Nakamura Kangyoku (初代中村莟玉, Shodai Nakamura Kangyoku, b. 12 September 1996) is a Japanese kabuki actor, the apprentice and the adopted son to Nakamura Baigyoku IV[a], one of the most popular kabuki actors, one of the leading tachiyaku in kabuki and current Living National Treasure.
Nakamura Kangyoku 初代中村莟玉 | |
|---|---|
| Born | Morimasa Takuma （森正 琢磨） 12 September 1996 |
| Other names | Nakamura Umemaru |
| Notes | |
Yagō(gulid): Takasago-ya | |
He was first exposed to kabuki when his parents, both of whom work in the publishing industry, brought him to see a play when he was three years old. At age six, he was first introduced to Nakamura Baigyoku, and began helping out backstage at the theatre.[1]
Taken under Baigyoku's wing, he first appeared on stage in 2005, under his birth name, in the role of Tōgashi's page in a production of Kanjinchō.[2] and at the same time he officially became the "heya-go" apprentice to Baigyoku, was granted his kabuki stage-name "Nakamura Umemaru" in 2006.[1]
In 2019, it is announced that Baigyoku will adopt Umemaru and grow to be his successor, then change the stage name to be "Kangyoku". the part "gyoku" derived from Baigyoku,[3] and "Kan" means "buds" which derived from Baigyoku's adoptive father Nakamura Utaemon VI's self produced theatre programme, 莟会（tsubomi-kai）(the name Baigyoku's "Bai" means "plum" (blossom) on the other hand).[4]
Notes edit
- ^ Real Name: Toshiyuki Kawamura (Japanese: 河村 順之, Hepburn: Kawamura Toshiyuki, b. 2 August 1946 in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan).
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b "So you want to become a kabuki actor?" Mainichi Shimbun. 1 November 2009. Accessed 1 November 2009.
- ^ Japan Actors' Association. "Shodai Nakamura Umemaru. 歌舞伎俳優名鑑 (Kabuki Haiyū Meikan, "Kabuki Actors Directory"). Accessed 1 November 2009.
- ^ the term gyoku describes the blossom look like jewel
- ^ "Nakamura Umemaru is to be "Shodai Nakamura Kangyoku" from November's Kabuki-za play". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 2019-08-23. Retrieved 2019-09-05.