Nakamura Ganjiro

Japanese: 中村鴈治郎 - なかむらがんじろう

Kabuki actor. Stage name: Narikoma-ya.

[Yukio Hattori]

First World

(1860-1935) His real name was Gyokutaro Hayashi. He was born in Osaka. His haiku name was Senjaku, later Kikaku. His other name was Ganjiro. He was the son of Nakamura Kanjaku III, an Osaka actor. He first became a disciple of the first Jitsukawa Enjaku, and made his debut in May 1873 (Meiji 6) under the stage name Jitsukawa Ganjiro. In 1877, he was reunited with his estranged father, Jitsukawa Enjaku, and was chosen as his successor. The following year, he returned the surname Jitsukawa to his teacher and changed his name to Nakamura Ganjiro. At the end of the Meiji period, he was extremely popular as a leading figure in the Kansai Kabuki world, and frequently performed in Tokyo. He was good-looking and had a unique style of Kamigata Wagoto that he inherited from his teachers, Jitsukawa Enjaku and Nakamura Sojuro. He was especially known for his outstanding roles in Chikamatsu's sewamono (domestic dramas). His best roles were Chubei in "Umechu" (Love Messenger Yamato Orai), Jibei in "Kawasho" and "Kamiji" (Love Suicides on Amijima Island), and Izaemon in "Kuruwa Bunsho", which he played many times in his life. Other great roles were Shunto Jiroemon in "Katakiuchi Tsudzure no Nishiki" and Moritsuna in "Omi Genji Senjin Yakata". These great roles were collected together to create the "Wanjiro Twelve Songs".

[Yukio Hattori]

II

(1902-1983). His real name was Hayashi Yoshio. He was the second son of the first Nakamura. After going on to become Nakamura Senjaku the first and Nakamura Ganjaku the 4th, he took on the name of Ganjiro the 2nd in January 1947 (Showa 22). Although he lacked the dignity of his father, he trained hard and faithfully inherited his father's style of acting, making him a valuable figure as a handsome young man of pure Kamigata Japanese descent. He also left the stage for a time to work in film and television. He was designated a holder of an Important Intangible Cultural Property in 1967, a member of the Japan Art Academy in 1972, and a Person of Cultural Merit in 1980.

[Yukio Hattori]

III

The former name of the 4th Sakata Tojuro.

[Yukio Hattori]

(Book of the second generation) Edited by Fujita Hiroshi, "Ganjiro's Years" (1972, Bunka Publishing Bureau) ▽ "Actor Fool" by Nakamura Ganjiro II (1974, Nihon Keizai Shimbun) ▽ "(Book of the third generation) Nakamura Ganjiro III and Toki Michiko's memoirs, "Nakamura Ganjiro, A Lifetime of Youth" (1997, Engeki Shuppansha)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

歌舞伎(かぶき)俳優。屋号成駒(なりこま)屋。

［服部幸雄］

初世

（1860―1935）本名林玉太郎。大坂生まれ。俳名扇若(せんじゃく)、のち亀鶴(きかく)。別号玩辞楼(がんじろう)。大坂の俳優3世中村翫雀(かんじゃく)の子。初め初世実川延若(じつかわえんじゃく)の門弟となり、1873年（明治6）5月、実川鴈二郎の芸名で初舞台を踏んだ。77年になって、別れていた父翫雀と再会、その相続人と決まり、翌年実川姓を師に返し、中村鴈治郎と改名した。明治末期には関西歌舞伎界の第一人者として非常な人気を集め、東京にもしばしば出演して活躍した。容貌(ようぼう)・風姿ともによく、師匠の実川延若や中村宗十郎から伝承した上方和事(かみがたわごと)に独自の芸風を開いた。とりわけ近松の世話物では天下一品の名をほしいままにした。『梅忠(うめちゅう)』（『恋飛脚大和往来(こいびきゃくやまとおうらい)』）の忠兵衛、『河庄(かわしょう)』『紙治(かみじ)』（『心中天網島(しんじゅうてんのあみじま)』）の治兵衛、『廓文章(くるわぶんしょう)』の伊左衛門などは格別の当り役で、生涯に何度も演じた。『敵討襤褸錦(かたきうちつづれのにしき)』の春藤次郎右衛門(しゅんどうじろうえもん)や『近江源氏先陣館(おうみげんじせんじんやかた)』の盛綱(もりつな)なども当り役だった。これらの当り役を集めて、「玩辞楼十二曲」を選定した。

［服部幸雄］

2世

（1902―83）本名林好雄(よしお)。初世の次男。初世中村扇雀(せんじゃく)、4世中村翫雀を経て、1947年（昭和22）1月、2世鴈治郎を襲名。風格は父親に及ばなかったが、よく修業に励んで父の芸風を忠実に受け継ぎ、純粋な上方和事系の二枚目として貴重な存在であった。一時、舞台を離れて映画、テレビに活躍したこともある。67年重要無形文化財保持者、72年日本芸術院会員、80年文化功労者。

［服部幸雄］