Stage names:
Matsumoto Kôshirô V
Ichikawa Komazô III
Ichikawa Sumizô I
Guild: Kôraiya
Line number: GODAIME (V)
Poetry names: Kinshô, Kinkô
Existence: 1764 ~ 10 May 1838
Connection:
Father: Matsumoto Kôshirô IV
Sons: Matsumoto Kôshirô VI, Ichikawa Sumizô II
Career:
January 1770: first stage appearance at the Nakamuraza; he receives the name of Ichikawa Sumizô I and plays in the new year sogamono "Kagamigaike Omokage Soga".
November 1772: Ichikawa Komazô II and Ichikawa Sumizô I respectively take the names of Matsumoto Kôshirô IV and Ichikawa Komazô III at the Nakamuraza, playing in the kaomise drama "Ôyoroi Ebidô Shinozuka".
July 1778: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the play "Date Kurabe Okuni Kabuki"; Komazô plays the role of Fuwa no Bansaku [casting].
November 1788: Komazô 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: Komazô plays 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 is successful but the audience drops when Nakamura Nakazô I falls ill and has to be replaced.
November 1789: Komazô plays at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Komachimura Shibai no Shôgatsu".
January 1790: Komazô plays in the same theater the roles of Soga Jûrô Sukenari and Danzaburô in the new year drama "Haru no Nishiki Datezome Soga"; the role of Soga Gorô Tokimune is played by Ichikawa Omezô I.
February 1791: Komazô, Matsumoto Kôshirô IV, Matsumoto Yonesaburô I and Matsumoto Kojirô join the Kawarazakiza; Komazô plays the roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune and Danzaburô in the new year drama "Hatsu Midori Saiwai Soga"; the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari is played by Bandô Mitsugorô II.
May 1791: Komazô plays in the same theater the roles of Issun Tokubei, Hidari no Jingorô and Hanaregoma Chôkichi in Sakurada Jisuke I's drama "Onna Date Kôraiya Shima", which mixes 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 Kurobei is Nakamura Sukegorô II.
November 1791: Komazô moves to the Nakamuraza and plays 3 roles, including Shirai Gompachi, in the kaomise drama "Nidai Genji Oshi no Gôkyû"; the role of Banzui Chôbei is played by Matsumoto Kôshirô IV.
January 1792: Komazô plays in the same theater 2 roles in the new year drama "Sumidagawa Shibai no Ennichi".
February 1792: Komazô plays in the same theater the role of Issun Tokubei in the drama "Sakuradai Chotto Tsuribune"; the roles of Danshichi Kurobei and Tsuribune Sabu are played by Nakamura Sukegorô II and Matsumoto Kôshirô IV. This is the last program in 1792 for the debt-ridden Nakamuraza.
November 1792: Komazô moves to the Ichimuraza and plays in the kaomise program "Koganegiku Date no Ôkido".
May 1793: Komazô plays in the same theater the roles of Momoi Wakasanosuke, Jûnai and Teraoka Heiemon in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
Fall 1793: the Ichimuraza goes out of business and gives its license to the Kiriza.
November 1793: Komazô plays 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 belong to the "Meiboku Sendai Hagi" world.
January 1794: Komazô plays in the same theater the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari in the new year drama "Butai no Hana Wakayagi Soga".
August 1794: Komazô plays in the same theater the role of Shunkan in the drama "Hime Komatsu Ne-no-Hi no Asobi".
November 1794: Komazô moves to the Kawarazakiza. His yearly salary drops from 700 ryô to 550 ryô (this is a general salary cut for all Edo actors). He plays five roles, including Shinozuka Gorô, the superhero of the "Shibaraku" scene, in the kaomise drama "Matsu no Misao Onna Kusunoki".
January 1795: Komazô plays in the same theater the roles of Soga Jûrô Sukenari and Danzaburô in the new year drama "Shimekazari Kichirei Soga"; the role of Soga Gorô Tokimune is played by Bandô Minosuke I.
May 1795: Komazô plays in the same theater the roles of En'ya Hangan and Teraoka Heiemon in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which commemorates the the 12th anniversary (13th memorial service) of late Onoe Kikugorô I.
