Nakamura Kan'emon III
Japanese kabuki actor
- Born
- 2 February 1901, Tokyo
- Died
- 21 September 1982
- Citizenship
- Japan, Empire of Japan
- Occupation
- actor, film actor, kabuki actor
- Films here
- 2
Kan'emon Nakamura III (三代目 中村 翫右衛門, Sandaime Nakamura Kan'emon; February 2, 1901 – September 21, 1982) was a Japanese actor and political activist. Best known in Japan for performing in kabuki theatre, he co-founded Zenshinza, Japan's oldest and largest repertory theatre company, in 1931. He also appeared in numerous films, most notably Humanity and Paper Balloons (1937), The 47 Ronin (1941), Kwaidan (1964), Samurai Banners (1969), and Under the Flag of the Rising Sun (1972).
After World War II, Nakamura joined the Japanese Communist Party and was targeted during the Red Purge. In 1952, following a violent confrontation with authorities during a Zenshinza tour, he fled to China, living in exile until 1955. While abroad, he served as deputy leader and acting chairman of the Japanese delegation at the 1952 Asia and Pacific Rim Peace Conference in Beijing. Upon his return to Japan, he resumed acting and leadership of Zenshinza, guiding the company until his death in 1982.
Filmography (martial arts films)
| Year | Film | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| 1938 | The Abe Clan | Cast |
| 1941 | The 47 Ronin | Cast |
Frequent collaborators
External links
Facts from Wikidata Q11365931 (CC0); quoted introduction from English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22.
Data: Wikidata (CC0 1.0); Wikipedia (English) (CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.