaku or fukeyaku supporting roles. His most notable performances were Takuetsu ("Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan"), Mikawaya Giheiji ("Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami"), Chôbê ("Kamiyui Shinza") and Onoemon ("Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi"). He was also good in some of the best roles of his late master Nakamura Nakazô III, like Kômori Yasu ("Yowa Nasake Ukina no Yokogushi") or Naosuke Gonbê ("Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan").

[1] Not recorded in Nojima Jusaburô's book "Kabuki Jinmei Jiten". Recorded only in the latest edition (2012) of "Kabuki Haiyû Meiseki Benran".

Nakamura Nakazô IV playing the role of Shirokiya Shôbê in the drama "Koi Musume Mukashi Hachijô"

The Nakamura Yonekichi line of actors

The Nakamura Ginnosuke line of actors

The Nakamura Nakazô line of actors