September 1795: Komazô plays in the same theater the role of Motome in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".
November 1795: Komazô plays at the Kawarazakiza in the kaomise program "Fuku Botan Azuma Dairi".
March 1796: Komazô plays in the same theater the roles of Jûtarô and Kampei in the drama "Taiheiki Chûshin Kôshaku".
August 1796: Komazô plays in the same theater the roles of Ishikawa Goemon and Sasaki Ganryû in the drama "Keisei Suikoden".
November 1796: Komazô plays at the Kawarazakiza in the kaomise drama "Itsukushima Yuki no Kaomise".
January 1797: Komazô plays in the same theater the roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune, Benchô and Tokura Jûnai in the new year drama "Fuji Miru Sato Yawaragi Soga"; the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari is played by Bandô Minosuke I.
March 1797: Komazô plays in the same theater the role of Sukeroku in the drama "Sukeroku Kuruwa no Sakurabito". His stage partners are Matsumoto Kôshirô IV (the sake seller Shimbei), Nakayama Tomisaburô I (Agemaki) and Onoe Matsusuke I (Ikyû).
May 1797: Komazô plays in the same theater the roles of Yamazaki Yogorô, Hanaregoma Chôkichi and Furuteya Hachirobei in the drama "Sekitori Shôbu no Katabira", which is similar to "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki". The role of Chôkichi's rival Nuregami Chôgorô is played by Onoe Matsusuke I.
September 1797: Komazô plays in the same theater the roles of Watanabe Sakyô and Shiga Daishichi in the drama "Mitsugimono Shiga no Irifune".
November 1797: Komazô and his father Matsumoto Kôshirô IV move to the Nakamuraza and play 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 celebrates the reopening of the Nakamuraza, is a huge success.
March 1798: Komazô plays in the same theater the role of Kudô Saemon Suketsune in the drama "Wakakoma Norizome Soga".
May 1798: Komazô plays in the same theater the role of Washizuka Yaheiji in the drama "Katakiuchi Somewake Tazuna".
August 1798: Komazô plays in the same theater the roles of the spirit of Masakado and Chihara Sakon in the drama "Irifune Shinoda no Dekiaki".
September 1798: Komazô plays in the same theater the roles of Jûtarô and Yakampei in the dramas "Taiheiki Chûshin Kôshaku" and "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami".
November 1798: Komazô becomes jitsuaku and plays at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise program "Hana to Mimasu Yoshino no Miyuki".
March 1799: Komazô plays in the same theater the role of Ikyû 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 and Agemaki are played by Ichikawa Danjûrô VI and Iwai Kumesaburô I.
April 1799: Komazô plays in the same theater the roles of Kô no Moronô and Yuranosuke in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura". 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: Komazô plays at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Tametomo Yumiya no Oyafune", which celebrates the shûmei of Bandô Mitsugorô III.
January 1800: Komazô plays in the same theater the role of Izu no Jirô 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 Komazô's father Matsumoto Kôshirô IV.
May 1800: Komazô plays in the same theater the role of Igami no Gonta ("Sushiya") in the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura".
May 1801: Komazô plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Matsunaga Daizen in the drama "Gion Sairei Shinkôki"; the roles of Princess Yuki and Konoshita Tôkichi are played by Segawa Kikunojô III and Ichikawa Yaozô III.
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".
January 1802: Kôshirô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
August 1803: premiere at the Nakamuraza of Sakurada Jisuke I's drama "Banzui Chôbei Shôjin Manaita", which commemorates the 1st anniversary of the death of Matsumoto Kôshirô IV; Kôshirô plays the role of Banzui Chôbei [casting].
March 1808: Kôshirô plays at the Ichimuraza the roles of Nikki Danjô, Yoemon and Tanizô in the drama "Date Kurabe Okuni Kabuki".
May 1808: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Kô no Moronô, Teraoka Heiemon and Amakawaya Gihei in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
July 1808: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Toki-mo Kikyô Shusse no Ukejô"; Kôshirô plays the role of Takechi Mitsuhide [casting].
August 1808: Kôshirô plays in the same theater two roles in the drama "Kore-ga-Katami Kôraiyajima", which commemorates the 6th anniversary (7th memorial service) of the death of Matsumoto Kôshirô IV.
