Stage names:

Ichikawa Somegorô VII
Matsumoto Kintarô III

Other name: Matsumoto Kinshô

Real name: Fujima Terumasa

Guild: Kôraiya

Line number: SHICHIDAIME (VII)

Birthday: 8 January 1973

Connections:

Great-grandfather: Matsumoto Kôshirô VII

Grandfather: Matsumoto Hakuô

Father: Matsumoto Kôshirô IX

Career:

1978: he makes his first appearance on stage at the Kabukiza, receiving the name of Matsumoto Kintarô III.

October 1981: great name-taking ceremony at the Kabukiza for 3 generations of actors belonging to the Kôraiya guild (kôraiya sandai shûmei); Matsumoto Kôshirô VIII retires under the name of Matsumoto Hakuô, Ichikawa Somegorô VI and Matsumoto Kintarô III respectively take the names of Matsumoto Kôshirô IX and Ichikawa Somegorô VII. the new Somegorô plays the roles of Fukuyama and Rikiya in the dramas "Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura" and "Gion Ichiriki Jaya".

November 1987: Somegorô plays Hamlet.

1993: Somegorô plays Amadeus in the eponymous drama; the role of Salieri is played by his father Matsumoto Kôshirô IX.

May~June 1994: first edition of the Cocoon Kabuki, which is staged at the Shibuya Bunkamura Theater Cocoon and recreates the atmosphere of the Edo koshibai and brings the actors closer to the audience. The play "Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan" is coproduced by Nakamura Kankurô V and the playwright Kushida Kazumi; Somegorô plays the role of Naosuke Gombei [more details].

August~September 1996: second edition of the Cocoon Kabuki with the production of "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami"; Somegorô plays the role of Tamashima Isonojô [more details].

April 2005: release of Takita Yôjirô's movie "Ashura-jô no Hitomi", in which Somegorô plays the role of Wakuraba Izumo.

October 2005: release of Kurotsuchi Mitsuo's movie "Semishigure", in which Somegorô plays the role of Maki Bunshirô.

Comments:

Ichikawa Somegorô VII is a young and talented tachiyaku/nimaime actor of the Kôraiya guild.

The Ichikawa Somegorô line of actors