Stage names:
Omegawa Kyôjûrô
Matsumoto Kôshirô IV
Ichikawa Komazô II
Ichikawa Somegorô I
Ichikawa Takejûrô
Segawa Kinji
Segawa Kingo
Guild: Kôraiya
Line number: YODAIME (IV)
Poetry name: Kinkô
Existence: 1737 ~ 27 June 1802
Connections:
Masters: Matsumoto Kôshirô III, Ichikawa Danjûrô IV, Segawa Kikunojô I
Son: Matsumoto Kôshirô V
Grandsons: Matsumoto Kôshirô VI, Ichikawa Sumizô II
Disciples: Ichikawa Ikuzô, Ichikawa Tatsujûrô, Ichikawa Somegorô II, Ichikawa Somegorô III
Career:
1737: born in Kyôto.
1744: he goes with his family to Edo. He becomes disciple of the star Segawa Kikunojo I, who gives him the name of Segawa Kingo.
January 1745: Kingo makes his first appearance on stage, at the Nakamuraza, playing in the new year drama "Hagoromo Kotobuki Soga".
1751: Kingo goes back to Kyôto.
Fall 1754: Kingo goes to Edo.
November 1754: Segawa Kingo takes the name of Segawa Kinji at the Ichimuraza, playing in the kaomise drama "Keisei Asakusa no Kane".
1755 ~ 1756: he stops acting and works for the tea house Ineya, managed by his elder sister in the district of Takanawa.
1756: he is back in the theater world, becoming a disciple of Ichikawa Danjûrô IV, who gives him the name of Ichikawa Takejûrô.
November 1762: he becomes disciple of the actor Matsumoto Kôshirô III, who gives him the name of Ichikawa Somegorô I during the kaomise program "Nagi no Ha Izu no Sugatami", which is staged at the Nakamuraza.
November 1763: Ichikawa Somegorô I takes the name of Ichikawa Komazô II at the Nakamuraza, playing the role of Izumi no Saburô in the kaomise drama "Daijôbu Takadachi Jikki".
May 1764: Komazô plays in the same theater the role of Sakuramaru in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"; the roles of Matsuômaru and Umeômaru are played by Ichikawa Danjûrô IV and Ichikawa Raizô I.
January 1766: Komazô plays at the Nakamuraza the roles of Ômi no Kotota and Kawazu in the new year program "Kaidô Ichi Izu no Harugoma".
May 1766: Komazô plays in the same theater the role of Danzaburô in the drama "Yaoya Oshichi Koi no Edozome".
August 1766: Komazô plays in the same theater the roles of Date no Yosaku and Keimasa in the drama "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna".
November 1766: Komazô plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Utô Bunji, disguised as a tea seller, in the kaomise drama "Kogane no Hana Kaijin Aramusha". His stage partners in the roles of the two rebels Abe no Sadatô and Abe no Munetô, Bunji's wife and Hachiman Tarô (Abe clan ennemy) are Kirishima Gizaemon, Matsumoto Kôshirô III, Yoshizawa Sakinosuke III and Bandô Hikosaburô II.
January 1767: Komazô plays in the same theater the roles of the tedai Matsuwakaya Shirobei, Mioya, Soga Jûrô and Yodoya Tatsugorô in the new year program "Hatsu Akinai Ômise Soga". He also replaces Ichikawa Raizô I, who falls suddenly ill, in the role of Honmachi no Tsunagorô.
July 1767: Komazô plays in the same theater the roles of Satô Shirobei Tadanobu and the fox Genkurô in the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura". His stage partner in the role of Shizuka Gozen is Nakamura Matsue I.
November 1767: Komazô plays at the Nakamuraza the roles of Nitta Yoshisada and Nagahama Shinzaemon in the kaomise drama "Taiheiki Shizu no Furisode".
January 1768: Komazô plays in the same theater the roles of Shigetada, Soga Jûrô and Minoya Kichibei in the new year program "Fude Hajime Soga no Tamazusa". His stage partners in the roles of Soga Gorô and Kudô Saemon Suketsune are Ichikawa Yaozô II and Ichikawa Danjûrô IV.