January 1810: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Tsuruya Namboku IV and Sakurada Jisuke II drama "Kokoro no Nazô Toketa Iroito". The main roles are played by Onoe Matsusuke II, Iwai Hanshirô V and Kôshirô.
March 1810: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Kachi Zumô Ukina no Hanabure" (commonly called "Shirafuji Genta"); Kôshirô plays the roles of Gonsuke and the rice dealer Sakama Dembei [casting]. The play ends with a Tomimoto-based dance called "Kaze Sasou Kane mo Yotsudake", starring Kôshirô, Iwai Hanshirô V and Bandô Mitsugorô III. Kôshirô also plays the role of Ishikawa Goemon in the drama "Sanmon Gosan no Kiri"; the role of Mashiba Hisayoshi is played by Suketakaya Takasuke II.
May 1810: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Tsuruya Namboku IV and Sakurada Jisuke II drama "Ehon Gappô-ga-Tsuji"; Kôshirô plays the roles of Tateba no Taheiji and Saeda Daigakunosuke [casting].
February 1811: Kôshirô plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Ikyû in the drama "Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura"; the roles of Sukeroku and the courtesan Agemaki are played by Ichikawa Danjûrô VII and Iwai Hanshirô V.
July 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 plays the roles of In-no-Chûô, Kyûbi no Kitsune (the nine-tailed fox) and Miuranosuke Yoshiaki [more details].
September 1811: Kôshirô plays at the Ichimuraza the roles of Kawagoe Tarô and Igami no Gonta in the classic "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura".
March 1814: premiere of Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Sumidagawa Hana no Goshozome" (commonly called "Onna Seigen", in English "The female Seigen") at the Ichimuraza, starring Kôshirô, Ichikawa Danjûrô VII and Iwai Hanshirô V.
May 1815: premiere of Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Kakitsubata Iro mo Edozome" (commonly called "Oroku to Gantetsu") at the Kawarazakiza, starring Kôshirô, Ichikawa Danjûrô VII, Bandô Mitsugorô III and Iwai Hanshirô V.
March 1818: Kôshirô plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Banzuiin Chôbei in the drama "Banzui Chôbei Shôjin Manaita". His partners in the roles of Shirai Gompachi and Komurasaki are Iwai Hanshirô V and Segawa Kikunojô V.
September 1820: Kôshirô and Iwai Hanshirô V go together to Kamigata. Kôshirô plays 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). He also plays three roles in "Aburaya Osome Ukina no Yomiuri".
March 1821: Kôshirô plays at the Naka no Shibai the roles of Tôbei, Iwafuji and Sôta in Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Sumidagawa Hana no Goshozome".
June 1821: Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Kachi Zumô Ukina no Hanabure", commonly called "Shirafuji Genta", is revived for the first time, 11 years and 3 months after its premiere in Edo, in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai; Kôshirô plays the roles of Dembei and Gonsuke [casting]. He also plays the role of Senoo Jûrô Kaneuji in the drama "Gempei Nunobiki no Taki"; the role of Saitô Bettô Sanemori is played by Bandô Mitsugorô III.
July 1821: Kôshirô plays at the Naka no Shibai the role of Miki Danjô in the drama "Hagi ha Sendai Na ha Matsumoto", whose plot and characters belong to the "Meiboku Sendai Hagi" world; the role of Hosokawa Katsumoto is played by Nakamura Utaemon III.
September 1821: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Ishikawa Goemon, Tôkichi and Kambei in the drama "Konoshita Kage Hazama Gassen". He also plays the role of Banzui Chôbei in the drama "Tatehiki Kotoba no Hanakawado"; the roles of Shirai Gompachi and Komurasaki are played by Iwai Hanshirô V and Arashi Koroku IV.
Fall 1821: Kôshirô goes back to Edo.
November 1821 (end of the month): premiere at the Kawarazakiza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Imoseyama Hitome Sembon", which mixes the "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura" and "Imoseyama Onna Teikin" worlds; Kôshirô plays the roles of Taira no Tomomori, Kenmotsu Tarô and Kawagoe Tarô [casting].
