Stage names:

Matsumoto Kôemon I
Ichikawa Nakanosuke III
Mimasu Kyôjirô
Nakamura Fukuji

Real name: Hiruma Kiyomatsu

Guild: Kôraiya

Line number: SHODAI (I)

Existence: 3 January 1928 ~ 27 June 2011

Connections:

Father: Nakamura Fukunosuke

Masters: Matsumoto Kôshirô IX, Matsumoto Kôshirô VIII, Ichikawa Chûsha VIII

Career:

September 1936: he made his first appearance on stage at the Mihamakan in Yokohama, receiving the name of Nakamura Fukuji and playing the role of Tsuruchiyo in the drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi".

April 1946: Nakamura Fukuji joined a province-touring troupe led by Mimasu Gennosuke and took the name of Mimasu Kyôjirô.

January 1955: Kyôjirô became a disciple of Ichikawa Chûsha VIII and received the name of Ichikawa Nakanosuke III.

July 1962: Nakanosuke became nadai and celebrated the event by playing the role of the taiko mochi Hanchû in the play "Kagotsurube Sato no Eizame", which was performed at the Meijiza.

January 1980: Nakanosuke took part in the first Kabuki performances at the Asakusa Kôkaidô [more details].

October 1981: he became a disciple of Matsumoto Kôshirô VIII and received the name of Matsumoto Kôemon I during the great 3-generations shûmei of the Kôraiya guild (Kôraiya Sandai Shûmei) at the Kabukiza; he played the role of Heinai in the play "Kanjinchô", a peasant in "Terakoya" and a taiko mochi in the seventh act of the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

1996: Kôemon joined the first league of Kabuki actors (kanbu shôshin).

February 2008: Kôemon appeared on stage for the last time, at the Kabukiza, where he played the role of the shôya Kôbê in the drama "Kumagai Jin'ya".

27 June 2011: Kôemon died.

Comments:

Matsumoto Kôemon I was a tachiyaku actor, trained on the road in touring troupes, who became a talented supporting oyajigata for the Kôraiya guild. His best roles were Kitamura Daizen ("Kôchiyama"), Yazaemon ("Sushiya"), the sobaya master ("Naozamurai"), Tôhachi ("Kirare Yosa") or the old boatman ("Ippon Gatana Dohyô Iri").

The mon of Matsumoto Kôemon I

The Matsumoto Kôemon line of actors