Nakamura Ganjirō II

Nakamura Ganjirō II
Ganjirō in 1958
Born
Yoshio Hayashi

(1902-02-17)17 February 1902
Osaka, Japan
Died13 April 1983(1983-04-13) (aged 81)
OccupationActor
Years active1906–1980
TitleLiving National Treasure
ChildrenSakata Tōjūrō IV (eldest son)
Tamao Nakamura (youngest daughter)
FatherNakamura Ganjirō I
RelativesNakamura Kanjaku III (grandfather)
Hayashi Mataichirō II (brother)
Nakamura Ganjirō IV (grandson)
Nakamura Senjaku III (grandson)
Nakamura Kazutarō (great-grandson)
Nakamura Toranosuke (great-grandson)
Japanese name
Kanji中村鴈治郎
Hiraganaなかむら がんじろう
Katakanaナカムラ ガンジロウ
Transcriptions
RomanizationNakamura Ganjirō
Alternative Japanese name
Kanji林 好雄
Hiraganaはやし よしお
Katakanaハヤシ ヨシオ
Transcriptions
RomanizationHayashi Yoshio

Nakamura Ganjirō II (二代目 中村鴈治郎, Nidaime Nakamura Ganjirō; born Yoshio Hayashi (林 好雄, Hayashi Yoshio), 17 February 1902 – 13 April 1983) was a Japanese Kabuki and film actor. He was one of the most influential Kabuki actors in the post-World War II era, and also appeared in more than 70 films between 1941 and 1980, directed by notable filmmakers such as Yasujirō Ozu, Kenji Mizoguchi, Akira Kurosawa, and Mikio Naruse.

For his contributions to Kabuki, Nakamura was awarded the title of Living National Treasure by the Japanese government in 1967, one of several civil honours he received in his lifetime. His son, Sakata Tōjūrō IV, was also a renowned kabuki actor.