MATSUMOTO KÔSHIRÔ V

Stage names:

Matsumoto Kôshirô V In Japanese
Ichikawa Komazô III In Japanese
Ichikawa Sumizô I In Japanese

Others names:

Matsumoto Sumizô I In Japanese
Ichikawa Sumizô I In Japanese

Guild: Kôraiya

Line number: GODAIME (V)

Poetry names: Kinshô, Kinkô

Existence: 1764 ~ 10th day of the 5th lunar month of 1838 [1]

Connection:

Father: Matsumoto Kôshirô IV

Sons: Matsumoto Kôshirô VI, Ichikawa Sumizô II

Disciples: Matsumoto Kojirô II, Matsumoto Kingo I, Matsumoto Hidejûrô II

Career:

1764: born in Edo.

1st lunar month of 1770: first stage appearance, in Edo at the Nakamuraza, where he received the name of Ichikawa Sumizô I and performed in the new year sogamono drama "Kagamigaike Omokage Soga".

11th lunar month of 1772: Ichikawa Komazô II and Ichikawa Sumizô I respectively took the names of Matsumoto Kôshirô IV and Ichikawa Komazô III at the Nakamuraza, performing in the kaomise drama "Ôyoroi Ebidô Shinozuka".

7th lunar month of 1778: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the play "Date Kurabe Okuni Kabuki"; Komazô played the role of Fuwa no Bansaku [casting].

7th lunar month of 1788: Komazô played at the Kiriza the roles of Umeômaru [illustration] and Takebe Genzô in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

11th lunar month of 1788: Komazô played at the Nakamuraza the role of Ranmaru in Sakurada Jisuke I's kaomise drama "Tôzumô Hana no Edokata", which celebrated the return in Edo of the actor Nakamura Nakazô I.

1st lunar month of 1789: Komazô played in the same theater the role of Karigane Bunshichi 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 Matsumoto Kôshirô IV (An no Heibei). The performance was successful but the audience dropped when Nakamura Nakazô I fell ill and had to be replaced.

11th lunar month of 1789: Komazô performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Komachi-mura Shibai no Shôgatsu".

1st lunar month of 1790: Komazô played in the same theater the roles of Soga Jûrô Sukenari and Danzaburô in the new year sogamono drama "Haru no Nishiki Datezome Soga"; the role of Soga Gorô Tokimune was played by Ichikawa Omezô I.

2nd lunar month of 1791: Komazô, Matsumoto Kôshirô IV, Matsumoto Yonesaburô I and Matsumoto Kojirô II joined the Kawarasakiza; Komazô played the roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune and Danzaburô in the new year sogamono drama "Hatsu Midori Saiwai Soga"; the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari was played by Bandô Mitsugorô II.

5th lunar month of 1791: Komazô played in the same theater the roles of Issun Tokubê, Hidari no Jingorô and Hanaregoma Chôkichi in Sakurada Jisuke I's drama "Onna Date Kôraiya Shima", which mixed several sekai like "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami" or "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki" worlds. Komazô's stage partner in the roles of Nuregami Chôgorô and Danshichi Kurobê was Nakamura Sukegorô II.

11th lunar month of 1791: Komazô moved to the Nakamuraza and played 3 roles, including Shirai Gonpachi, in the kaomise drama "Nidai Genji Oshi no Gôkyû"; the role of Banzui Chôbê was played by Matsumoto Kôshirô IV.

1st lunar month of 1792: Komazô played in the same theater 2 roles in the new year drama "Sumidagawa Shibai no Ennichi".

2nd lunar month of 1792: Komazô played in the same theater the role of Issun Tokubê in the drama "Sakuradai Chotto Tsuribune"; the roles of Danshichi Kurobê and Tsuribune Sabu were played by Nakamura Sukegorô II and Matsumoto Kôshirô IV. This was the last program in 1792 for the debt-ridden Nakamuraza.

11th lunar month of 1792: Komazô moved to the Ichimuraza and performed in the kaomise program "Koganegiku Date no Ôkido", which celebrated the shûmei of Segawa Yûjirô II.

5th lunar month of 1793: Komazô played in the same theater the roles of Momonoi Wakasanosuke, Jûnai and Teraoka Heiemon in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

Fall 1793: the Ichimuraza went out of business and gave its license to the Kiriza.

11th lunar month of 1793: Komazô played at the Kiriza the roles of Yorikane, Akamatsu Hikojirô and Fuwa Bansaku in the kaomise drama "Matsu no Tayû Yuki no Datezome", whose plot and characters belonged to the "Meiboku Sendai Hagi" world.

