Stage names:

Ichikawa Aragorô IV
Ichikawa Aratarô I
Ichikawa Nanzaburô

Real name: Ichikawa Nanzaburô

Guild: Mikawaya

Line number: YODAIME (IV)

Poetry name: Shigan

Existence: 6 March 1861 ~ 17 May 1930

Connections:

Father: Ichikawa Aragorô III

Son: Ichikawa Aratarô II

Career:

6 March 1861: born in Ôsaka, near the Sakurabashi bridge in Dôjima.

October 1869: first stage appearance, at the Inari no Shibai in Ôsaka, where he plays the role of Kôemon's son Kômatsu in the drama "Tengajaya".

1875: Ichikawa Nanzaburô takes the name of Ichikawa Aratarô I.

May 1882: Aratarô plays at the Takashimaza (Ôsaka) the roles of Motoemon and Mansuke in the drama "Tengajaya"; the roles of Hayase Iori and Tôma Saburôemon are played by Nakamura Ganjirô I and Matsuo Ennosuke.

24 February 1906: his father Ichikawa Aragorô III dies.

September 1906: Ichikawa Aratarô I takes the name of Ichikawa Aragorô IV in Ôsaka at the Bentenza, playing the roles of Mitsuhide and Tokuemon in "Myôshinji" and "Asagao Nikki".

1907: his son receives the name of Ichikawa Aratarô II.

December 1925: his son Ichikawa Aratarô II dies.

17 May 1930: Aragorô dies in Ôsaka.

Comments:

Ichikawa Aragorô IV was a katakiyaku actor, who made all his career in Kamigata koshibai from the beginning of the Meiji era to the beginning of the Shôwa era. His most famous performances were in roles like Ikuta Denhachirô ("Katakiuchi Sôzenji Baba"), Tatara Shindôzaemon ("Imorizake") or Adachi Motoemon ("Tengajaya").

Ichikawa Aragorô IV