Throughout his career, Danjūrō would hold some of the highest ranks in the hyōbanki, an annual Edo publications which evaluated actors and performances.

He is depicted in countless ukiyo-e actor prints (yakusha-e), and unlike many actors who focus on one type of role, Danjūrō excelled at many types of roles, playing heroes, villains, samurai, peasants, and beautiful women with equal skill.

The actor who would later be known as Ichikawa Danjūrō V was born in Edo (now Tokyo) in August 1741, and appeared on stage for the first time at the age of four.

His first role in a play was in 1754, at the age of thirteen, in Miura no Ōsuke Bumon no Kotobuki at the Nakamura-za in Edo.

The following year, Danjūrō became the head (座頭, zagashira) of the Morita-za troupe and left the Nakamura-za, where his father still performed.

At this point, according to the book Yakusha Sensakuron (役者詮索論, "About Actors Prying"), he was living in the town of Sakai in Sumiyoshi district, and earning 800 ryō a year.

As a result of Danjūrō's growing influence among patrons and within other elements of the kabuki world, it created enmities among a number of other actors.

Seven years later, Kōshirō IV would join Danjūrō in performing at the Kiri-za, and reconcile the dispute.

He took on the name Naritaya Shichiemon and moved to a small hut on the tiny island of Ujishima, near Mukōjima.