1st lunar month of 1794: Komazô played in the same theater the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari in the new year sogamono drama "Butai no Hana Wakayagi Soga".

5th lunar month of 1794: premiere at the Kiriza of Sakurada Jisuke I's drama "Katakiuchi Noriai Banashi"; Komazô played the roles of the kagokaki Hototogisu no Gorozô (in reality Shiga Daishichi) and the Shinoda yakko Tsutahei [more details].

8th lunar month of 1794: Komazô played in the same theater the role of Shunkan in the drama "Hime Komatsu Ne-no-Hi no Asobi".

11th lunar month of 1794: Komazô moved to the Kawarasakiza. His yearly salary dropped from 700 ryô to 550 ryô (this was a general salary cut for all Edo actors). He played five roles, including Shinozuka Gorô, the superhero of the "Shibaraku" scene, in the kaomise drama "Matsu no Misao Onna Kusunoki".

1st lunar month of 1795: Komazô played in the same theater the roles of Soga Jûrô Sukenari and Danzaburô in the new year sogamono drama "Shimekazari Kichirei Soga"; the role of Soga Gorô Tokimune was played by Bandô Minosuke I.

5th lunar month of 1795: Komazô played in the same theater the roles of En'ya Hangan and Teraoka Heiemon in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which commemorated the 12th anniversary (13th memorial service) of the passing away of late Onoe Kikugorô I.

9th lunar month of 1795: Komazô played in the same theater the role of Motome in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".

11th lunar month of 1795: Komazô performed at the Kawarasakiza in the kaomise drama "Fuku Botan Azuma Dairi".

3rd lunar month of 1796: Komazô played in the same theater the roles of Jûtarô and Kanpei in the drama "Taiheiki Chûshin Kôshaku".

8th lunar month of 1796: Komazô played in the same theater the roles of Ishikawa Goemon and Sasaki Ganryû in the drama "Keisei Suikoden".

11th lunar month of 1796: Komazô performed at the Kawarasakiza in the kaomise drama "Itsukushima Yuki no Kaomise".

1st lunar month of 1797: Komazô played in the same theater the roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune, Benchô and Tokura Jûnai in the new year sogamono drama "Fuji Miru Sato Yawaragi Soga"; the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari was played by Bandô Minosuke I.

3rd lunar month of 1797: Komazô played in the same theater the role of Sukeroku in the drama "Sukeroku Kuruwa no Sakurabito"; his stage partners were Matsumoto Kôshirô IV (the shirozake seller Shinbê), Nakayama Tomisaburô I (Agemaki) and Onoe Matsusuke I (Ikyû).

5th lunar month of 1797: Komazô played in the same theater the roles of Yamazaki Yogorô, Hanaregoma Chôkichi and Furuteya Hachirobê in the drama "Sekitori Shôbu no Katabira", which was similar to "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki"; the role of Chôkichi's rival Nuregami Chôgorô was played by Onoe Matsusuke I.

9th lunar month of 1797: Komazô played in the same theater the roles of Watanabe Sakyô and Shiga Daishichi in the drama "Mitsugimono Shiga no Irifune".

11th lunar month of 1797: Komazô and his father Matsumoto Kôshirô IV moved to the Nakamuraza and performed in the kaomise drama "Kaikei Kokyô no Nishikigi", sharing the stage with Ichikawa Danjûrô VI, Iwai Hanshirô IV, 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 celebrated the reopening of the Nakamuraza, was a huge success.

3rd lunar month of 1798: Komazô played in the same theater the role of Kudô Saemon Suketsune in the new year sogamono drama "Wakakoma Norizome Soga".

5th lunar month of 1798: Komazô played in the same theater the role of Washizuka Hachiheiji in the drama "Katakiuchi Somewake Tazuna".

8th lunar month of 1798: Komazô played in the same theater the roles of the spirit of Masakado and Chihara Sakon in the drama "Irifune Shinoda no Dekiaki".

9th lunar month of 1798: Komazô played in the same theater the roles of Jûtarô and Yakanpei in the dramas "Taiheiki Chûshin Kôshaku" and "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami".

11th lunar month of 1798: Komazô became jitsuaku and performed at the Nakamuraza in Fukumori Kyûsuke I's kaomise drama "Hana to Mimasu Yoshino no Miyuki".

