Naga Matsumoto

Noh actor. Shite actor of the Hosho school. Born in Shizuoka Prefecture. Second son of Matsumoto Kingoro, a leading figure in the Meiji Noh world. Moved to Tokyo at the age of five and performed as a child actor in the Noh performances for Emperor Meiji. Later, he became a disciple of the master Hosho Kuro (16th generation), underwent rigorous training, and was destined to inherit the Hosho school. He was praised as a peer of his fellow student Noguchi Kanesuke, and was a master of high tone and power. He died suddenly while singing "Kuzu" at a Waseda University poetry gathering. His collection of artistic talks includes "Shoin Hiwa." His eldest son, Takashi (pen name Takashi), was famous as a haiku poet, and is known for the haiku "My father is drunk and keeps hitting the fire bucket." His second son, Shigeo (1915-2003), made his debut in 1936 (Showa 11), and went on to become a central figure in the world of Noh, being designated a holder of an Important Intangible Cultural Property (Living National Treasure) in 1991 (Heisei 3). Incidentally, the painter Shimomura Kanzan and the writer Izumi Kyoka were Matsumoto Cho's cousins.

[Masuda Shozo]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

能役者。宝生(ほうしょう)流シテ方。静岡県に生まれる。明治能楽界の重鎮松本金五郎の次男。5歳で上京、明治天皇行幸能に子方などを勤め、のちに名人宝生九郎（16世）の門に入り、その厳しい稽古(けいこ)を受け、宝生宗家を継承することにもなっていた。同門の野口兼資(かねすけ)と双璧(そうへき)とうたわれ、格調高く力感にあふれた名人。早稲田(わせだ)大学の謡会で『国栖(くず)』を謡っていて急逝。芸談集に『松韻秘話』がある。長男の孝(たかし)（筆名たかし）は俳人として名高く、「父酔ふてしきりに叩(たた)く火桶哉(ひおけかな)」の句がある。次男の恵雄(しげお)（1915―2003）は、1936年（昭和11）初舞台を踏み、その後、能楽界の中心人物となり91年（平成3）には重要無形文化財保持者（人間国宝）に認定された。なお画家の下村観山、作家の泉鏡花は松本長のいとこにあたる。

［増田正造］

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