MATSUMOTO KÔSHIRÔ VII

1874: he settled in Tôkyô with his family. His father opened a manjû shop. The Buyô dance master Fujima Kan'emon II became a regular customer of this manjû shop and quickly adopted the young Toyokichi, giving him the name of Fujima Kintarô.

1880: he became a disciple of the star Ichikawa Danjûrô IX.

April 1881: he made his first stage appearance, receiving the name of Ichikawa Kintarô and playing the role of Koshirô in the drama "Moritsuna Jin'ya", which was staged at the Harukiza (Tôkyô).

January 1885: two dances were staged at the Chitoseza, about to reopen in February 1885 with a new name. From the 4th to the 7th of January, two auspicious dances and a kôjô with the troupe led by Ichikawa Danjûrô IX were staged. The sanbasô was staged with Ichikawa Sadanji I (Okina), Bandô Kakitsu I (Senzai) and Onoe Kikugorô V (Sanbasô). This was also the premiere of the Nagauta-based dance-drama "Tsuru Kame"; Kintarô played the role of the Emperor [more details].

April 1890: Ichikawa Kintarô took the name of Ichikawa Somegorô IV at the Shintomiza.

November 1893: Somegorô took part in the opening ceremony of the Meijiza [info].

April 1897: premiere at the Kabukiza of Fukuchi Ochi's drama "Otokodate Harusame Gasa"; Somegorô played the roles of Amano Yukie and Jihê's half-brother Ôguchiya Seizaburô [more details].

September 1902: Somegorô played at the Tôkyôza the roles of Tansuke, Arajishi Otokonosuke, Lady Yashio, Kurahashi Yajûrô and Hosokawa Katsumoto in the drama "Ura Omote Kokoro no Datezome", whose plot and characters belonged to the "Meiboku Sendai Hagi" world; the roles of Masaoka and Nikki Danjô were played by Ichimura Kakitsu VI.

March 1903: premiere at the Kabukiza of the drama "Kichirei Soga no Ishizue", which was produced to celebrate the shûmei of Onoe Kikugorô VI, Onoe Baikô VI and Onoe Eizaburô VI; Somegorô played the role of Ômi no Kotôta [casting].

May 1903: Ichikawa Somegorô IV took the name of Ichikawa Komazô VIII at the Kabukiza, performing in the drama "Kasuga Tsubone".

June 1903: Komazô played at the Kabukiza the role of the evil Lady Yashio in the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi"; the role of Masaoka was played by Nakamura Shikan V.

13 September 1903: his master Ichikawa Danjûrô IX died.

February/March 1904: successful premiere at the Tôkyôza of Tsubouchi Shôyô's drama "Kiri Hitoha"; Komazô played the roles of Kimura Shigenari and Sassa Narimasa [more details].

October 1904: premiere at the Tôkyôza of the Kabuki adaptation of the kyôgen "Buaku"; Komazô played the role of Tarôkaja [casting].

June 1905: Komazô played for the first time the prestigious role of the smuggler Kezori in the drama "Koi Minato Hakata no Hitofushi", which was staged at the Tôkyôza; his stage partners were Sawamura Tosshô III (Sôshichi) and Bandô Shûchô III (the courtesan Kojorô).

March 1906: Tsubouchi Shôyô's drama "Hototogisu Kojô no Rakugetsu" was produced for the first time in Tôkyô, at the Tôkyôza; Komazô played the role of Toyotomi Hideyori [casting].

November 1908: revival at the Kabukiza of the drama "Kagekiyo"^[2]; Komazô played the role of Akushichibyôe Kagekiyo [casting].

November 1910: Komazô played for the first time the role of Soga Gorô Tokimune in the bombastic play "Ya-no-Ne"^[2], which was staged at the Meijiza.

March 1911: opening of the Imperial Theater. The three leading actors of the new Kabuki troupe based in this theater were Onoe Baikô VI (onnagata), Ichikawa Komazô VIII (tachiyaku) and Sawamura Sôjûrô VII (wagotoshi).

November 1911: great shûmei at the Imperial Theater; Ichikawa Komazô VIII took the prestigious name of Matsumoto Kôshirô VII, which has not been held since 11th lunar month of 1846.