April 1768: Komazô plays in the same theater the role of Karigane Bunshichi in the otokodate drama "Otokodate Itsutsu Karigane". His stage partners are Nakamura Sukegorô II (Kaminari Shôkurô), Matsumoto Kôshirô III (Gokuin Sen'emon), Arashi Otohachi I (Hotei Ichiemon) and Ichikawa Yaozô II (An no Heibei). He also plays the roles of Ono no Tôfû, Sakuramaru and Monogusa Tarô in the dramas "Ono no Tôfû Aoyagi Suzuri", "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami" and "Monogusa Tarô".
August 1768: Komazô plays in the same theater the role of Hosokawa Katsumoto in the drama "Tenjiku Tokubei Kokyô no Torikaji", whose plot and characters belong to the "Tenjiku Tokubei" world. His stage partners in the roles of Tokubei, Tokubei's wife and Harimanosuke are Ichikawa Danjûrô IV, Yoshizawa Sakinosuke III and Ichikawa Yaozô II.
November 1768: Komazô plays at the Nakamuraza the roles of the shamisen player Kichiroku and Suruga Hachirô in the kaomise drama "Ima o Sakari Suehiro Genji", which celebrates the arrival in Edo of the Kamigata star Nakamura Utaemon I.
January 1769: Komazô plays in the same theater the role of Shigetada in the new year program "Soga Moyô Aigo no Wakamatsu".
February 1769: Komazô plays in the same theater the role of Oniô Shinzaemon in the dance drama "Sugatami Asamagadake".
July 1769: Komazô plays in the same theater the roles of Chihara Sakon, Shinoda Saemon and Sasaya Jûbei in the drama "Nenriki Yuzuriha no Kagami".
November 1769: Komazô plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Sano Genzaemon in the kaomise drama "Kawaranu Hana Sakae Hachinoki".
January 1770: Komazô plays in the same theater the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari in the new year sogamono "Kagamigaike Omokage Soga". His stage partners in the roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune, Kudô Saemon Suketsune and the courtesan Ôiso no Tora (Jûrô's lover) are Ichikawa Yaozô II, Nakamura Nakazô I and Nakamura Matsue I. His son makes his first appearance on stage, receiving the name of Matsumoto Sumizô I.
November 1770: great shûmei at the Nakamuraza. Ichikawa Danjûrô IV takes back the name of Matsumoto Kôshirô II, Matsumoto Kôshirô III becomes Ichikawa Danjûrô V, Nakamura Shichisaburô II takes the name of Nakamura Shôchô and Ichikawa Benzô I received the name of Ichikawa Monnosuke II. Komazô plays the roles of Minamoto Yorimasa and Hanamori Kisuke in the kaomise drama "Nue no Mori Ichiyô no Mato".
January 1771: Komazô plays in the same theater the roles of Soga Jûrô Sukenari, Sukebei and Mionoya in the new year sogamono "Sakaichô Soga no Nendaiki". His stage partners in the roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune, Kudô Saemon Suketsune and the courtesan Ôiso no Tora (Jûrô's lover) are Ichikawa Danjûrô V, Nakamura Nakazô I and Iwai Hanshirô IV.
March 1771: Komazô plays in the same theater the role of Hanbei in the Miyakoji-based dance-drama "Oborozuki Tsui no Someginu", which puts in the same michiyuki the couples of lovers Tokubei/Ohatsu ("Sonezaki Shinjû"), Ochiyo/Hanbei ("Shinjû Yoi Kôshin") and Osome/Hisamatsu; the role of Hanbei's lover Ochiyo is played by Yamashita Kinsaku II.
April 1771: Komazô plays in the same theater the role of Ôboshi Yuranosuke in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura". His stage partners in the role of En'ya Hangan, Kô no Moronô, Kakogawa Honzô and Okaru are Ichikawa Yaozô II, Ichikawa Danjûrô V, Nakamura Nakazô I and Nakamura Matsue I.
July 1771: Komazô plays in the same theater the role of Hamanari in the drama "Tamura Maro Nanae Gasane".
November 1771: Komazô plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Ariwara no Yukihira in the kaomise drama "Kuni no Hana Ono no Itsumoji". His stage partners in the roles of Matsukaze and Murasame, two pearl-diving sisters in love with Yukihira, are Nakamura Nakazô I and Iwai Hanshirô IV.
January 1772: Komazô plays for the first time, in the same theater, the role of Kudô Saemon Suketsune in the new year sogamono "Haru Soga Akebono no Zôshi". His stage partners in the roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari are Ichikawa Monnosuke II and Ichikawa Yaozô II.
