Kinnosuke Nakamura
Biography
Kinnosuke Nakamura, also known as Yorozuya Kinnosuke, was a Japanese kabuki actor and film actor born in Tokyo, Japan on November 20, 1932. Born Kin'ichi Ogawa and the son of kabuki actor Nakamura Tokizō III, he became the first in the kabuki tradition to take the name Nakamura Kinnosuke. In 1971, he adopted his guild name as his surname. He was a specialist in jidaigeki and appeared in more than 140 films, with known credits on the database numbering 134. His film appearances included a 1957 Mito Kōmon and the title role in the Toei Company's Miyamoto Musashi series in 1961, which he reprised in 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, and 1971. He passed away on March 10, 1997 at the age of sixty-four.
Career overview
Yorozuya Kinnosuke, born Kin'ichi Ogawa and also known as Kinnosuke Nakamura, was a Japanese kabuki actor and film star. Born in Tokyo, Japan on November 20, 1932, he was the son of kabuki actor Nakamura Tokizō III. He entered the kabuki tradition and became the first to take the name Nakamura Kinnosuke. In 1971, he adopted his guild name, or yago, Yorozuya, as his surname. His career spanned both stage and screen, yielding 134 known acting credits according to archival data.
As a specialist in jidaigeki, Kinnosuke maintained an extensive film career, appearing in more than 140 films overall. Among his notable cinematic works are a 1957 appearance in Mito Komon and his portrayal of the title character in the Toei Company's Miyamoto Musashi series. He first played the role in 1961 and subsequently reprised it in 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, and again in 1971.
Throughout his life, Kinnosuke remained recognized for his contributions to Japanese performance traditions and cinema. He passed away on March 10, 1997, at the age of sixty-four. His legacy endures through his extensive filmography and his foundational place in the kabuki tradition associated with his family name and guild lineage.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
134 titles- Hana no Ran (1994) as Yamana Sōzen
- The Yagyu Code 4: A Duel of Conviction (1991) as Yagyu Munenori
- Kumokiri Nizaemon: The Great Bandit (1991)
- The Yagyu Code: Secret Scrolls (1990) as Tajima-no-Kami Yagyu & Fugetsusai Yamada
- Death of a Tea Master (1989) as Urakusai Oda
- Tabaruzaka (1987) as Katsu Kaishû
- The Last True Yakuza (1985) as Kadota
- A Tale of Two Truncheons (1984)
- Lone Wolf and Cub (1984) as Ogami Ittō
- 子連れ狼 (1984)
- The Fugitive Samurai (1984) as Itto Ogami
- Gate of Youth 2 (1982) as Eiji Niki
- 柳生新陰流 (1982)
- Sword of Destiny (1981)
- The Man of Five Rings (1981) as Miyamoto Musashi
- Baian the Assassin (1981) as Baian Fujieda
- Tokugawa Ichizoku no Houkai (1980) as Matsudaira Katamori (Lord of Aizu)
- The Shogun Assassins (1979) as Tokugawa Ieyasu
- Nichiren (1979)
- The Fall of Ako Castle (1978) as Oishi Kuranosuke
- Shogun's Samurai (1978) as Yagyu Tajima
- 破れ新九郎 (1978)
- 破れ奉行 (1977)
- The Nagasaki Crime Chronicles (1975) as Tadashiro Hiramatsu
- Swordsman With the Torn Umbrella (1974) as 叶 刀舟
- 子連れ狼２ (1974)
- Lone Wolf and Cub (1973) as Ittô Ogami
- 子連れ狼 (萬屋錦之介版) (1973)
- Wandering Wolf: Ryu the Branded Cross (1972)
- Haru no Sakamichi (1971) as Yagyū Munenori
- Miyamoto Musashi VI: Swords of Death (1971) as Musashi Miyamoto
- Challenge at Dawn (1971)
- Will to Conquer (1970)
- Incident at Blood Pass (1970) as Heima Ibuki
- The Ambitious (1970) as Ryoma Sakamoto
- The Magoichi Saga (1969) as Saika Magoichi
- Goyokin (1969) as Samon Fujimaki
- Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor (1969) as Fujita Arima
- Portrait of Hell (1969) as Lord Hosokawa
- Samurai Banners (1969) as Shingen Takeda
- The Day the Sun Rose (1968) as Shinkichi
- Sazen Tange and The Secret of the Urn (1966) as Samanosuke / Tange Sazen
- Tokijiro: Lone Yakuza (1966) as Kutsukake Tokijiro
- Flower and Dragon: Duel of the Sea Caves (1966)
- Miyamoto Musashi V: Musashi vs Kojiro (1965) as Miyamoto Musashi / Takezo
- Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu (1965) as 織田信長
- Three Yakuza (1965)
- Cold Rice, Osan, Chan (1965)
- The Flower and the Dragon (1965)
- Revenge (1964) as Shinpachi Ezaki
- Miyamoto Musashi IV: The Duel at Ichijo-ji Temple (1964) as Miyamoto Musashi / Takezo
- The Sharks (1964)
- The Domain (1964)
- Yakuza of Seki (1963) as Yataro of Seki
- Bushido: The Cruel Code of the Samurai (1963) as Jirozaemon / Iikura / Sajiemon / Kyutaro / Shuzo / Shingo / Osamu / Susumu
