Stage names:
| Ichikawa Somegorô VII |  |
| Matsumoto Kintarô III | |
Other name: Matsumoto Kinshô
Real name: Fujima Terumasa
Guild: Kôraiya
Line number: SHICHIDAIME (VII)
Crests: Yotsu Hanabishi / Mitsu Ichô
Birthday: 8 January 1973
Connections:
Great-grandfather: Matsumoto Kôshirô VII
Grandfather: Matsumoto Hakuô
Father: Matsumoto Kôshirô IX
Son: Matsumoto Kintarô IV
Career:
1978: he makes his first appearance on stage at the Kabukiza, receiving the name of Matsumoto Kintarô III.
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, Ichikawa Somegorô VI and Matsumoto Kintarô III respectively take the names of Matsumoto Kôshirô IX and Ichikawa Somegorô VII. the new Somegorô plays the roles of Fukuyama and Rikiya in the dramas "Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura" and "Gion Ichiriki Jaya".
November 1987: Somegorô plays Hamlet.
1993: Somegorô plays Amadeus in the eponymous drama; the role of Salieri is played by his father Matsumoto Kôshirô IX.
May~June 1994: first edition of the Cocoon Kabuki, which is staged at the Shibuya Bunkamura Theater Cocoon and recreates the atmosphere of the Edo koshibai and brings the actors closer to the audience. The play "Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan" is coproduced by Nakamura Kankurô V and the playwright Kushida Kazuyoshi; Somegorô plays the role of Naosuke Gombei [more details].
August~September 1996: second edition of the Cocoon Kabuki with the production of "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami"; Somegorô plays the role of Tamashima Isonojô [more details].
September 1999: revival at the Minamiza of Katsu Genzô III's drama "Ogasawara Sôdô"; Somegorô plays the roles of Inugami Hyôbu and Koheiji [casting].
April 2005: release of Takita Yôjirô's movie "Ashura-jô no Hitomi", in which Somegorô plays the role of Wakuraba Izumo.
October 2005: release of Kurotsuchi Mitsuo's movie "Semishigure", in which Somegorô plays the role of Maki Bunshirô.
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; Somegorô plays the roles of Onda Rangaku and Kamiya Yoshinosuke [more details].
June 2009: Somegorô plays at the Kabukiza the role of a shishi cub in the dance-drama "Kadonde Iô Kotobuki Renjishi", which celebrates the debut on stage (hatsubutai) of his son Matsumoto Kintarô IV.
Comments:
Ichikawa Somegorô VII is a young and talented tachiyaku/nimaime actor of the Kôraiya guild.
The main mon of Ichikawa Somegorô VII
The Ichikawa Somegorô line of actors