February 1772: the Nakamuraza is completely burned in a big fire. There is no performance up to August.
August 1772: the new Nakamuraza reopens. Komazô plays the roles of Nan Yohei and the sumô wrestler Hanaregoma Chôkichi in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki". His stage partners are Ichikawa Yaozô II (Chôkichi's rival, the sumô wrestler Nuregami Chôgorô), Yoshizawa Ayame III (Chôkichi's sister Oseki) and Iwai Hanshirô IV (Yohei's spouse Ohaya)
November 1772: great shûmei at the Nakamuraza. Matsumoto Kôshirô II, Ichikawa Komazô II and Matsumoto Sumizô I respectively take the names of Ichikawa Ebizô III, Matsumoto Kôshirô IV and Ichikawa Komazô III. Kôshirô plays the roles of Yoshigorohachi and Sagami Jirô in the kaomise drama "Ôyoroi Ebidô Shinozuka".
January 1773: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Soga Jûrô Sukenari, the priest Seigen and Kyô no Jirô in the new year sogamono "Wada Sakamori Eiga Kagami". His stage partners in the roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune, Kudô Saemon Suketsune and the courtesan Ôiso no Tora (Jûrô's lover) are Ichikawa Yaozô II, Nakamura Denkurô II and Sanogawa Ichimatsu II.
May 1773: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Katsukawa Harumoto in the drama "Dainippon Ise no Kamikaze".
July 1773: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Asama Saemon in the drama "Keisei Kataokayama".
September 1773: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Matsuômaru in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". His stage partners are Nakamura Shôchô (Kan Shôjô), Ichikawa Monnosuke II (Sakuramaru), Bandô Matatarô IV (Umeômaru), Ôtani Tomoemon I (Matsuômaru's father Shiratayû), Nakajima Mihoemon II (Matsuômaru's master Fujiwara no Shihei) and Yoshizawa Sakinosuke III (Matsuômaru's wife Chiyo).
November 1773: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the play "Gohiiki Kanjinchô", performed as a kaomise drama. Kôshirô plays the roles of Minamoto Yoshitsune and Izumi Saburô [casting]. This 46-days long performance, which is also the shûmei of Nakamura Rikô I, is a tremendous success.
January 1774: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Soga Jûrô Sukenari and Shigetada in the new year sogamono "Oatsuraezome Soga Hinagata". His stage partners in the roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune, Kudô Saemon Suketsune and the courtesan Ôiso no Tora (Jûrô's lover) are Ichikawa Monnosuke II, Ichikawa Danjûrô V and Nakamura Rikô I. A "meeting in the darkness" scene, which is played by Nakamura Nakazô I, Ôtani Hiroji III, Nakamura Rikô I and Kôshirô, is particularly well received by the audience.
March 1774: Kôshirô and Iwai Hanshirô IV perform together the roles of Onatsu and Seijûrô in the same theater in the michiyuki "Nushiyatare Koi no Yamabuki".
May 1774: several actors, including Ichikawa Ebizô III, Ichikawa Danjûrô V, Iwai Hanshirô IV and Kôshirô leave the Nakamuraza.
November 1774: Kôshirô moves to the Moritaza and plays the roles of Matsuura Saemon and Satô Tadanobu in the kaomise drama "Ichi no Tomi Tsuki no Kaomise". His stage partners in the roles of Shizuka Gozen and Minamoto Yoshitsune are Iwai Hanshirô IV and Bandô Mitsugorô I. It is said that Kôshirô, portraying Matsuura Saemon, makes his stage appearance from a trapdoor riding a horse.
January 1775: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Chihara Sakon, Kashima Saburô, Umegaya Yoshibei and Kyô no Jirô in the new year program "Shida Yuzuriha Hôrai Soga".
May 1775: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Matsuômaru and Kakuju in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". His stage partners are Ichikawa Danjûrô V (Matsuômaru's master Fujiwara no Shihei, Kan Shôjô), Iwai Hanshirô IV (Sakuramaru), Bandô Mitsugorô I (Umeômaru, Genzô), Sawamura Chôjûrô IV (Matsuômaru's father Shiratayû), Azuma Tôzô II (Tatsuta no Mae), Nakamura Noshio I (Matsuômaru's wife Chiyo) and Sakata Kônosuke (Princess Kariya).
August 1775: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Yamana Saemon and Nagoya Sanzaburô in the drama "Keisei Tsuki no Miyako".