3rd lunar month of 1799: Komazô played in the same theater the role of Ikyû in the drama "Sukeroku Kuruwa no Hanami Doki", which commemorated the 22nd anniversary (23rd memorial service) of the passing away of late Ichikawa Ebizô III; the roles of Sukeroku and Agemaki were played by Ichikawa Danjûrô VI and Iwai Kumesaburô I.

4th lunar month of 1799: Komazô played in the same theater the roles of Kô no Moronô and Yuranosuke in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura". Ichikawa Danjûrô VI, who played the roles of Teraoka Heiemon, Ôwashi Bungo and Momonoi Wakasanosuke, fell ill the 18th day of the 4th lunar month and died the 13th day of the 5th lunar month of 1799 [4]. The management of the Nakamuraza decided to stop the productions up to the 11th lunar month kaomise program.

11th lunar month of 1799: Komazô performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Tametomo Yumiya no Oyafune", which celebrated the shûmei of Bandô Mitsugorô III.

1st lunar month of 1800: Komazô played in the same theater the role of Izu no Jirô in the new year sogamono drama "Fuji o Mimasu Saiwai Soga". This production was the last stage appearance of Iwai Hanshirô IV, a long time stage partner of Komazô's father Matsumoto Kôshirô IV.

5th lunar month of 1800: Komazô played in the same theater the role of Igami no Gonta ("Sushiya") in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

5th lunar month of 1801: Komazô played at the Ichimuraza the role of Matsunaga Daizen in the drama "Gion Sairei Shinkôki"; the roles of Princess Yuki and Konoshita Tôkichi were played by Segawa Kikunojô III and Ichikawa Yaozô III.

11th lunar month of 1801: great shûmei at the Ichimuraza for the Kôraiya guild; Matsumoto Kôshirô IV, his son Ichikawa Komazô III and Ichikawa Santarô respectively took the names of Omegawa Kyôjûrô, Matsumoto Kôshirô V and Ichikawa Komazô IV. They performed together in the kaomise drama "Otoko Narikeri Onna Masakado".

1st lunar month of 1802: Kôshirô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

27th day of the 6th lunar month of 1802 [5]: his father Omegawa Kyôjûrô (Matsumoto Kôshirô IV) died in Edo.

8th lunar month of 1803: premiere at the Nakamuraza of Sakurada Jisuke I's drama "Banzui Chôbê Shôjin Manaita", which commemorated the 1st anniversary of the passing away of his father Matsumoto Kôshirô IV; Kôshirô played the role of Banzui Chôbê [casting].

9th lunar month of 1804: Namiki Gohei I's drama "Kanjin Kanmon Tekuda no Hajimari" was staged for the first time in Edo, produced by Ichimura Uzaemon XI at the Ichimuraza; Kôshirô played the roles of tsûji Kôsai Tenzô and Hamada Kôjûrô [more details].

3rd lunar month of 1808: Kôshirô played at the Ichimuraza the roles of Nikki Danjô, Yoemon and Tanizô in the drama "Date Kurabe Okuni Kabuki".

5th lunar month of 1808: Kôshirô played in the same theater the roles of Kô no Moronô, Teraoka Heiemon and Amakawaya Gihei in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

7th lunar month of 1808: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Katsu Hyôzô I's drama "Toki-mo Kikyô Shusse no Ukejô"; Kôshirô played the role of Takechi Mitsuhide [casting].

8th lunar month of 1808: Kôshirô played in the same theater two roles in the drama "Kore-ga-Katami Kôraiyajima", which commemorated the 6th anniversary (7th memorial service) of the passing away of his father Matsumoto Kôshirô IV.

11th lunar month of 1809: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Katsu Hyôzô I and Sakurada Jisuke II kaomise drama "Misao no Hana Toba no Koizuka", which celebrated the shûmei of Onoe Shôroku I and Onoe Matsusuke II; Kôshirô played the roles of Endô Musha Moritô (later the bonze Mongaku), the priest Raigô Ajari, the kagokaki Idaten no Tarohachi (in reality Osada Tarô Kagemune), Shume no Hangan Morihisa and Chinzei Hachirô Tametomo [more details].

1st lunar month of 1810: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV and Sakurada Jisuke II drama "Kokoro no Nazo Toketa Iroito"; Kôshirô played the role of Hantoki Kurobê [casting].

3rd lunar month of 1810: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Katsu Hyôzô I's drama "Kachi Zumô Ukina no Hanabure" (commonly called "Shirafuji Genta"); Kôshirô played the roles of Gonsuke and the rice dealer Sakama Denbê [casting]. The play ended with a Tomimoto-based dance entitled "Kaze Sasou Kane mo Yotsudake", starring Kôshirô, Iwai Hanshirô V and Bandô Mitsugorô III. Kôshirô also played the role of Ishikawa Goemon [illustration] in the drama "Sanmon Gosan no Kiri"; the role of Mashiba Hisayoshi was played by Suketakaya Takasuke II.

