Stage names:

Nakamura Shikan III
Nakamura Tsurusuke II
Nakamura Komanosuke I
Nakamura Saizô	|

Guild: Kagaya

Line number: SANDAIME (III)

Poetry name: Gangyoku

Existence: 1810 ~ 2nd day of the 11th lunar month of 1847 ^[1]

Connections:

Grandfather: Nakamura Tôzô I

Father: Nakamura Tôzô II

Adoptive father: Nakamura Utaemon III

Father-in-law: Kagaya Hashinosuke I

Adoptive brother: Nakamura Utaemon IV

Sons: Nakamura Tamashichi I, Nakamura Tsurusuke V

Disciple: Nakamura Tsurusuke IV

Career:

Summer 1815: he made his first appearance on stage, in Edo at the Nakamuraza, where he received the name of Nakamura Saizô and played the role of a monkey in the dance "Kotobuki Utsubo Zaru".

8th day of the 7th lunar month of 1816 ^[2]: his father Nakamura Tôzô II died in Edo.

9th lunar month of 1818: he was adopted by his grandfather Nakamura Utaemon III and received the name of Nakamura Komanosuke I at the Nakamuraza, where he performed in the drama "Taiheiki Chûshin Kôshaku".

Fall 1819: Komanosuke and Nakamura Utaemon III went back together to Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1825: Nakamura Tsurusuke I and Nakamura Komanosuke I respectively took the names of Nakamura Shikan II and Nakamura Tsurusuke II.

19th of the 10th lunar month of 1832 ^[3]: his father-in-law Kagaya Hashinosuke I died.

1st lunar month of 1836: Nakamura Shikan II and Nakamura Tsurusuke II respectively took the names of Nakamura Utaemon IV and Nakamura Shikan III in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai; the new Shikan played the roles of Yoshirô and Shizuma in the dramas "Keisei Haru no Tori" and "Igagoe Dôchû Sugoroku".

25th day of the 7th lunar month of 1838 ^[4]: his adoptive father Nakamura Utaemon III died.

1st lunar month of 1840: Shikan's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent) [visual].

6th lunar month of 1840: Shikan played the role of Tanzaemon Motoyasu at the Sakai Shinchi no Shibai (Ôsaka) in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Heike Nyogo no Shima"; his stage partners were Fujikawa Kayû III (Chidori), Arashi Rikaku II (Naritsune), Ichikawa Danzô V (Shunkan) and Nakamura Rankurô (Senoo Tarô).

11th lunar month of 1843: Shikan played at the Chikugo no Shibai the role of the fox Genkurô in the "Yoshinoyama" and "Shi-no-Kiri"scenes of the classic "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura", which was produced by Ichikawa Suketarô; the roles of Shizuka Gozen and Yoshitsune were played by Arashi Rikaku II and Mimasu Tanin IV.

3rd lunar month of 1845: Shikan played at the Chikugo no Shibai the role of Hayase Iori in the drama "Ehon Tengajaya-mura"; his stage partners were Nakamura Shibazô I (Motoemon), Arashi Rikaku II (Yasuke), Sawamura Kitô (Somenoi) and Kataoka Ichizô I (Tôma Saburôemon).

10th lunar month of 1846: Shikan played at the Chikugo no Shibai the role of Hiranoya Tokubê in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Sonezaki Shinjû"; The role of the courtesan Tenmaya Ohatsu was played by Sawamura Kijaku.

5th lunar month of 1847: Shikan played at the Ônishi no Shibai the prestigious roles of Watônai and Danshichi Kurobê in the dramas "Kokusen'ya Gassen" and "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami".

10th lunar month of 1847: Shikan appeared on stage for the last time, in Ôsaka at the Ônishi no Shibai, where he played the roles of Yosaku, the yakko Ippei, Hachizô's wife and the sumô wrestler Tetsugadake in the drama "Tôkaidô Koi no Sekifuda".

2nd day of the 11th lunar month of 1847 ^[1]: Shikan died in Ôsaka.

Comments:

Nakamura Shikan III was a kaneru yakusha, who started in Edo but spent most of his career in the Kamigata theaters. he was popular and talented but unfortunately died too early at the age of 37.

It was said that, during the tough sumptuary laws of the last years of the Tenpô era, he was held up as a good example by the authorities because of his very modest way of life and his hard-working character.

[1] The 2nd day of the 11th lunar month of the 4th year of the Kôka era was the 9th of December 1847 in the western calendar.

[2] The 8th day of the 7th lunar month of the 13th year of the Bunka era was the 1st of August 1816 in the western calendar.

[3] The 19th of the 10th lunar month of the 3rd year of the Tenpô era was the 11th of November 1832 in the western calendar.

[4] The 25th day of the 7th lunar month of the 9th year of the Tenpô era was the 13th of September 1838 in the western calendar.

Nakamura Shikan III in a print made by Utagawa Hirosada in 1841

Print made by Utagawa Sadamasu in 1837

The Nakamura Komanosuke line of actors

The Nakamura Tsurusuke line of actors

The Nakamura Shikan line of actors