November 1775: Kôshirô moves to the Ichimuraza and plays in the kaomise drama "Oyafune Taiheiki". His stage partners are Ichikawa Ebizô III, Iwai Hanshirô IV, Ichikawa Yaozô II and Nakamura Noshio I. This kaomise is a huge success, starting the 1st of November and ending the 15th December.
January 1776: Kôshirô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent). He plays in the same theater the roles of Chichibu no Shôji Shigetada and Soga Jûrô Sukenari in the new year drama "Kamuri Kotoba Soga no Yukari"; the roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune and Kudô Saemon Suketsune are played by Ichikawa Yaozô II and Ichikawa Ebizô III.
March 1776: Kôshirô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent). He plays in the same theater the role of the sake seller Shimbei in the drama "Sukeroku Yukari no Hatsuzakura". The roles of Sukeroku, Agemaki and the villain Ikyû are played by Ichikawa Yaozô II, Iwai Hanshirô IV and Sakata Hangorô II. The performance is a huge success and a long run.
November 1776: Kôshirô moves to the Moritaza and plays the roles of Hakata Rozaemon, Masanari and Tamaya Shimbei in the kaomise drama "Hikitsurete Yagoe Taiheiki".
January 1777: Kôshirô is in the Edo hyôbanki the kanjiku for tachiyaku actors.
Summer 1777: the book "Yakusha Sensakuron" ("About actors prying") is published in Edo. It gives some private information on actors. Edo readers learn that Kôshirô lives in the district of Sakai-chô and his annual salary is 800 ryô.
November 1777: Kôshirô moves to the Nakamuraza and plays in the kaomise drama "Masakado Kanmuri no Hatsuyuki". His stage partners are Ichikawa Danjûrô V, Yoshizawa Sakinosuke III and Bandô Mitsugorô I.
February 1778: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Chichibu no Shôji Shigetada, Takemura Sadanoshin and Oniô Shinzaemon in the new year program "Kaidô Iro Yawaragi Soga".
July 1778: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the play "Date Kurabe Okuni Kabuki"; Kôshirô plays the roles of Hanyûmura Yoemon, Kizu no Kansuke, Nagoya Sanza, the sumô wrestler Kinugawa Tanizô and Watanabe Mimbunosuke [casting].
August 1778: the "Kôshirô Impeachment affair" shakes the Kabuki world. The growing influence of Ichikawa Danjûrô V in the patrons organizations or the shibai jaya circles created some enmities and a group of people plotted in the shadows to get him accused of misappropriation of funds. Ichikawa Danjûrô V is ordered to leave the stage for a while, give his name to Ichikawa Kôshirô and take the name of Ichikawa Ebizô. The widow of late Ichikawa Yaozô II, who is also the lover of Ichikawa Danjûrô V, leads him to think that both Iwai Hanshirô IV and Kôshirô are responsible for this dirty and complicated plot. Ichikawa Danjûrô V lets his anger explode twice on stage in front of the audience: the 27th of August he accuses Kôshirô and the 28th it is the turn of Iwai Hanshirô IV. As a consequence, Ichikawa Danjûrô V decides to leave the Nakamuraza.
November 1778: Kôshirô becomes zagashira at the Nakamuraza and plays the roles of Sano Genzaemon Tsuneyo and Aoto Magosaburô Fujitsuna in the kaomise drama "Motomishi Yuki Sakae Hachinoki", which celebrates the shûmei of Yoshizawa Ayame IV and the first stage appearance of Bandô Mitahachi I.
January 1779: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune and Gunsuke in the new year program "Gohiiki Nennen Soga".
March 1779: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of the sake seller Shimbei in the drama "Sukeroku Sato no Yozakura". The roles of Sukeroku, Agemaki and the villain Ikyû are played by Ichikawa Monnosuke II, Iwai Hanshirô IV and Ôtani Hiroemon III.
May 1779: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Kan Shôjô and Matsuômaru in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"; the roles of Umeômaru and Sakuramaru are played by Bandô Mitsugorô I and Ichikawa Monnosuke II.
November 1779: as a consequence of his troubles with Ichikawa Danjûrô V, Kôshirô moves to the Ichimuraza and plays the role of Kanesuki in the kaomise drama "Azuma no Mori Sakae Kusunoki".
