In March of 1930, he played the role Umeomaru in the Kurumabiki (Act III, first scene) scene of "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami" at the Meiji-za Theater under the name Somegoro ICHIKAWA V.
1930年（昭和5年）3月明治座の『菅原伝授手習鑑・車引』の梅王丸で、五代目市川染五郎を襲名。