Matsumoto Kōshirō is the stage name of a line of kabuki

Kabuki

is classical Japanese dance-drama. Kabuki theatre is known for the stylization of its drama and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers.The individual kanji characters, from left to right, mean sing , dance , and skill...

 actors in Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

. Most of these were blood relatives, though some were adopted into the family.

Kōshirō, like other actors' names, is bestowed (or given up) at grand naming ceremonies called shūmei

Shumei

Shūmei are grand naming ceremonies held in Kabuki theatre. Most often, a number of actors will participate in a single ceremony, taking on new stage-names....

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

Mon (badge)

, also , , and , are Japanese emblems used to decorate and identify an individual or family. While mon is an encompassing term that may refer to any such device, kamon and mondokoro refer specifically to emblems used to identify a family....

, four flowers arranged in a diamond shape, is called yotsu-hana-bishi (四つ花菱).

Lineage

• Matsumoto Kōshirō I (May 1716 - March 1730) - Previously Matsumoto Koshirō (小四郎), forced in 1716 to change his name when the Shogun
  Shogun
  A was one of the hereditary military dictators of Japan from 1192 to 1867. In this period, the shoguns, or their shikken regents , were the de facto rulers of Japan though they were nominally appointed by the emperor...
  
  's son was named Koshirō; thus, he became the first actor to be called Kōshirō (幸四郎), and would pass this name on.
• Matsumoto Kōshirō II (November 1735 - October 1754, November 1770 - October 1772) - Adopted son of Kōshirō I. Later known as Ichikawa Danjūrō IV and Ichikawa Ebizō III.
• Matsumoto Kōshirō III
  Ichikawa Danjuro V
  Ichikawa Danjūrō V , also known as Ichikawa Ebizō, was one of the most famous and popular Kabuki actors of all time. Throughout his career, Danjūrō would hold some of the highest ranks in the hyōbanki, an annual Edo publications which evaluated actors and performances...
  
   (November 1754 - October 1770) - Son of Kōshirō II. Later known as Ichikawa Danjūrō V, Ichikawa Ebizō, and Ichikawa Hakuen. One of the most famous of all kabuki actors.
• Matsumoto Kōshirō IV (November 1772 - October 1801) - Disciple of Danjūrō IV and Kōshirō III (Danjūrō V). Previously known as Ichikawa Somegorō I, and later known as Omegawa Kyōjūrō. Famous for his skill at villain roles.
• Matsumoto Kōshirō V (November 1801 - May 1838) - Son of Kōshirō IV.
• Matsumoto Kōshirō VI (March 1844 - October 1846) - Grandson of Kōshirō IV. Later known as Matsumoto Kinshō I.
• Ichikawa Ebizō V
  Ichikawa Ebizo V
  Ichikawa Danjūrō VII was a Japanese kabuki actor who specialized in male hero roles, said to be the greatest of the 19th century...
  
   - Arguably the most popular actor of the 19th century. Held the name Kōshirō in 1855, but is not counted (numbered) in the lineage.
• Matsumoto Kōshirō VII
  Matsumoto Koshiro VII
  Matsumoto Kōshirō VII was one of the leading tachiyaku Kabuki actors of Japan's Meiji period through the late 1940s.-Names:...
  
   (November 1911 - January 1949) - Disciple of Danjūrō IX
  Ichikawa Danjuro IX
  Ichikawa Danjūrō IX was one of the most successful and famous Kabuki actors of the Meiji period ....
  
  .
• Matsumoto Kōshirō VIII
  Matsumoto Hakuo I
  , born , was a Japanese Kabuki actor, regarded as the leading tachiyaku of the postwar decades; he also performed in a number of non-kabuki venues, including Western theatre and films...
  
   (September 1949 - September 1981) - Son of Kōshirō VII. Later known as Hakuō I.
• Matsumoto Kōshirō IX
  Matsumoto Koshiro IX
  is a Japanese kabuki actor, one of the most popular tachiyaku 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...
  
  (October 1981–present) - Son of Kōshirō VIII. Current bearer of the name Kōshirō. Performs in Western-style theater and film as well.