January 1780: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Kyô no Jirô, Hachiman no Saburô and Kaminari Tsurunosuke in the new year drama "Ume Goyomi Akebono Soga".
May ~ June 1780: big troubles at the Ichimuraza! Onoe Kikugorô I leaves the theater after a terrible quarrel with Kôshirô and there are some serious management troubles (the theater can't pay the actors).
November 1780: Kôshirô plays at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Mure Takamatsu Yuki no Shirahata".
March 1781: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Obiya Chôemon in the Tomimoto-based dance "Michiyuki Segawa no Adanami"; the role of Chôemon's lover Ohan is played by Segawa Kikunojô III.
September 1781: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Magoemon in the drama "Keisei Koi Bikyaku".
November 1781: Kôshirô plays at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Mukashi Otoko Yuki no Hinagata", which celebrates the shûmei of Matsumoto Sanjûrô and Ichiyama Sukejûrô. The management of the theater has to struggle hard to find the money to pay the actors. Kôshirô's stage partners are Iwai Hanshirô IV, Yoshizawa Ayame IV, Nakamura Sukegorô II, Ichimura Uzaemon IX, Nakayama Tomisaburô I, Sakata Hangorô II, Sawamura Chôjûrô IV and Onoe Monzaburô I.
January 1782: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Matsuômaru in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"; the roles of Umeômaru and Sakuramaru are played by Onoe Monzaburô I and Ichiyama Sukejûrô.
February 1782: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of the sumô wrestler Kinugawa Tanizô and the yakko Gunsuke in the drama "Sumidagawa Yanagi no Dateginu".
May 1782: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of the sake seller Shimbei in the drama "Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura". His stage partners are Ichimura Uzaemon IX (Sukeroku), Iwai Hanshirô IV (Agemaki) and Sakata Hangorô II (Ikyû).
June 1782: casting change in "Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura"; Kôshirô replaces Ichimura Uzaemon IX in the prestigious role of Sukeroku and his son Ichikawa Komazô III plays the role of Shimbei.
September 1782: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of the tôfu maker Goroemon and the king of thieves Ishikawa Goemon in the drama "Hama no Masago Otogi Zôshi".
November 1782: Kôshirô plays at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Ise Heiji Eika Goyomi".
June 1783: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Ôboshi Yuranosuke and Hayano Kampei in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
November 1783: Kôshirô moves to the Moritaza and plays in the kaomise program "Ono no Terusaki Yuki no Akebono".
January 1784: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Fujiya Izaemon in the drama "Haru no Yo Shôji no Ume"; the role of Izaemon's lover Yûgiri is played by the Kamigata actor Mimasu Tokujirô I.
February 1784: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune, the warrior Taira no Kagekiyo and Oniô Shinzaemon in the drama "Haru Goyomi Nigiwai Soga".
March 1784: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Kameya Chûbei in the drama "Keisei Koi Bikyaku"; the role of Chûbei's lover Umegawa is played by Mimasu Tokujirô I. He also plays the role of Mohei in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Daikyôji Mukashi Goyomi"; the role of Mohei's lover Osan is played by Mimasu Tokujirô I.
April 1784: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of the yakko Gunsuke in the drama "Sumidagawa no Meishoki".
July 1784: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Sagisaka Sanai and the yakko Ippei in the drama "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna".
September 1784: Kôshirô celebrates his coming departure from Edo by playing in the same theater the role of Obiya Chôemon in the drama "Tagasode Futatsu Nishikie"; the role of Chôemon's lover Ohan is played by Mimasu Tokujirô I.
Fall 1784: Kôshirô and Iwai Hanshirô IV go together to Ôsaka.
November 1784: Kôshirô plays in the kaomise drama "Naka ni Môkeru Otogo Kaomise", which is produced by Nakamura Kumetarô II at the Naka no Shibai. Kôshirô is not very well welcomed by the Ôsaka audience and Onoe Kikugorô I's son Onoe Ushinosuke I, who works at the Kado no Shibai as a zamoto, makes a scornful speech on stage against Kôshirô, the "frightening uncle from Edo in the little hut next door".
January 1785: Kôshirô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
April 1785: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Sasaki Rokkaku, Ukiyo Watahei and Watari Kampei in the drama "Zen'aku Onna no Tsutsushimigusa". He also plays the role of Kameya Chûbei in the drama "Kurikaeshi Koi Bikyaku"; the role of Chûbei's lover Umegawa is played by Iwai Hanshirô IV.
