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.
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.