Behind the Scenes: Kabuki Actor Nakamura Tsurumatsu, “Nakamuraya’s Hope,” Postpones Showing of Maizuru Successive Title Due to Suspension but Undecided on Return to Kabuki

The timing of his return remains uncertain.

On January 18, Nakamura Tsurumatsu, 30, a young kabuki actor, was arrested for destruction of property.

Since it was a minor offense committed while intoxicated, he was released the following day on January 19, and was reportedly seen bowing before a large crowd of reporters gathered at the Kuramae Police Station of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.

Tsurumatsu was discovered by Nakamura Kanzaburo XVIII (aged 57) in 2005 at the age of 10 after working with a theatrical troupe, and became a chambermaid. He is said to be the “Nakamuraya’s Hope” after Nakamura Kankuro VI (44) and Nakamura Shichinosuke II (42), and it was announced that he would assume the name of Nakamura Maizuru I in the “Saruwaka Festival February Grand Kabuki” that will open on February 1 at Kabukiza in Tokyo. However, the performance was postponed due to an incident.

One person involved in the Nashien (pear orchard) business had the following to say.

As you may know, it takes a lot of preparation and money to hold a performance to announce the succession. When Ebizo Ichikawa, 48, succeeded to the name of Danjuro Ichikawa Shirasaru in 1947, it is said that the cost of the unveiling performance was in the hundreds of millions of yen. The box-office revenue is said to be close to 3 billion yen, so if it is successful, the cost will be enough to pay for itself. I heard that Mr. Tsurumatsu’s family purchased a large number of tickets for the show. If the tickets are cancelled due to the postponement, we will have to bear the entire loss. I think it must be very difficult.

Even so, Tsurumatsu is a member of the prestigious Nakamura family. He was discovered by Kanzaburo and cultivated his skills as a chambermaid. As a result, he was recognized for his abilities as an onnagata (female impersonator) and, upon assuming the name “Maizuru,” was promoted to the rank of “executive,” meaning that he had become part of a group performing important roles. However, that too, however, has now been put on hold. When will he return? And will he be promoted to a senior executive position? ……

In January 2005, Nakamura Shichinosuke was arrested for obstruction of justice after a party to celebrate his father Kanzaburo’s successor’s name. He was suspended from work at the time, but returned to work three months later.

However, Mr. Tsurumatsu was not born into a so-called “heir family” but came from an ordinary family. His position is different from Shichinosuke’s. …… I heard that he has not yet decided on a specific date for his return. It is unclear what will happen with regard to the succession and promotion of the name.

In the movie “Kokuho,” an actor from the same family as Tsurumatsu rose to the rank of living national treasure as an onnagata.

On the FRIDAY Digital “Entertainment Reporter Channel” (YouTube), current entertainment journalists explain in detail the “dark side” of the Kabuki world and its “dark side” under the title “The ‘Dark Side’ of Rishuen that is Worse than National Treasure [Entertainment Reporter’s Thorough Explanation #13]”. The “dark side” of the Kabuki world and its “dark side” are explained in detail in this article.