May 1785: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Sasaki Moritsuna in the drama "Na ni Ôsaka Kôraiya Bashi". He also plays the role of Kameya Chûbei in the michiyuki "Meido no Wakarezato"; the role of Chûbei's lover Umegawa is played by Iwai Hanshirô IV.
Summer ~ Fall 1785: Kôshirô plays at the Kita-Horie Ichigawa no Shibai (Ôsaka) the role of Obiya Chôemon in the drama "Katsuragawa Renri no Shigarami". He also plays the roles of Genta and Shigetada in the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki".
Winter 1785: Kôshirô plays in Kyôto. It seems he is not very well welcomed by the audience.
January 1786: Kôshirô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
January 1786: Kôshirô plays at the Kita-Horie Ichigawa no Shibai (Ôsaka) the role of Nagai Uma-no-Kami Nobuaki in the drama "Ôtô-no-Miya Asahi no Yoroi".
February 1786: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Tsukimoto Enshû in the drama "Akiba Gongen Kaisen Banashi". He also plays the role of Fujiya Izaemon in the drama "Yukari no Tsuki"; the role of the courtesan Yûgiri (Izaemon's lover) is played by Sawamura Kunitarô I.
Spring 1786: Kôshirô goes back to Edo.
May 1786: Kôshirô joins the Kiriza and becomes reconciled with Ichikawa Danjûrô V, ending a nine years long quarrel.
August 1786: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Nagoya Sanza in the drama "Muromachi Onna Bunshô". His stage partners in the roles of Fuwa Banzaemon and the courtesan Katsuragi are Ichikawa Danjûrô V and Segawa Kikunojô III.
September 1786: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of the tedai Yodoya Shinshichi in "Kôrai Giku Ukina no Irozashi", the second part (nibanme) of "Muromachi Onna Bunshô".
November 1787: Kôshirô plays at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Yukimizuki Eiga Hana no Hachinoki".
February 1788: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Banzui Chôbei in the drama "Keisei Azuma Kagami".
September 1788: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Danshichi in the drama "Tsuki no Tomo Yoi no Miya Gohyakuzaki", whose plot and character belong to the "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami" world. His stage partners are Sawamura Sôjûrô III (Tokubei) and Ôtani Hiroji III (Sabu).
November 1788: Kôshirô plays at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Tôzumô Hana no Edogata", which celebrates the return in Edo of the actor Nakamura Nakazô I.
January 1789: Kôshirô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is dai-jô-jô-kichi (grand - superior - superior - excellent). He plays in the same theater the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari in the new year drama "Edo Fuji Wakayagi Soga". His stage partners are Nakamura Nakazô I (Kudô Saemon Suketsune), Ichikawa Monnosuke II (Soga Gorô Tokimune) and Ôtani Hiroji III (Asaina). He also plays in duo with Osagawa Tsuneyo II in the dance "Ukina no Irochimaki". From the 11th, Kôshirô plays the role of An no Heibei in the drama "Otokodate Itsutsu Karigane", sharing the stage with Nakamura Nakazô I (Kaminari Shôkurô), Ichikawa Monnosuke II (Gokuin Sen'emon), Ôtani Hiroji III (Hotei Ichiemon) and Ichikawa Komazô III (Karigane Bunshichi). The performance is successful but the audience drops when Nakamura Nakazô I falls ill and has to be replaced.
June 1789: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Ono no Tôfû in the drama "Ono no Tôfû Aoyagi Suzuri".
July 1789: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Awa Mimbu, Akaneya Jirozô and Tanzaemon in the drama "Heike Hyôbanki", which celebrates the 77th, 13th, 37th, 37th, 60th and 7th memorial services of late Nakamura Denkurô I, Nakamura Denkurô II, Kineya Kisaburô VI, Nakayama Kojurô V, Nakamura Denjirô I and Nakamura Denjirô III.
November 1789: Kôshirô plays at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Komachimura Shibai no Shôgatsu".
January 1790: Kôshirô plays in the same theater in the new year drama "Haru no Nishiki Datezome Soga".
March 1790: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Obiya Chôemon in the drama "Ohan Chôemon"; the role of Ohan is played by Segawa Kikunojô III.
July 1790: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Yoemon and Amakawaya Gihei in the drama "Chûkô Ryôgoku Ori".
