In October of 1981, he passed name 'Koshiro MATSUMOTO' to his eldest son who became 'Koshiro MATSUMOTO IX' and changed his own name to 'Hakuo MATSUMOTO.'
1981年（昭和56年）10月、「松本幸四郎」の名跡を長男の松本幸四郎(9代目)に譲り、自らは「松本白鸚」を襲名。