[1][2] After graduating from the Tokyo Imperial University Faculty of Letters in 1936, Nakamura joined the Shochiku film studios, working as an assistant director for Torajirō Saitō and Yasujirō Shimazu.

[1] His most noted works include the Yasunari Kawabata adaptation Twin Sisters of Kyoto (1963), The Kii River (1966) and Portrait of Chieko (1967).

[1][2] Both Twin Sisters of Kyoto and Portrait of Chieko were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film[3][4] Nakamura was posthumously awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, 4th class.

[5] To celebrate Nakamura's 100th birthday, three of his films, Home Sweet Home (1951), Doshaburi (1957) and The Shape of Night (1964), were screened at the Tokyo Filmex in 2013.

[6][5] The Shape of Night was also shown at the Venice Film Festival the same year.