February 1791: Kôshirô, Ichikawa Komazô III, Matsumoto Yonesaburô I and Matsumoto Kojirô join the Kawarazakiza; Kôshirô plays the roles of Ume no Yoshibei and Kudô Saemon Suketsune in the new year drama "Hatsu Midori Saiwai Soga".
May 1791: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Tsuribune Sabu, Nan Yohei and Hosokawa Katsumoto in Sakurada Jisuke I's drama "Onna Date Kôraiya Shima", which mixes the "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami" and "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki" worlds.
November 1791: Kôshirô moves to the Nakamuraza and plays the roles of Hirai no Yasumasa and Banzui Chôbei in the kaomise drama "Nidai Genji Oshi no Gôkyû".
January 1792: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Dozaemon Denkichi, a Dôjôji temple priest, the sumô wrestler Matsukaze Sehei and Awazu Rokurô Saemon in the new year drama "Sumidagawa Shibai no Ennichi".
January 1793: Kôshirô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, sôkanjiku section ("all kanjiku"), is goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent).
February 1793: Kôshirô plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Hazuna no Gengorô in the new year drama "Mitsugi Soga Fuji no Kisewata".
March 1793: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Asagao Sempei in the drama "Sukeroku".
May 1793: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Ôboshi Yuranosuke and Amakawaya Gihei in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
Fall 1793: the Ichimuraza goes out of business and gives its license to the Kiriza.
November 1793: Kôshirô plays at the Kiriza the roles of the tôfu maker Saburobei, Watanabe Mimbu and Hosokawa Katsumoto in the kaomise drama "Matsu no Tayû Yuki no Datezome", whose plot and characters belong to the "Meiboku Sendai Hagi" world.
November 1794: Kôshirô moves to the Kawarazakiza and plays the roles of Bingo no Saburô, Hata Rokurô Saemon, Nagasaki Kageyu Saemon and Kusunoki Hangan in the kaomise drama "Matsu no Misao Onna Kusunoki".
January 1795: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune and Banzui Chôbei in the new year drama "Shimekazari Kichirei Soga".
May 1795: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Kakogawa Honzô and Horibe Yajibei in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which commemorates the the 12th anniversary (13th memorial service) of late Onoe Kikugorô I.
September 1795: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Daihanji no Kiyosumi and Kamatari in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".
November 1795: Kôshirô plays at the Kawarazakiza the role of Tawara no Tôta in the kaomise program "Fuku Botan Azuma Dairi". The actor Ichikawa Ebizô shares the top of the bill with Kôshirô.
January 1796: Kôshirô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is shin-jô-jô-kichi (truly - superior - superior - excellent).
March 1796: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Yuranosuke in the drama "Taiheiki Chûshin Kôshaku".
August 1796: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Tsukimoto, the boatman Yojirô, Rikyû and Konoshita Tôkichi in the drama "Keisei Suikoden".
November 1796: Kôshirô plays at the Kawarazakiza the roles of Ishikiri no Gorota and Komatsu no Shigemori in the kaomise drama "Itsukushima Yuki no Kaomise".
January 1797: Kôshirô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, sôkanjiku section ("all kanjiku"), is goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent). He plays the roles of Oniô Shinzaemon, Kamaya Takehei and Kudô Saemon Suketsune in the new year drama "Fuji Miru Sato Yawaragi Soga". The roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari are played by Ichikawa Komazô III and Bandô Minosuke I.
March 1797: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of the sake seller Shimbei in the drama "Sukeroku Kuruwa no Sakurabito". His stage partners are Ichikawa Komazô III (Sukeroku), Nakayama Tomisaburô I (Agemaki) and Onoe Matsusuke I (Ikyû).
May 1797: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Nan Yohei in the drama "Sekitori Shôbu no Katabira", which is similar to "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki".
September 1797: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Hosokawa Katsumoto in the drama "Mitsugimono Shiga no Irifune".
November 1797: Kôshirô moves to the Nakamuraza and plays the roles of Yahei and Miura Heitayû Kunitae in the kaomise drama "Kaikei Kokyô no Nishikigi", sharing the stage with Ichikawa Danjûrô VI, Iwai Hanshirô IV, Ichikawa Komazô III, Onoe Matsusuke I, Nakayama Tomisaburô I, Bandô Hikosaburô III, Nakamura Noshio II, Bandô Minosuke I, Iwai Kumesaburô I and Ichikawa Ebizô V. This kaomise program, which celebrates the reopening of the Nakamuraza, is a huge success.
