IWAI MATSUNOSUKE

FIVE GENERATIONS

Iwai Matsunosuke I

The actor Iwai Hanshirô VII held the name of Iwai Matsunosuke I from the 11th lunar month of 1806 to the 10th lunar month of 1822.

Iwai Matsunosuke I playing the role of Oseki in the new year drama "Nennen Soga Kuruwa Nikki", which was staged in the 1st lunar month of 1818 at the Nakamuraza (print made by Utagawa Toyokuni I)

Iwai Matsunosuke II
Iwai Matsunosuke II

| Iwai Komurasaki II

Dates of birth and death unknown. He started his career as a disciple of Iwai Shijaku I, who gave him the name of Iwai Komurasaki II. He took the name of Iwai Matsunosuke II in the 1st lunar month of 1836 at the Nakamuraza, playing 3 roles in Sakurada Jisuke III's new year drama "Waka Ebisu Soga no Minato". This onnagata actor was active in Edo up to the 11th lunar month of 1846, when he performed at the Nakamuraza in the drama "Sanjô Masu Miiri no Chôjime". We don't know what happens to him afterwards for he disappeared from the records.

Haimyô	Yagô
Seishi (?)	Yamatoya

Iwai Matsunosuke II (left/standing) and his master Iwai Shijaku I (bottom/right) playing the roles of the courtesans Kewaizaka no Shôshô and Ôiso no Tora in the new year drama "Waka Ebisu Soga no Minato", which was staged in the 1st lunar month of 1836 at the Nakamuraza (print made by Utagawa Kunisada I)

Iwai Matsunosuke III
Iwai Matsunosuke III

Dates of birth and death unknown. Most likely a disciple of Iwai Kumesaburô III. He held the name of Iwai Matsunosuke III between 1855 and 1858. Nothing else was recorded about him.

Iwai Matsunosuke IV

The actor Iwai Matsunosuke IV held this name from October 1879 to December 1882, then from April 1882 to March 1906.

Iwai Matsunosuke IV playing the role of the courtesan Ôgiya Yûgiri in a print made by Utagawa Kunimasa IV

Iwai Matsunosuke V
Iwai Matsunosuke V

Dates of birth and death unknown. Was he a disciple of Iwai Kumesaburô V? He held the name of Iwai Matsunosuke V between 1912 and 1944. His career was quite obscure.