Matsumoto Kōshirō IX

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Matsumoto Kōshirō IX 九代目松本幸四郎
Born	Teruaki Fujima^[1] 19 August 1942(1942-08-19) Tokyo, Japan
Other name(s)	Kōraiya, Ichikawa Somegorō VI, Matsumoto Kintarō II

Matsumoto Kōshirō IX (九代目松本幸四郎)(b. 19 August 1942) is a Japanese kabuki actor, one of the most popular tachiyaku (specialist in male roles) currently performing.

Like many members of the kabuki community, he can trace his lineage back several generations, many members of his family being kabuki actors as well. His father and grandfather were the eighth and seventh, respectively, to hold the name of Matsumoto Kōshirō, and he traces his lineage back to his great-great-grandfather Nakamura Karoku I, if not further. Kōshirō's brother, Nakamura Kichiemon II, and son Ichikawa Somegorō VII are active in the kabuki theater as well, and his daughter, Takako Matsu is an experienced film actress. In addition, Kōshirō has a number of disciples, including Matsumoto Kingo III, Matsumoto Kōemon I, and Ichikawa Komazō XI.

[edit] Life and Career

He made his stage debut in 1945, at the age of three, under the name Matsumoto Kintarō II, and took the name Ichikawa Somegorō VI four years later. He succeeded his father to the name Matsumoto Kōshirō in 1981.

A graduate of Waseda University, and a versatile actor, Kōshirō IX has performed extensively not only in kabuki, but in Western stage plays, film, and television. He has played, among many other roles, Benkei in Kanjinchō, Kōchiyama Sōshun in Kōchiyama, Kumagai Jirō Naozane in Kumagai Jinya, and Matsuōmaru in Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami.

In 1970, Kōshirō appeared in the lead role in Man of La Mancha on Broadway in New York. Also, he has appeared as the King of Siam in The King and I in the West End in London. Other stage roles have included Motl in Fiddler on the Roof, the title role in Sweeney Todd, Salieri in Amadeus, Kitagawa Utamaro in the musical Utamaro, and Zeami Motokiyo in Musical Zeami.

His film credits include Emperor Hirohito in Japan's Longest Day (日本の一番長い日, Nihon no ichiban nagai hi), in which famous actor Toshiro Mifune played General Korechika Anami, Ii Naosuke in Samurai Assassin (侍, Samurai), and a number of other jidaigeki (samurai period films).

[edit] Note

^ While the stage names of all kabuki actors have retained traditional order (Surname-Givenname) on Wikipedia, birth names of those born after the Meiji Restoration are in Western order (Givenname-Surname).