March 1798: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Hachiman no Saburô and Chichibu no Shôji Shigetada in the drama "Wakakoma Norizome Soga".
May 1798: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Hachizô and Date no Yosaku in the drama "Katakiuchi Somewake Tazuna".
August 1798: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Yonetsuki Hachirobei, Oyamada Tamon and Ukishima Danjô Saemon in the drama "Irifune Shinoda no Dekiaki".
September 1798: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Yuranosuke and Shinoda Shôji in the dramas "Taiheiki Chûshin Kôshaku" and "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami".
November 1798: Kôshirô does not take part in the Nakamuraza kaomise.
March 1799: Kôshirô plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Ito Kurô Sukekiyo in the drama "Sukeroku Kuruwa no Hanami Doki", which commemorates the 22nd anniversary (23rd memorial service) of late Ichikawa Ebizô III. The roles of Sukeroku, Agemaki and Ikyû are played by Ichikawa Danjûrô VI, Iwai Kumesaburô I and Ichikawa Komazô III.
April 1799: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Ishidô Umanojô, Amakawaya Gihei and En'ya Hangan in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura". The roles of Kô no Moronô and Yuranosuke are played by Ichikawa Komazô III. Ichikawa Danjûrô VI, who plays the roles of Teraoka Heiemon, Ôwashi Bungo and Momoi Wakasanosuke, falls ill the 18th April and dies the 13th May. The management of the Nakamuraza decides to stop the productions up to the November kaomise.
November 1799: Kôshirô plays at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Tametomo Yumiya no Oyafune", which celebrates the shûmei of Bandô Mitsugorô III.
January 1800: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Kyô no Jirô and Chichibu no Shôji Shigetada in the new year drama "Fuji o Mimasu Saiwai Soga". This production is the last stage appearance of Iwai Hanshirô IV, a long time stage partner of Kôshirô.
May 1800: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Kajiwara Heizô Kagetoki in the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura".
November 1800: Kôshirô does not take part in any kaomise program.
November 1801: great shûmei at the Ichimuraza for the Kôraiya guild; Matsumoto Kôshirô IV, his son Ichikawa Komazô III and Ichikawa Santarô respectively take the names of Omegawa Kyôjûrô, Matsumoto Kôshirô V and Ichikawa Komazô IV. They play together in the kaomise drama "Otoko Narikeri Onna Masakado".
May 1802: Kyôjûrô appears on stage for the last time, at the Ichimuraza, playing the role of Tadayoshi in the drama "Taiheiki Chûshin Kôshaku".
Comments:
Matsumoto Kôshirô IV was one of the best tachiyaku actors of the second half of the eighteenth century, excelling as wagotoshi or jitsugotoshi. He was also a great jitsuaku (in the latter years of his life) and outstanding in sumô wrestlers or otokodate roles. He made a great career but was in trouble many times, especially after the terrible quarrels with Ichikawa Danjûrô V or Onoe Kikugorô I.
"The fourth Danjûrô took him under his patronage. He was not on friendly terms with the fifth Danjûrô, which caused a good deal of Edo gossip. The Ichimuraza could scarcely maintain itself, and the salaries of the actors were not paid. Kôshirô went to Ôsaka by ship, taking with him the Edo onnagata, Iwai Hanshirô, and someone thirsting for revenge because Kôshirô had insulted another actor, threw stones at him as he was departing. In Kyôto, where he acted, feeling was stirred up against him and he was not popular." (Zoë Kincaid in "Kabuki, the Popular Stage of Japan")
Matsumoto Kôshirô IV's best roles: Soga Jûrô Sukenari, Chichibu no Shôji Shigetada, Fujiya Izaemon, Kameya Chûbei, Obiya Chôemon, Banzui Chôbei, Matsuômaru ("Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"), Kinugawa Tanizô and Kudô Saemon Suketsune.
Matsumoto Kôshirô IV in a print made by Katsukawa Bunchô
Print made by Ippitsusai Bunchô
Print made by Ippitsusai Bunchô in 1769
Print made by Ippitsusai Bunchô in 1771
Print made by Katsukawa Shunshô (1782~1783)
Print made by Torii Kiyonaga in 1788
The Ichikawa Somegorô line of actors
The Ichikawa Komazô line of actors
The Matsumoto Kôshirô line of actors