5th lunar month of 1810: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Katsu Hyôzô I and Sakurada Jisuke II drama "Ehon Gappô-ga-Tsuji"; Kôshirô played the roles of Tateba no Taheiji and Saeda Daigakunosuke [casting].

1st lunar month of 1811: Kôshirô played at the Ichimuraza the roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune, Kyô no Jirô, the rônin Hataemon and Taira no Kagekiyo in the new year sogamono drama "Mutsumashizuki Hôrai Soga".

2nd lunar month of 1811: Kôshirô played in the same theater the role of Ikyû in the drama "Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura"; the roles of Sukeroku and the courtesan Agemaki were played by Ichikawa Danjûrô VII and Iwai Hanshirô V.

7th lunar month of 1811: premiere at the Ichimuraza of "Tamamo-no-Mae Obana no Nishiki", the Kabuki adaptation of the puppet theater drama "Tamamo-no-Mae Asahi no Tamoto"; Kôshirô played the roles of In-no-Chûô, Kyûbi no Kitsune (the nine-tailed fox) and Miuranosuke Yoshiaki [more details]. It was followed by the premiere at the Ichimuraza of the drama "Nazo no Obi Chotto Tokubê"; Kôshirô played the role of Ôshima Danshichi [more details].

9th lunar month of 1811: Kôshirô played at the Ichimuraza the roles of Kawagoe Shigeyori and Igami no Gonta in the classic "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

3rd lunar month of 1813: premiere at the Moritaza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's play "Osome Hisamatsu Ukina no Yomiuri" (commonly called "Osome no Nanayaku", in English 'The Seven Roles of Osome'). The seven roles were played by Iwai Hanshirô V; Kôshirô played the roles of Kimon no Kihê and Matsumotoya Sashirô [casting].

3rd lunar month of 1814: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Sumidagawa Hana no Goshozome", commonly called "Onna Seigen"; Kôshirô played the roles of Kume no Heinai Nagamori, Yamada no Saburô Kanetsugu and Sarushima Sôta (in reality Awazu no Shichirô) [more details].

7th lunar month of 1814: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's natsu kyôgen "Imaori Hakata no Irifune"; Kôshirô played the roles of the tsûji Tsuzuki Denshichi, Nigô Hanzô, the anma Torikaji no Chôan and Fukushimaya Seibê [casting].

5th lunar month of 1815: premiere at the Kawarasakiza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Kakitsubata Iro mo Edozome" (commonly called "Oroku to Gantetsu" or "Dote no Oroku"); Kôshirô played the roles of Funabashi Jirôzaemon and Gantetsu [casting].

1st lunar month of 1816: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the new year sogamono drama "Hiyoku no Chô Haru no Soga Giku". This new year drama mixed two sekai: it was a sogamono and a gonpachi-komurasakimono. The sogamono fell into oblivion and the gonpachi-komurasakimono was staged independently under the title "Sono Kouta Yume mo Yoshiwara" ("Gonge" and "Gonjô"); Kôshirô played the roles of Ômi no Kotôta, Banzuiin Chôbê, the priest Kanshinbô and the carpenter Rokusa [more details].

3rd lunar month of 1818: Kôshirô played at the Nakamuraza the role of Banzuiin Chôbê in the drama "Banzui Chôbê Shôjin Manaita"; his partners in the roles of Shirai Gonpachi and Komurasaki were Iwai Hanshirô V and Segawa Kikunojô V.

9th lunar month of 1820: Kôshirô and Iwai Hanshirô V went together to Kamigata; Kôshirô played in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai the role of Mitsuhide in the drama "Iwai Kotobuki Chiyo no Matsumoto" (an auspicious title to welcome the 2 Edo stars). Kôshirô also played three roles in "Aburaya Osome Ukina no Yomiuri".

3rd lunar month of 1821: Kôshirô played at the Naka no Shibai the roles of Tôbê, Iwafuji and Sôta in Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Sumidagawa Hana no Goshozome".