September 1914: premiere at the Imperial Theater of the dance "Onatsu Kyôran"; the roles of Onatsu and the pack-horse driver were played by Onoe Baikô VI and Kôshirô.

June 1915: Kôshirô played at the Naniwaza (Ôsaka) the roles of Lady Yashio and Nikki Danjô in the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi"; the roles of Masaoka and Hosokawa Katsumoto were played by Nakamura Ganjirô I.

April 1916: Kôshirô played at the Imperial Theater the roles of Kinugawa Tanizô, Lady Yashio and Nikki Danjô in the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi"; the roles of Masaoka and Hosokawa Katsumoto were played by Onoe Baikô VI and Sawamura Sôjûrô VII.

1917: he became head of the Fujima dance school and took, as a dance master, the name of Fujima Kan'emon III.

April 1919: Kôshirô played at the Imperial Theater the role of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane in the "Jinmon" and "Kumiuchi" scenes of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki"; the role of Kojirô/Atsumori was played by Sawamura Sônosuke I.

November 1924: Kôshirô played at the Imperial Theater the role of Nikki Danjô in the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi"; the roles of Masaoka and Yashio were played by Nakamura Utaemon V and Onoe Baikô VI.

December 1925: Kôshirô played at the Minamiza (Kyôto) the role of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane in the "Kumiuchi" scene of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki"; the role of Kojirô/Atsumori was played by Nakamura Ganjirô I.

April 1927: Kôshirô played at the Imperial Theater the role of the warrior-monk Musashibô Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Morita Kan'ya XIII and Sawamura Sôjûrô VII.

June 1927: Kôshirô played at the Imperial Theater the role of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane in the "Kumagai Jin'ya" scene of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki".

September 1927: Kôshirô played at the Kabukiza the role of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane in the "Jinmon" and "Kumiuchi" scenes of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki". The role of Kojirô/Atsumori was played by Onoe Kikugorô VI.

December 1927: Kôshirô played at the Minamiza the role of the warrior-monk Musashibô Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Nakamura Ganjirô I and Nakamura Fukusuke IV.

March 1928: Kôshirô played at the Nakaza the role of Iwafuji in the drama "Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie"; the roles of Onoe and Ohatsu were performed by Nakamura Fukusuke IV and Sawamura Sôjûrô VII. Kôshirô also played the role of the warrior-monk Musashibô Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Nakamura Ganjirô I and Nakamura Fukusuke IV.

December 1928: Kôshirô played at the Minamiza (Kyôto) the role of Arajishi Otokonosuke in the "Yuka Shita" scene of the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi"; the role of Nikki Danjô was played by Ichikawa Chûsha VII.

June 1929: Kôshirô played at the Imperial Theater the role of the warrior-monk Musashibô Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Ichikawa Sadanji II and Sawamura Sôjûrô VII.

January 1930: Kôshirô played at the Kabukiza the role of the warrior-monk Musashibô Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV and Sawamura Sôjûrô VII.

May 1930: Kôshirô played at the Kabukiza in Tôkyô the role of Sukune Tarô in the "Dômyôji" scene of the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"; the roles of Kan Shôjô, Kakuju and Tatsuta-no-Mae were played by Nakamura Ganjirô I, Ichikawa Chûsha VII and Bandô Shûchô III.

June 1930: Kôshirô played at the Nakaza (Ôsaka) the role of Arajishi Otokonosuke in the "Yuka Shita" scene of the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi"; the role of Nikki Danjô was played by Ichikawa Chûsha VII.

September 1930: Kôshirô played at the Misonoza (Nagoya) the role of the warrior-monk Musashibô Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Nakamura Ganjirô I and Nakamura Fukusuke IV.

March 1931: Kôshirô played at the Kabukiza the role of the warrior-monk Musashibô Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Ichikawa Sadanji II and Sawamura Sôjûrô VII.

October 1931: Kôshirô played at the Tôkyô Gekijô the role of the warrior-monk Musashibô Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Onoe Kikugorô VI and Nakamura Fukusuke V.

December 1931: Kôshirô played at the Minamiza the role of the warrior-monk Musashibô Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Nakamura Kichiemon I and Nakamura Fukusuke IV.

