Stage names:
| Matsumoto Kôshirô IX |  |
| Ichikawa Somegorô VI | |
| Matsumoto Kintarô II | |
Real name: Fujima Teruaki
Guild: Kôraiya
Line number: KUDAIME (IX)
Crests: Yotsu Hanabishi / Fusen Chô
Birthday: 19 August 1942
Connections:
Great-great-grandfather: Nakamura Karoku I
Great-grandfather: Nakamura Karoku III
Grandfathers: Matsumoto Kôshirô VII, Nakamura Kichiemon I
Father: Matsumoto Hakuô (Kôshirô VIII)
Brother: Nakamura Kichiemon II
Grandson: Matsumoto Kintarô IV
Disciples: Matsumoto Kingo, Matsumoto Kôemon, Ichikawa Komazô, Matsumoto Kôtarô, Matsumoto Kôjirô, Matsumoto Kin'ichi, Matsumoto Kin'ya, Matsumoto Takaya
Career:
May 1946: he makes his first appearance on stage at the Tôkyô Gekijô, receiving the name of Matsumoto Kintarô II and playing in the drama "Sukeroku".
September 1949: Matsumoto Kintarô II takes the name of Ichikawa Somegorô VI at the Kabukiza by playing the role of Higuchi Jirô Kanemitsu in the "Sakaro" scene of the play "Hirakana Seisuiki".
July 1953: revival at the Meijiza of Kawatake Shinshichi III's 1878 drama "Tsûzoku Saiyûki"; Somegorô plays the role of Mikan [casting].
February 1955: revival at the Kabukiza of Sakurada Jisuke I's dance-drama "Kumo no Hyôshimai"; Somegorô plays the role of a female page, in reality a ground spider [casting].
July 1963: revival at the Yomiuri Hall in Tôkyô of Namiki Shôzô I's drama "Kuwanaya Tokuzô Irifune Monogatari"; Somegorô plays the role of Yamana Tomoenojô [casting].
February 1967: premiere at the Kabukiza of Hagiwara Yukio's dance-drama "Dattan"; Somegorô plays the role of a rengyôshû [casting].
May 1973: revival at the National Theatre of Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's drama "Horikawa Nami no Tsuzumi" to commemorate the 249th anniversary (250th memorial service) of the playwright; Somegorô plays the role of Ogura Hikokurô [casting].
October 1981: great name-taking ceremony at the Kabukiza for 3 generations of actors belonging to the Kôraiya guild (kôraiya sandai shûmei). Matsumoto Kôshirô VIII retires under the name of Matsumoto Hakuô, his son Ichikawa Somegorô VI takes the name of Matsumoto Kôshirô IX and his grandson Matsumoto Kintarô III becomes Ichikawa Somegorô VII. The new Kôshirô plays the roles of Sukeroku, Matsuômaru and Benkei in the plays "Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura", "Terakoya" and "Kanjinchô".
March 2000: an amazing threesome at the Kabukiza for the performance of "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"; Kôshirô plays the role of Matsuômaru, with Ichikawa Danjûrô and Onoe Kikugorô in the roles of Umeômaru and Sakuramaru.
November 2000: Kôshirô plays at the National Theatre the roles of Seigen and Gonsuke in Tsuruya Namboku IV's masterpiece "Sakurahime Azuma Bunshô". His son Ichikawa Somegorô plays the role of princess Sakura.
November 2008: for the very first time in Kabuki history, a novel of Edogawa Rampo is adapted to Kabuki. This play, which is staged at the National Theatre, is based on "The Were-Panther" ("Ningenhyô" in japanese), a novel with the detective Akechi Kogorô, which was published in 1934; Kôshirô plays the role of Akechi Kogorô [more details].
June 2009: Kôshirô plays at the Kabukiza the role of a parent shishi in the dance-drama "Kadonde Iô Kotobuki Renjishi", which celebrates the debut on stage (hatsubutai) of his grandson Matsumoto Kintarô IV; the roles of the shishi cubs are played by Ichikawa Somegorô VII and Matsumoto Kintarô IV. Kôshirô also plays the roles of Nuregami Chôgorô and Kamiyui Shinza in "Sumôba" and "Kamiyui Shinza".
15 December 2009: Kôshirô joins the prestigious Japan Art Academy (Nihon Geijutsuin).
Comments:
Matsumoto Kôshirô IX is an amazing tachiyaku and one of the most popular contemporary actors.
Matsumoto Kôshirô IX's best roles: Benkei ("Kanjinchô"), Ôtomo no Kuronushi (" Seki no To"), Kôchiyama Sôshun ("Kôchiyama"), Kumagai Jirô Naozane ("Kumagai Jin'ya"), Higuchi Jirô Kanemitsu ("Hirakana Seisuiki"), Matsuômaru ("Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"), Matsunaga Daizen ("Kinkakuji").
Matsumoto Kôshirô playing the role of Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"
Print courtesy of Paul Binnie (all rights reserved)
The Ichikawa Somegorô line of actors
The Matsumoto Kôshirô line of actors