Stage names:

Matsumoto Kojirô
Matsumoto Hidejûrô I

Guild: Kôraiya

Poetry name: Danshô

Existence: ??? ~ 19th day of the 1st lunar month of 1826

Connection:

Masters: Matsumoto Kôshirô V, Matsumoto Kôshirô IV, Matsumoto Kôshirô III, Matsumoto Kôshirô II

Adopted son: Matsumoto Yonesaburô I

Career:

Beginning of the 1750s: he becomes disciple of Matsumoto Kôshirô II and receives the name of Matsumoto Hidejûrô I.

11th lunar month of 1759: Hidejûrô makes his debuts on stage in the 11th lunar month at the Moritaza, performing as a tachiyaku in the kaomise drama "Toki Tsukaze Heike Monogatari".

1st lunar month of 1769: Hidejûrô becomes katakiyaku and plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Nitta no Shirô in the new year drama "Soga Moyô Aigo no Wakamatsu".

11th lunar month of 1773: Matsumoto Hidejûrô I becomes jitsuaku and takes the name of Matsumoto Kojirô at the Ichimuraza, playing the role of Sumida Kurando Yukitsuna in the kaomise drama "Kaeri Kiso Kigoto no Hatsumono", which celebrates the shûmei of Ichikawa Danzô IV.

1st lunar month of 1774: Kojirô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, is jô-jô (superior - superior) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1777: Kojirô performs at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Chigo Torii Tobiiri Kitsune".

1st lunar month of 1778: Kojirô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, katakiyaku section, is jô-jô-(shiro)hankichi (superior - superior - (white) half excellent) [visual].

6th lunar month of 1809: premiere at the Moritaza of Katsu Hyôzô I's drama "Okuni Gozen Keshô no Sugatami"; Kojirô the roles of Suruga Zenji Hisakuni, Kasane's mother Myôrin and the waiting maid Takekawa [casting].

3rd lunar month of 1814: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Sumidagawa Hana no Goshozome", commonly called "Onna Seigen"; Kojirô plays the role of Kariganeya's young man Gonshichi [more details].

11th lunar month of 1825: Kojirô appears on stage for the last time, at the Ichimuraza, where he plays the role of Kawahisa Jirô in the drama "Azuma Dairi Kabuki no Shôgatsu".

19th day of the 1st lunar month of 1826: Kojirô dies in Edo.

Comments:

Matsumoto Kojirô was active in Edo from the Hôreki era to the Bunsei era. He was a katakiyaku/jitsuaku supporting actor. He did not achieve stardom (his best ranking was jô-jô-hankichi) but he spent a long career serving with efficiency several generations of Masters of the Kôraiya guild.

The actors Ichikawa Benzô III (middle), Matsumoto Kojirô (center) and Onoe Eizaburô I (right) playing the roles of the waiting maid Yorio, the waiting maid Takekawa and the zatô Oto no Ichi in the drama "Okuni Gozen Keshô no Sugatami", which was staged in the 6th lunar month of 1809 at the Moritaza