April 1932: premiere at the Kabukiza of Mayama Seika's ninjômono drama "Edoe Ryôgoku Hakkei" (commonly called "Arakawa no Sakichi"); Kôshirô played the roles of Shôki no Nihê and Sagamiya Masagorô [casting].

June 1932: Kôshirô played at the Nakaza the role of the warrior-monk Musashibô Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Nakamura Kichiemon I and Nakamura Ganjirô I.

November 1932: revival at the Kabukiza of the drama "Gedatsu"^[2]; Kôshirô played the role of Chichibu no Shôji Shigetada [more details]. Kôshirô also played in the same theater the role of Ikyû in the drama "Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura"; the roles of Sukeroku, Agemaki and Shinbê were played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV, Onoe Baikô VI and Onoe Kikugorô VI. Kôshirô also played the role of Musashibô Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV and Onoe Kikugorô VI.

January 1933: Kôshirô played at the Kabukiza the role of the warrior-monk Musashibô Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV and Onoe Kikugorô VI.

March 1933: Kôshirô played at the Ôsaka Kabukiza the role of the warrior-monk Musashibô Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV and Sawamura Sôjûrô VII.

May 1933: Ikeda Daigo's bakumatsumono drama "Saigô to Buta-hime" was staged for the first time in ôshibai, in Tôkyô at the Meijiza; Kôshirô played the role of Saigô Kichinosuke [more details].

January 1934: Kôshirô played the role of Umeômaru in the "Kurumabiki" scene of the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", which was staged at the Kabukiza; his stage partners were Onoe Kikugorô VI (Sakuramaru) and Ichimura Uzaemon XV (Matsuômaru).

May 1934: Kôshirô played at the Kabukiza the role of Soga Gorô Tokimune in the bombastic play "Ya-no-Ne"^[2].

November 1934: Kôshirô played at the Kabukiza the role of the warrior-monk Musashibô Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV and Onoe Kikugorô VI.

December 1934: Kôshirô played at the Minamiza the role of the warrior-monk Musashibô Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV and Kataoka Gadô IV.

January 1935: Kôshirô played at the Kabukiza the role of Oshô Kichisa in the drama "Sannin Kichisa"; his stage partners were Onoe Kikugorô VI (Ojô Kichisa) and Ichimura Uzaemon XV (Obô Kichisa).

February 1935: Kôshirô played at the Ôsaka Kabukiza the role of Nikki Danjô in the "Yuka Shita" scene of the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi". The role of Arajishi Otokonosuke was played by Nakamura Kichiemon I.

March 1935: premiere at the Kabukiza of the danmari "Otowa-ga-Dake Danmari"; Kôshirô played the role of the sanzoku Harimoto Kesagorô [more details]. Kôshirô also played the role of Nikki Danjô in the "Yuka Shita" scene of the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi"; the role of Arajishi Otokonosuke was played by Onoe Shôroku II.

February 1936: Kôshirô played at the Meijiza the role of the warrior-monk Musashibô Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Nakamura Kichiemon I and Nakamura Baigyoku III.

April 1936: Kôshirô played at the Kabukiza the role of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane in the "Jinmon" and "Kumiuchi" scenes of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki"; the roles of Kojirô/Atsumori, Princess Tamaori and Hirayama were played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV, Sawamura Sôjûrô VII and Ôtani Tomoemon VI.

November 1936: Kôshirô played at the Kabukiza the role of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane in the "Kumagai Jin'ya" scene of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki".

January 1937: Kôshirô played the role of Umeômaru in the "Kurumabiki" scene of the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", which was staged at the Kabukiza; his stage partners were Onoe Kikugorô VI (Matsuômaru), Ichimura Uzaemon XV (Sakuramaru) and Nakamura Utaemon V (Shihei).

February 1937: Kôshirô played at the Ôsaka Kabukiza the role of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane in the "Kumagai Jin'ya" scene of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki".

April 1937: Kôshirô played at the Kabukiza the role of the warrior-monk Musashibô Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV and Onoe Kikugorô VI.

December 1937: Kôshirô played at the Minamiza the role of the warrior-monk Musashibô Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV and Kataoka Nizaemon XII.

