Background
Soganoya Juro was born in 1869 in Matsusaka, Mie, Japan.
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Soganoya Juro
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also known as
Fukumatsu Omatsu
Career
After playing insignificant parts as an obscure kabuki actor for more than 10 years, Soganoya organized a comic theatrical troupe in 1903 together with Sannosuke Nakamura, another kabuki actor. Their comedies were suggested by niwaka, a kind of farce which was then prevalent in Osaka. Fukumatsu and Sennosuke called themselves Juro and Goro Soganoya, respectively, after the famous Soga : brothers who avenged themselves on their father's enemy. Their company was at one time so unsuccessful during a performing tour that they were employed by the kabuki troupe of Fukuen Nakamura as playwrights. Kokkei Kanjincho, a parody on a classic kabuki play which they wrote, was such a hit that they were enabled to play at the Naniwaza Theater in Osaka (1904). The Soganoya troupe subsequently played at large theaters not only in Osaka but also in Tokyo. After 1910 Juro and Goro led separate troupes of comedians.