6th lunar month of 1821: Katsu Hyôzô I's drama "Kachi Zumô Ukina no Hanabure", commonly called "Shirafuji Genta", was revived for the first time, 11 years and 3 months after its premiere in Edo, in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai; Kôshirô played the roles of Denbê and Gonsuke [casting]. He also played the role of Senoo Jûrô Kaneuji in the drama "Genpei Nunobiki no Taki"; the role of Saitô Bettô Sanemori was played by Bandô Mitsugorô III.

7th lunar month of 1821: Kôshirô played at the Naka no Shibai the role of Miki Danjô in the drama "Hagi ha Sendai Na ha Matsumoto", whose plot and characters belonged to the "Meiboku Sendai Hagi" world; the role of Hosokawa Katsumoto was played by Nakamura Utaemon III.

9th lunar month of 1821: Kôshirô played in the same theater the roles of Ishikawa Goemon, Tôkichi and Kanbei in the drama "Konoshita Kage Hazama Gassen". He also played the role of Banzui Chôbê in the drama "Tatehiki Kotoba no Hanakawado"; the roles of Shirai Gonpachi and Komurasaki were played by Iwai Hanshirô V and Arashi Koroku IV.

Fall 1821: Kôshirô went back to Edo.

11th lunar month of 1821 (end of the month): premiere at the Kawarasakiza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Imoseyama Hitome Senbon", which mixed the "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura" and "Imoseyama Onna Teikin" worlds; Kôshirô played the roles of Taira no Tomomori, Kenmotsu Tarô and Kawagoe Shigeyori [casting].

5th lunar month of 1822: Kôshirô played at the Ichimuraza the roles of Kawagoe Shigeyori, Tokaiya Ginpei, Taira no Tomomori and Igami no Gonta in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

5th lunar month of 1823: Kôshirô played at the Nakamuraza the roles of Matsuômaru and Haji no Hyôe in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

9th lunar month of 1824: Kôshirô played at the Nakamuraza the role of Kyôgoku no Takumi in the drama "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi".

1st lunar month of 1825: premiere at the Nakamuraza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's new year sogamono drama "Okuni-iri Soga Nakamura"; Kôshirô played the roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune, Banzuiin Chôbê, the hinin Yoine no Nisuke (in reality Aritake Tansuke, later Tôken Gonbê), Akazawa Jûnai (later Teranishi Kanshin) and Izu Jirozaemon Sukekane [casting].

6th lunar month of 1825: Kôshirô played at the Kawarasakiza the role of Senoo Jûrô Kaneuji in the drama "Genpei Nunobiki no Taki". He also played the role of Sasano Sangobê in Namiki Gohei I's drama "Godairiki Koi no Fûjime"; the roles of Sakuraya Koman and Satsuma Gengobê were played by Iwai Shijaku I and Ichikawa Danjûrô VII.

7th lunar month of 1825: Kôshirô played at the Nakamuraza the roles of Kô no Moronô, Sadakurô, Kakogawa Honzô and Hara Goemon in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

7th lunar month of 1825: premiere at the Nakamuraza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's ghost play "Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan"; Kôshirô played the role of Naosuke Gonbê [casting].

9th lunar month of 1825: premiere at the Nakamuraza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Kamikakete Sango Taisetsu"; Kôshirô played the roles of Satsuma Gengobê (in reality Fuwa Kazuemon) and Yasuke [casting].

9th lunar month of 1827: Kôshirô played at the Nakamuraza the roles of Naosuke Gonbê and Tamiya Iemon in the drama "Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan".

1st lunar month of 1828: revival at the Nakamuraza of the dance-drama "Oshidori" by Segawa Jokô II; Shikan played the role of Matano Gorô Kagehisa [more details].

11th lunar month of 1828: Kôshirô played at the Nakamuraza 5 roles, including Akushichibyôe Kagekiyo, in Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Motomishi Hana Otogi Heike"; his yearly salary was 600 ryô.

3rd lunar month of 1829: Kôshirô played at the Nakamuraza the roles of Kawagoe Shigeyori, Igami no Gonta and the priest Yokawa no Zenji Kakuhan in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

21st day of the 3rd lunar month of 1829 [3]: a fire broke out from the shop of Owariya Tokuemon, in the district of Kanda Sakuma-chô. It spread and destroyed the Edo theaters district. Kôshirô decided to go to Kamigata through Ise.

Summer 1829: tour in Ise.

11th lunar month of 1829: Kôshirô played at the Kitagawa no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Matsushita Kaheiji Renga Hyôban"; his stage partners were Nakamura Utaemon III, Kataoka Nizaemon VII, Ichikawa Hakuen II, Arashi Rikan II, Nakamura Matsue III, Iwai Kumesaburô II and Sawamura Kunitarô II. Kôshirô also played the role of Banzui Chôbê in the drama "Edo Shiire Ikiji no Yasuuri"; the roles of Chôbê's wife and Shirai Gonpachi were played by Iwai Kumesaburô II.