January 1938: Kôshirô plays for the last time the role of Soga Gorô Tokimune, at the Kabukiza, in the bombastic play "Ya-no-Ne"^[2].

March 1938: Kôshirô played at the Ôsaka Kabukiza the role of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane in the "Jinmon" and "Kumiuchi" scenes of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki"; the roles of Kojirô/Atsumori and Princess Tamaori were played by Kataoka Nizaemon XII and Nakamura Tokizô III. Kôshirô also played the role of the warrior-monk Musashibô Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV and Kataoka Nizaemon XII.

November 1938: premiere at the Kabukiza of "Nanbuzaka no Yuki Wakare", the sixth play of Mayama Seika's cycle "Genroku Chûshingura"; Kôshirô played the role of Ochiai Yoemon [casting]. He also played at the role of the warrior-monk Musashibô Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Ichikawa Sadanji II and Ichimura Uzaemon XV.

December 1938: Kôshirô played at the Minamiza the role of the warrior-monk Musashibô Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Ichikawa Sadanji II and Ichimura Uzaemon XV.

January 1940: Kôshirô played at the Kabukiza the role of Nikki Danjô in the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi"; the roles of Arajishi Otokonosuke and Hosokawa Katsumoto were played by Bandô Mitsugorô VII and Ichimura Uzaemon XV.

March 1941: Kôshirô played at the Kabukiza the role of Nikki Danjô in the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi"; the roles of Arajishi Otokonosuke and Hosokawa Katsumoto were played by Bandô Mitsugorô VII and Ichimura Uzaemon XV. Kôshirô also played the role of the warrior-monk Musashibô Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV and Kataoka Nizaemon XII.

December 1941: Kôshirô played at the Minamiza the role of the warrior-monk Musashibô Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV and Kataoka Nizaemon XII.

March 1942: Kôshirô played at the Ôsaka Kabukiza the role of the warrior-monk Musashibô Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Nakamura Kichiemon I and Nakamura Shikan VI.

April 1942: Kôshirô played at the Kabukiza the role of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane in the "Jinmon" and "Kumiuchi" scenes of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki"; the roles of Kojirô/Atsumori and Princess Tamaori were played by Onoe Kikugorô VI and Nakamura Tokizô III.

October 1942: Kôshirô played at the Kabukiza the role of Yuranosuke in the "Gion Ichiriki Jaya" scene of the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; the roles of Teraoka Heiemon and Okaru were played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV and Kataoka Nizaemon XII.

November 1942: Kôshirô played at the Kabukiza the roles of Kô no Moronô and Yuranosuke in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

November 1943: Kôshirô played at the Kabukiza the role of the warrior-monk Musashibô Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV and Onoe Kikugorô VI.

December 1943: Kôshirô played at the Kabukiza the role of the warrior-monk Musashibô Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV and Onoe Kikugorô VI.

November 1945: Kôshirô performed for the last time in the classic "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura", which was staged at the Tôkyô Gekijô. He played the role of the fox Tadanobu in the michiyuki "Yoshinoyama"; his stage partners were Nakamura Shikan VI (Shizuka Gozen) and Ichikawa Somegorô V (Hayami no Tôta). He also played the roles of Matsudaira Izu-no-Kami and Takebe Genzô in "Sakura Giminden" and "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"^[3].

January 1946: Kôshirô played at the Tôkyô Gekijô the roles of Fukuzawa Yukichi, Kaneko Ichinojô and Watanabe no Tsuna in "Fukuzawa Yukichi", "Kumo ni Magou Ueno no Hatsuhana" and "Ibaraki".

May 1946: Kôshirô played at the Tôkyô Gekijô the roles of Bun'ya no Yasuhide, Nippon Daemon^[4] and Hanakawado Sukeroku^[5] in "Bun'ya", "Benten Kozô" and "Sukeroku".

June 1946: Kôshirô played at the Tôkyô Gekijô the roles of Nippon Daemon^[4] and the warrior-monk Musashibô Benkei in "Benten Kozô" and "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune in the latter drama were played by Nakamura Kichiemon I and Onoe Kikugorô VI.

