ɪn sɛptˈɛmbɚ wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti ˈeɪt, hɪz ɐdˈɑːptɪv fˈɑːðɚ wʌz kˈɪld baɪ ɐ θˈiːf; ɡəndʒjˈʊɹɹoʊ wʊd bɪkˌʌm hˈɛd zˌæɡɐʃˈiəɹə ʌvðə θˈiəɾɚ ðə fˈɑːloʊɪŋ jˈɪɹ, tˈeɪkɪŋ hɪz mˈɜːdɚd fˈɑːðɚz nˈeɪm, ænd bᵻkˈʌmɪŋ kˌæwɔːɹɐsˈæki ɡˈɑːnəsˌuːk ɹˌoʊmən sˈɛvən.
In September 1868, his adoptive father was killed by a thief; Gonjūrō would become head (zagashira) of the theater the following year, taking his murdered father's name, and becoming Kawarasaki Gonnosuke VII.