Nakamura Kichiemon II

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Nakamura Kichiemon II (二代目中村吉右衛門, Nidaime Nakamura Kichiemon^?) (born May 22, 1944 is a Japanese actor. Born in Kōjimachi, Chiyoda, Tokyo, he was the second son of Ichikawa Somegorō V, later known as Matsumoto Kōshirō VIII, and finally as Matsumoto Hakuō I. Matsumoto Kōshirō IX is his older brother. Kichiemon's mother, the daughter of Nakamura Kichiemon I, gave her second son in adoption to her father.

He attended Waseda University. His yagō is "Harimaya" and his crest is the ageha-no-chō butterfly of the Taira clan.

Active in kabuki and television, Kichiemon is famous in the role of Musashibō Benkei, whom he has portrayed on stage in Kanjinchō and Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura. He also played the title character in the NHK jidaigeki series Musashibō Benkei. Another heroic role was Ōboshi Yuranosuke (the historical Ōishi Kuranosuke) in Kanadehon Chūshingura, the story of the Forty-seven Ronin.

He assumed the television role of Hasegawa Heizō ("Onihei") in the Shōtarō Ikenami series Onihei Hankachō. It ran through nine series, from 1989 to 2001, and has recurred in short series and specials since, the most recent being in 2007. His father had previously played Onihei.

In 2002, Kichiemon was inducted into the Japan Art Academy. [1]