Nakamura Kan'emon

Kabuki actor.

Born in Edo (1851-1919), the second generation of the Mitsui Umenosuke family, he was a disciple of Ichikawa Monnosuke IV and Nakamura Shikan IV, and changed his name from Nakamura Umenosuke to Nakamura Baijaku. He was very popular as a leader of small-scale theatre for many years. In his later years, he began appearing in large-scale theatre productions, and in 1913 (Taisho 2), he changed his name to Nakamura Ganemon and became a well-known stage name.

The 3rd (1901-1982) was the son of the 2nd. Born in Tokyo. His real name was Mitsui Kinjiro. His stage name was Narikoma-ya. He became a disciple of Nakamura Utaemon V and took the name Umenosuke, but in 1920 (Taisho 9) he became a master at the Kabukiza and took the stage name Gan'emon III. He was passionate about innovating the Kabuki world from an early age, founding the Kabuki research societies Tomodachi-za and Taishu-za, and in May 1931 (Showa 6) he founded Zenshin-za with Kawarasaki Chojuro II and others, becoming the troupe's pillar in both acting and theory. He showed delicate and passionate acting, and was particularly talented in domestic dramas. His hit roles included Shunkan, Domata, and Sakanaya Sogoro. His eldest son, Nakamura Umenosuke IV (1930-2016), was a central actor at Zenshinza.

[Yukio Hattori]

"Half of My Life - Nakamura Ganemon's Autobiography" (1959, Chikuma Shobo) "Acting Autobiography" (1973, Miraisha)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

歌舞伎(かぶき)俳優。

2世（1851―1919）江戸生まれ。本名三井梅之助(うめのすけ)。4世市川門之助、4世中村芝翫(しかん)の門弟で、中村梅之助から中村梅雀(ばいじゃく)を名のり、長い間小芝居で座頭(ざがしら)を勤めて人気があった。晩年に大芝居に出るようになり、1913年（大正2）中村翫右衛門と改名し、名題(なだい)に上った。

3世（1901―1982）2世の子。東京生まれ。本名三井金次郎。屋号成駒(なりこま)屋。5世中村歌右衛門(うたえもん)の門弟となり梅之助と名のったが、1920年（大正9）歌舞伎座で名題になり、3世翫右衛門を襲名した。歌舞伎研究会ともだち座や大衆座を結成するなど、早くから歌舞伎界の革新に情熱を燃やし、1931年（昭和6）5月、2世河原崎(かわらさき)長十郎らと前進座を創立、演技、理論両面における同座の支柱となった。繊細で、しかも情熱的な演技をみせ、とくに世話物に卓越した才能を示した。俊寛(しゅんかん)、吃又(どもまた)、魚屋宗五郎などが当り役。長男が4世中村梅之助（1930―2016）で、前進座の中心俳優として活躍した。

［服部幸雄］

『『人生の半分――中村翫右衛門自伝』（1959・筑摩書房）』▽『『演技自伝』（1973・未来社）』

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