"It is difficult for me to imagine what it would be like to act alone in front of an orchestra without being able to act in front of an audience. It is very difficult for me," the actor tells Efe during an interview at the iconic
The paid-for streaming service allows users to watch some of the genre's most popular works in Japanese, with subtitles or dubbed, in various countries, including
Although Nakamura is not opposed to such initiatives, which came as a consequence of the pandemic lockdowns that shuttered venues around the world, the actor prefers direct contact with the crowd.
"I know there are other platforms, but we all know that in the case of theater, there is nothing better than watching live," he says.
"On the other hand, there are people who can see kabuki for the first time thanks to this and others who are afraid to go back to theaters, so they are pleased to have these options," he adds.
Born in
Nakamura has since been lauded with many awards, including the Matsuo Award for Performing Arts in 2011 and
"My family has a short history as a Kabuki acting family, with only four generations. Some tell me that this means we have a long history, but other families have more than 10 generations," he explains.
Nakamura is now busy preparing the forthcoming show at
"This is an easy play for people who have never seen Kabuki since it is a revenge story based on a true story," the actor explains.
Kabuki shows have occasionally embarked on international tours across
"As you work with a translation, sometimes people react late and this is curious," says the actor of his experiences performing on the international stage.
"I think that before the beauty of the style was appreciated, but little by little, we introduced explanations because we realized that (the story) can be understood," he adds.
On whether he is planning to retire, a rarity in the guild with many actors continuing to perform until they die, Nakamura says: "It is often said that it would be a dream to end my life on a theater stage, but I doubt whether I would, especially if I am in bad shape.
"Being an actor is presenting your body to the public and this could imply showing (an audience) that you find it difficult to move or to sit down or stand up," he concludes. EFE
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