Nakamura Kanemon III was a kabuki actor and one of the founders of the Zenshinza theater company. His birth name was Mitsui Kinjiro (三井金次郎). His father was Nakamura Kanemon II, and his brother was Nakamura Nakazuke III. His son was Nakamura Baiko IV, and his grandson is Nakamura Baishi II.

In 1906, he made his debut on stage at the Yagiri-za theater in Asakusa, Tokyo, playing the role of a tengu in "Yamanba."

In 1911, he became an apprentice to the fifth-generation kabuki actor Nakamura Utaemon V along with his father, taking the stage name Nakamura Baiko III.

In 1922, he was promoted to a prestigious stage name at the Kabuki-za theater, becoming the third-generation Nakamura Kanemon.

In 1928, he married Machida Haruko, the daughter of Danshuro Enji II.

In 1929, feeling disillusioned with the limited prospects for success and earnings in his career due to his background in traditional theater, he was inspired by a lecture by Murayama Tomoyoshi, the founder of the Tokyo Left-wing Theater, and along with his colleagues, he founded the actor's organization magazine "Gekisen." He criticized the stagnant state of the kabuki world and left the Shochiku company. Consequently, he was disowned by his master and joined the "Shunjuza" theater company led by the second-generation Ichikawa Sarunoshin.

In 1931, he co-founded the Zenshinza theater company along with the fourth-generation Kawarasaki Chojuro and the fifth-generation Kawarasaki Kunitaro, becoming one of its leading actors. While aiming to create a new form of theater based on kabuki, he also ventured into acting in films.

After the war, he joined the Japanese Communist Party along with other members of his theater troupe. However, during the Allied occupation of Japan, the country experienced the Red Purge under the orders of General MacArthur, leading to suppression of entertainment activities.

In 1952, during a performance in Hokkaido, a dispute arose when the gymnasium of a reserved elementary school venue in Akabira Town became unavailable on the day of the event. A confrontation between school staff and theater members resulted in injuries and property damage, leading to arrest warrants for assault and property damage. Kanemon fled to China in the aftermath, in what became known as the "Akabira Incident." In 1955, after three years in exile, he returned to Japan.

(Source: Japanese = Wikipedia || Translation = kisskh) Edit Biography