is the stage name of a line of kabuki actors in Japan. Most of these were blood relatives, though some were adopted into the family.
KÃ
ÂshirÃ
Â, like other actors' names, is bestowed (or given up) at grand naming ceremonies called shÃ
«mei in which a number of actors formally change their names. Though the Matsumoto family is part of the Koraiya guild, there is a strong connection to the Naritaya guild and the Ichikawa family. It was not uncommon for members of the Matsumoto and Ichikawa families to take on names of both families over the course of their careers.
The design of the Matsumoto family mon, four flowers arranged in a diamond shape, is called yotsu-hana-bishi (Ã¥ÂÂã¤è±è±).
Lineage
- Matsumoto KÃ
ÂshirÃ
 I (May 1716 â March 1730) â Previously Matsumoto KoshirÃ
 (å°ÂÃ¥ÂÂéÂÂ), forced in 1716 to change his name when the shÃ
Âguns son was named KoshirÃ
Â; thus, he became the first actor to be called KÃ
ÂshirÃ
 (幸åÂÂéÂÂ), and would pass this name on.
- Matsumoto KÃ
ÂshirÃ
 II (November 1735 â October 1754, November 1770 â October 1772) â Adopted son of KÃ
ÂshirÃ
 I. Later known as Ichikawa DanjÃ
«rÃ
 IV and Ichikawa EbizÃ
 III.
- Matsumoto KÃ
ÂshirÃ
 III (November 1754 â October 1770) â Son of KÃ
ÂshirÃ
 II. Later known as Ichikawa DanjÃ
«rÃ
 V, Ichikawa EbizÃ
Â, and Ichikawa Hakuen. One of the most famous of all kabuki actors.
- Matsumoto KÃ
ÂshirÃ
 IV (November 1772 â October 1801) â Disciple of DanjÃ
«rÃ
 IV and KÃ
ÂshirÃ
 III (DanjÃ
«rÃ
 V). Previously known as Ichikawa SomegorÃ
 I, and later known as Omegawa KyÃ
ÂjÃ
«rÃ
Â.
- Matsumoto KÃ
ÂshirÃ
 V (November 1801 â May 1838) â Son of KÃ
ÂshirÃ
 IV. Famous for his skill at villain roles.
- Matsumoto KÃ
ÂshirÃ
 VI (March 1844 â October 1846) â Son of KÃ
ÂshirÃ
 V. Later known as Matsumoto KinshÃ
 I.
- Ichikawa EbizÃ
 V â Arguably the most popular actor of the 19th century. Held the name KÃ
ÂshirÃ
 in 1855, but is not counted (numbered) in the lineage.
- Matsumoto KÃ
ÂshirÃ
 VII (November 1911 â January 1949) â Disciple of DanjÃ
«rÃ
 IX. One of the most famous tachiyaku of the first half of the 20th century (Real Name: KintarÃ
 Fujima, Nihongo: è¤éÂÂéÂÂ太éÂÂ, Fujima KintarÃ
Â).
- Matsumoto KÃ
ÂshirÃ
 VIII (September 1949 â September 1981) â Second son of KÃ
ÂshirÃ
 VII. Later known as HakuÃ
 I. Arguably the leading tachiyaku of the post-war era (Real Name: JunjirÃ
 Fujima, Nihongo: è¤éÂÂé Â次éÂÂ, Fujima JunjirÃ
Â).
- Matsumoto KÃ
ÂshirÃ
 IX (October 1981 â December 2017) â Son of KÃ
ÂshirÃ
 VIII. Performs in Western-style theater and film as well. Later known as HakuÃ
 II (Real Name: Teruaki Fujima, Nihongo: è¤éÂÂæÂÂæÂÂ, Fujima Teruaki).
- Matsumoto KÃ
ÂshirÃ
 X (January 2018 â present) â Son of KÃ
ÂshirÃ
 IX. Current holder of the name (Real Name: Terumasa Fujima, Nihongo: è¤éÂÂçÂ
§è«, Fujima Terumasa).
Notes
References