During the Taisho period (1912-1926), Masakazu became a disciple of the 24th generation hereditary head of the Kanze family, and he succeeded Hiroyuki YAMAMOTO who contributed to the diffusion of Noh drama in Osaka such as building the Yamamoto Noh Theatre (located in Chuo-ku, Osaka City) in the early Showa period (1926-1989).
大正時代に二十四世観世宗家に入門し、昭和初期に山本能楽堂（大阪市中央区）を建設するなど能楽の大阪での普及に貢献した先代の山本博之の後を継いだ。