3rd lunar month of 1830: Kôshirô played at the Kado no Shibai the roles of Kô no Moronô and Hara Goemon in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

Spring ~ Summer 1830: tour in Ise, Nagoya and Tateyama with Ichikawa Hakuen II. Then, the two actors went back to Edo through the Nakasendô.

8th lunar month of 1830: Kôshirô was back in Edo and performed at the Kawarasakiza in the drama "Ichikawaya Masago no Gohiiki".

6th lunar month of 1834: Kôshirô played at the Nakamuraza the role of Naosuke Gonbê in the drama "Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan".

3rd lunar month of 1836: Kôshirô played at the Nakamuraza the roles of Momonoi Wakasanosuke and Hara Goemon in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

3rd lunar month of 1836: Kôshirô played at the Nakamuraza the roles of Gonta and Kajiwara Heizô Kagetoki in the "Ko-no-Mi" and "Sushiya" scenes of the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

8th lunar month of 1837: Kôshirô played at the Nakamuraza the roles of Kô no Moronô and Hara Goemon in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

4th ~ 5th lunar months of 1838: Kôshirô appeared on stage for the last time, at the Nakamuraza, performing in the drama "Bunbu Ryôdô Ôgi no Adauchi". He suddenly collapsed on stage.

10th day of the 5th lunar month of 1838 [1]: Kôshirô died in Edo.

Comments:

Matsumoto Kôshirô V was one of the Kabuki giants, a senryô yakusha, during the Bunka, Bunsei and Tenpô eras. In his 20's he was a tachiyaku actor excelling in nimaime roles like Soga Jûrô Sukenari in sogamono dramas. He started to perform jitsuaku roles from the 11th lunar month of 1798 and quickly became one of the best actors for villain roles, especially in Tsuruya Nanboku IV's kizewamono. He had a considerable influence on actors like Onoe Kikugorô III or Ichikawa Danjûrô VII. The kata he deviced for some of the most famous roles in Kabuki history, like Gonta ("Sushiya") or Nikki Danjô[2] ("Meiboku Sendai Hagi") were still used nowadays.

"The fifth Kôshirô had a very large nose and his eyes were close together, two facial defects the print artists were fond of depicting, so that this Edo actor is easily picked out in the pictures illustrating the theatre of this time." (Zoë Kincaid in "Kabuki, the Popular Stage of Japan")

Matsumoto Kôshirô V's best roles: Nikki Danjô ("Meiboku Sendai Hagi"), Kô no Moronô ("Kanadehon Chûshingura"), Igami no Gonta ("Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura"), Tateba no Taheiji/Saeda Daigakunosuke ("Ehon Gappô-ga-Tsuji"), Matsuômaru ("Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"), Iwafuji ("Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie"), Ikyû ("Sukeroku"), Akechi Mitsuhide ("Badarai no Mitsuhide"), Kudô Saemon Suketsune (sogamono) and Banzui Chôbê.

[1] The 10th day of the 5th lunar month of the 9th year of the Tenpô era was the 1st of July 1838 in the western calendar.

[2] The mon on Danjô's costums was always Matsumoto Kôshirô V's one.

[3] The 21st day of the 3rd lunar month of the 12th year of the Bunsei era was the 24th of April 1829 in the western calendar.

[4] The 13th day of the 5th lunar month of the 11th year of the Kansei era was the 16th of June 1799 in the western calendar.

[5] The 27th day of the 6th lunar month of the 2nd year of the Kyôwa era was the 26th of July 1802 in the western calendar.

The actor Matsumoto Kôshirô V as Ishikawa Goemon in the play "Sanmon Gosan no Kiri", performed at the Ichimura Theater in the third month, 1810
Artist: Utagawa Toyokuni I
Date: 1810
The Art Institute of Chicago (print in the public domain)

Prints & Illustrations

4 faces of the actor

Print made by Tôshûsai Sharaku in 1794

Print made by Tôshûsai Sharaku in 1794

Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1802

Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1808

Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1815

Print made by Utagawa Kunisada in 1828

Print made by Utagawa Kunisada in 1834

Print made by Utagawa Kunisada in 1838

The Matsumoto Sumizô line of actors

The Ichikawa Sumizô line of actors

The Ichikawa Komazô line of actors

The Matsumoto Kôshirô line of actors

 
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