Under the name Ichikawa Kintarō, he debuted in 1881, at age eleven. He grew up to become Danjuro's best disciple. The young Kintaro was indiscreet and featured in many escapades, angering his master. He was expelled from the Ichikawa clan. For a long time it was thought he would never return to the stage. He was later forgiven and by April 1890 returned to the stage and took the name Ichikawa Somegorō IV. In 1893 he took part in the opening ceremonies of Tokyo's Meiji-za theatre.