Nakamura Tomijūrō V

Who was Nakamura Tomijūrō V?

Nakamura Tomijūrō V was a Japanese Kabuki actor and Living National Treasures of Japan. Tomijūrō work in Kabuki included the role of Musashibō Benkei, a Japanese warrior monk, in the drama, Kanjinchō. Outside of Japan, Tomijūrō toured performed in the United States and Europe.

Tomijūrō was born Hajime Watanabe to Nakamura Tomijūrō IV and dancer, Tokuho Azuma. He made his theater debut in 1943 using the stage name, Bandō Tsurunosuke. In 1964, he became the sixth Ichimura Takenojō, another stage name. He further became the fifth Nakamura Tomijuro in 1972, succeeding his father's stage title.

In addition tp Kabuki, Tomijūrō also appeared in film and television roles during his career. His film roles included Sharaku in 1995 and Gakko II in 1996. Tomijūrō's television credits included 1980's Shishi no Jidai and the 1974 television series, Katsu Kaishū, based on the life of Katsu Kaishū.

Tomijūrō was named a Living National Treasures of Japan in 1994. He was inducted into the Japan Art Academy in 1996 and was further honored as a Person of Cultural Merit in 2008.

A native of Tokyo, Tomijūrō stopped performing Kabuki in November 2010 due to declining health. He died from rectal cancer at a hospital in Tokyo on January 3, 2011, at the age of 81. He was survived by a daughter, who was born in 2003, when Tomijūrō was 74 years old.