May 1822: Kôshirô plays at the Ichimuraza the roles of Kawagoe Tarô, Tokaiya Gimpei, Taira no Tomomori and Igami no Gonta in the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura".
May 1823: Kôshirô plays at the Nakamuraza the roles of Matsuômaru and Haji no Hyôei in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".
September 1824: Kôshirô plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Kyôgoku no Takumi in the drama "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi".
June 1825: Kôshirô plays at the Kawarazakiza the role of Senoo Jûrô Kaneuji in the drama "Gempei Nunobiki no Taki". He also plays the role of Sasano Sangobei in Namiki Gohei I's drama "Godairiki Koi no Fûjime"; the roles of Sakuraya Koman and Satsuma Gengobei are played by Iwai Shijaku I and Ichikawa Danjûrô VII.
July 1825: Kôshirô plays at the Nakamuraza the roles of Kô no Moronô, Sadakurô, Kakogawa Honzô and Hara Goemon in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
July 1825: premiere at the Nakamuraza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's ghost play "Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan"; Kôshirô plays the role of Naosuke Gombei [casting].
September 1825: premiere at the Nakamuraza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Kamikakete Sango Taisetsu"; Kôshirô plays the roles of Satsuma Gengobei (in reality Fuwa Kazuemon) and Yasuke [casting].
September 1827: Kôshirô plays at the Nakamuraza the roles of Naosuke Gombei and Tamiya Iemon in the drama "Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan".
November 1828: Kôshirô plays at the Nakamuraza 5 roles, including Akushichibyôei Kagekiyo, in the drama "Motomishi Hana Otogi Heike"; his yearly salary is 600 ryô.
March 1829: Kôshirô plays at the Nakamuraza the roles of Kawagoe Tarô, Igami no Gonta and the priest Yokawa no Zenji Kakuhan in the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura".
21 March 1829: a fire breaks out from the shop of Owariya Tokuemon, in the district of Kanda Sakuma-chô. It spreads and destroys the Edo theaters district. Kôshirô decides to go to Kamigata through Ise.
Summer 1829: tour in Ise.
November 1829: Kôshirô plays at the Kitagawa no Shibai in the drama "Matsushita Kaheiji Renga Hyôban". His stage partners are Nakamura Utaemon III, Kataoka Nizaemon VII, Ichikawa Hakuen, Arashi Rikan II, Nakamura Matsue III, Iwai Kumesaburô II and Sawamura Kunitarô II. Kôshirô also plays the role of Banzui Chôbei in the drama "Edo Shiire Ikiji no Yasuuri"; the roles of Chôbei's wife and Shirai Gompachi are played by Iwai Kumesaburô II.
April ~ May 1830: tour in Ise.
March 1830: Kôshirô plays at the Kado no Shibai the roles of Kô no Moronô and Hara Goemon in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
August 1830: Kôshirô is back in Edo and plays at the Kawarazakiza in the drama "Ichikawaya Masago no Gohiiki".
June 1834: Kôshirô plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Naosuke Gombei in the drama "Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan".
March 1836: Kôshirô plays at the Nakamuraza the roles of Momoi Wakasanosuke and Hara Goemon in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
March 1836: Kôshirô plays at the Nakamuraza the roles of Gonta and Kajiwara Heizô Kagetoki in the "Ko-no-Mi" and "Sushiya" scenes of the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura".
August 1837: Kôshirô plays at the Nakamuraza the roles of Kô no Moronô and Hara Goemon in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
April ~ May 1838: Kôshirô appears on stage for the last time, at the Nakamuraza, playing in the drama "Bunbu Ryôdô Ôgi no Adauchi". He suddenly collapses on stage and dies the 10th May.
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 November 1798 and quickly became one of the best actors for villain roles, especially in Tsuruya Namboku 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* ("Meiboku Sendai Hagi") are 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 Sembon 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 Chôbei.
(*) the mon on Danjô's costums is always Matsumoto Kôshirô V's one.
Matsumoto Kôshirô V portraying Nikki Danjô in a print made by Utagawa Kunisada I
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 Ichikawa Komazô line of actors
The Matsumoto Kôshirô line of actors