- Miyamoto Musashi III: Birth of Two Sword Style (1963) as Miyamoto Musashi / Takezo
- Sasuke and His Comedians (1963) as Sasuke
- Tokaido Fullhouse (1963)
- A Fishmonger's Tour (1963)
- In Search of Mother (1962) as Banba no Chutaro
- Miyamoto Musashi: Showdown at Hannyazaka Heights (1962) as Miyamoto Musashi / Takezo
- Lady Sen and Hideyori (1962) as Toyotomi Hideyori
- A Carpenter and Children (1962)
- Jirocho' s Days of Youth: Whirlwind on the Tokaido (1962)
- A Revengeful Raid (1962)
- Tales of Young Genji Kuro 3 (1962)
- An Edo Magistrate (1961) as Chu/Tadasuke
- Miyamoto Musashi (1961) as Miyamoto Musashi (Takezo)
- The Ako Retainers (1961) as Wakisaka Awajinomori
- The Conspirator (1961)
- The Shogun and the Fishmonger (1961)
- Jirocho’s Days of Youth: The Youngest Boss in the Tokai Region (1961)
- Works of the Fish Man (1961)
- Lord Mito: All Star Version (1960)
- Road of Chivalry (1960)
- Samurai Vagabonds (1960)
- Shinran, Part II (1960)
- Yakuza of Ina (1960) as Yataro
- Shinran (1960)
- Unwieldy Brothers (1960)
- Jirocho’s Days of Youth: Boss of the Tokai Region (1960)
- Scarier than the Devil (1960)
- Hawk of the North (1959) as Date Masamune
- Lucky Adventurer Nobunaga Oda (1959) as Oda Nobunaga
- The Forbidden Castle (1959)
- A Spectacular Showdown (1959) as Sunosaki no Masakichi
- Chikamatsu's Love in Osaka (1959) as Chubei Kameya
- Isshin Tasuke: A Man Among Men (1959)
- Lord Mito 2: The Nation's Vice Shogun (1959)
- House of Spider Webs (1959)
- Souls in the Moonlight III (1959) as Utsugi Hyoma
- Diary of a Wandering Lord (1959)
- The Sword Knows (1958)
- Wind, Woman and Road (1958) as Ginji
- Tales of Young Genji Kuro 2 (1958) as Genji Kurô
- A Chivalrous Spirit (1958) as Onikichi
- Roughneck From Asama (1958) as Itaro of Asama
- Bull's Eye of Love (1958) as Genta / Young Lord Genjiro
- Bored Hatamoto: Idle Vassal Tribute (1958)
- Souls in the Moonlight II (1958) as Utsugi Hyoma
- The Abandoned Swords (1958)
- Noble Tasuke (1958)
- Yaji and Kita's Ghost Story Journey (1958)
- Isshin Tasuke: A World in Danger (1958)
- The Traveling Ruffian (1958)
- Tales of Young Genji Kuro (1957) as Genji Kurô
- The Seven Vows, Part 3 (1957)
- Sedge Hat (1957)
- The Seven Vows, Part 2 (1957)
- Souls in the Moonlight (1957) as Hyoma Utsugi
- Ghost Ship Part 2 (1957) as Jiromaru
- Lord Mito (1957)
- Shimizu Port of Chivalry (1957) as Mori no Ishimatsu
- Rebellion (1957) as Chikara
- Travel Romances (1957)
- Ghost Ship Part 1 (1957) as Jiromaru
- Lofty Ambitions (1957)
- The Seven Vows (1956) as Goro
- Avenging Father (1956) as Soga Goro Tokimune
- The Swamp (1956)
- Goblin of Rashomon (1956)
- Spring Voyage (1955)
- A Gang of Five (1955) as Benten Kozo
- Minamoto Yoshitsune (1955) as Minamoto Yoshitsune
- Young Ruddy Warrior: Nobunaga Oda (1955) as Oda Nobunaga
- Sorcerer’s Orb (1954)
- Fall of the Shogun's Militia (1954) as Okita Soji
- Sorcerer's Orb: Part 2 (1954)
- Sorcerer's Orb: Part 3 (1954)
- Sorcerer's Orb: Part 1 (1954)
- Sorcerer's Orb: Part 5 (1954)
- Sorcerer's Orb: Part 4 (1954)
- Clan Revival (1954) as Kikumaru
- The Crimson Peacock (1954)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Kinnosuke Nakamura best known for?
Kinnosuke Nakamura is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Shogun Assassins (1979), The Fall of Ako Castle (1978), Lone Wolf and Cub (1973), The Magoichi Saga (1969).
When and where was Kinnosuke Nakamura born?
Kinnosuke Nakamura was born on November 20, 1932 in Tokyo, Japan. They passed away on March 10, 1997.
How many credits does Kinnosuke Nakamura have?
Kinnosuke Nakamura has accumulated over 134 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1954 to 1994.
What is Kinnosuke Nakamura's background in cinema and television?
Kinnosuke Nakamura, also known as Yorozuya Kinnosuke, was a Japanese kabuki actor and film actor born in Tokyo, Japan on November 20, 1932. Born Kin'ichi Ogawa and the son of kabuki actor Nakamura Tokizō III, he became the first in the kabuki tradition to take the name Nakamura Kinnosuke. In 1971, he adopted his guild ...
Kinnosuke Nakamura by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Lone Wolf and Cub (1973) as Ittô Ogami — aged about 40
- The Sword Knows (1958) — aged about 25
- Lucky Adventurer Nobunaga Oda (1959) as Oda Nobunaga — aged about 26
- Goyokin (1969) as Samon Fujimaki — aged about 36
- Miyamoto Musashi (1961) as Miyamoto Musashi (Takezo) — aged about 28
- The Fall of Ako Castle (1978) as Oishi Kuranosuke — aged about 45
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