September 1946: Kôshirô played at the Tôkyô Gekijô the roles of the priest Takao no Hankai, Tsukioka Hakuren (in reality the thief Ôdera Shôbei), the bansotsu Tônai, the carver Hidari Jingorô and the tobigashira Matsuzô in "Kasuga Ryûjin", "Izayoi Seishin", "Tsuchi-gumo", "Kyô Ningyô" and "Kagatobi".

January 1947: Kôshirô played at the Tôkyô Gekijô the roles of Matsunaga Hisahide^[6], the saruhiki Matsudayû, Kamakura Gongorô Kagemasa and the okina in "Kinkakuji", "Utsubo Zaru", "Shibaraku"^[2] and "Shiki Sanbasô".

February 1947: Kôshirô played at the Tôkyô Gekijô the roles of Arajishi Otokonosuke and Hosokawa Katsumoto in the drama "Date Kurabe Okuni Kabuki"; the role of Nikki Danjô was played by Onoe Kikugorô VI. Kôshirô also played the role of Kudô Saemon Suketsune^[7] in "Soga no Taimen". He also played for the last time the role of the smuggler Kezori in the drama "Koi Minato Hakata no Hitofushi"; his stage partners were Onoe Kikugorô VI (Sôshichi) and Onoe Baikô VII (the courtesan Kojorô).

April 1947: Kôshirô played at the Tôkyô Gekijô the roles of Hôjô Takatoki, Tonbê, Ômori Hikoshichi and Kôchiyama Sôshun in "Takatoki", "Tonbê Sumika", "Ômori Hikoshichi" and "Kôchiyama".

May 1947: Kôshirô played at the Tôkyô Gekijô the roles of Kan Shôjô and Shiratayû in "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". He also played the role of the priest Ryôkai in "Heike no Kyoku".

October 1947: Kôshirô played at the Tôkyô Gekijô the roles of Nikki Danjô^[8], Wada no Hyôe Hidemori and Kanki^[9] in "Meiboku Sendai Hagi", "Moritsuna Jin'ya" and "Kokusen'ya Gassen".

November 1947: Kôshirô played at the Tôkyô Gekijô the roles of Yuranosuke and Fuwa Kazuemon in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

January 1948: Kôshirô played for the last time the role of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane, at the Tôkyô Gekijô, in the "Kumagai Jin'ya" scene of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki". He also played the roles of Yoshioka Kiichi Hôgen and Yotsuguruma Daihachi in "Kikubatake" and "Megumi no Kenka".

February 1948: Kôshirô played at the Ôsaka Kabukiza the role of Ôboshi Yuranosuke and Yoshida Chûzaemon in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

March 1948: Kôshirô played at the Tôkyô Gekijô the roles of Kumagai Jirô Naozane, Musashibô Benkei, Senoo Jûrô Kaneuji and Hoshikage Doemon in "Ôgiya Kumagai", "Funa Benkei", "Sanemori Monogatari" and "Gosho no Gorozô".

April 1948: Kôshirô played at the Shinbashi Enbujô the roles of Takechi Mitsuhide, Watanabe no Tsuna and Ikyû in "Amagasaki Kankyo", "Ibaraki" and "Sukeroku".

May 1948: Kôshirô played at the Tôkyô Gekijô the roles of Akizuki Daizen, Katsuragi Minbu and Gorobê Masamune in the classic "Shin Usuyuki Monogatari".

June 1948: Kôshirô played at the Tôkyô Gekijô the roles of Teranishi Kanshin and Kakogawa Honzô in "Gozonji Manaita Chôbê" and "Honzô Shimoyashiki".

November 1948: Kôshirô played at the Tôkyô Gekijô the roles of Mibumura no Jizaemon, the okina and Kudô Saemon Suketsune^[10] in "Ishikawa Goemon", "Ayatsuri Sanbasô" and "Kichirei Soga no Ishizue".

December 1948: Kôshirô appeared on stage for the last time, in Tôkyô at the Shinbashi Enbujô, where he played the roles of Ôoka Echizen-no-Kami Tadasuke and Kyûsaku in the dramas "Ten'ichibô Ôoka Seidan" and "Nozaki-mura".

27 January 1949: Kôshirô died.

Comments:

Matsumoto Kôshirô VII was one of the leading tachiyaku from the end of the Meiji era to the end of the forties. Best disciple of Ichikawa Danjûrô IX, he transmitted his master's knowledge, traditions and acting methods to his three sons who became the best tachiyaku of the second half of the twentieth century.

Matsumoto Kôshirô VII's best roles: Musashibô Benkei ("Kanjinchô"), Sekibê/Ôtomo no Kuronushi ("Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To"), Ômori Hikoshichi ("Ômori Hikoshichi"), Soga Gorô Tokimune ("Ya-no-Ne"), Watanabe no Tsuna ("Ibaraki"), Watônai ("Kokusen'ya Gassen"), Kamakura Gongorô Kagemasa ("Shibaraku"), Nikki Danjô ("Meiboku Sendai Hagi"), Takatoki ("Takatoki").

"Without doubt Kôshirô is the best-equipped yakusha in Japan. He is both a good actor and an accomplished dancer. Born in a provincial town, his father was a builder and contractor, and he might have missed his calling had not Fujima Kan'emon, the furitsuke, or dancing master of the Tôkyô stage, taken such an interest in the child that he adopted him as his heir and successor. Danjûrô, the ninth, saw that the boy was better fitted to become an actor than to be an exponent of dancing, and early took him under his protection. Of all Danjûrô's followers, Kôshirô is the best qualified to carry on the Ichikawa traditions. Unfortunately, Kôshirô was indiscreet in his youthful escapades, and so angered his master that he was expelled by Danjûrô from the theatre, and for a time it seemed that he might never return. When the Imperial was opened, Kôshirô became attached to this theatre, and was quickly reinstated in the favour of the public. Danjûrô's widow, however, never forgot the injunction of her husband that Kôshirô was not to succeed him, and while this actor is in every respect an Ichikawa, the great name of the tenth is still going begging. In the Ichikawa aragoto rôles Kôshirô is the best in Japan. Thoroughly trained in the Fujima school of dancing, he is a creative dancer, always producing new modes of expression. As a realistic actor he has few equals, and shows much cleverness in new plays. It is in making up, however, that he greatly excels, and can transform his countenance by means of strange, imaginative designs, or become a rogue, policeman, statesman, doctor, or lawyer in modern plays with surprising success." (Zoë Kincaid in "Kabuki, the Popular Stage of Japan")

[1] The 12th day of the 5th lunar month of the 3rd year of the Meiji era was the 10th of June 1870 in the western calendar.

[2] A play belonging to the Kabuki Jûhachiban.

[3] "Hippô Denju" and "Terakoya" were staged.

[4] The roles of Benten Kozô, Nangô Rikimaru, Tadanobu Rihei and Akaboshi Jûzaburô were played by Onoe Kikugorô VI, Nakamura Kichiemon I, Ichikawa Omezô IV and Nakamura Tokizô III.

[5] The roles of Ikyû, Shinbê and Miuraya Agemaki were played by Nakamura Kichiemon I, Sawamura Sôjûrô VII and Onoe Kikugorô VI.

[6] The roles of Princess Yuki and Konoshita Tôkichi were played by Nakamura Shikan VI and Nakamura Kichiemon I.

[7] The roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari were played by Ichimura Uzaemon XVI and Onoe Baikô VII (who celebrated his shûmei).

[8] The roles of Arajishi Otokonosuke and Hosokawa Katsumoto were played by Ichikawa Ennosuke II and Nakamura Kichiemon I.

[9] The roles of Watônai and Kinshôjo were played by Ichikawa Ennosuke II and Nakamura Tokizô III.

[10] The roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari were played by Ichikawa Ennosuke II and Sawamura Sôjûrô VII.

Matsumoto Kôshirô VII playing the role of Sekibê/Ôtomo no Kuronushi in the dance-drama "Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To" in a print made by Yamamura Toyonari in 1919

Print made by Kôchôrô Hôsai in 1903

Print made by Ôta Masamitsu in 1950

The Ichikawa Somegorô line of actors

The Ichikawa Komazô line of actors

The Matsumoto Kôshirô line of actors