Stage names:
Arashi Kanshirô I
Arashi Kan'emon II
Line number: SHODAI (I)
Existence: ??? ~ 22 August 1739
Connection:
Father: Arashi Kan'emon I
Father-in-law: Arashi San'emon II
Son: Arashi Kanshirô II
Disciples: Arashi Ugenta, Arashi Kanzaburô (Arashi Kichisaburô I's master)
Son-in-laws: Nakamura Tokujûrô, Sakurayama Shirosaburô I, Sawamura Chôjûrô III
Career:
Before 1700: son of Arashi Kan'emon I, he starts his career at an early age, performing in Ôsaka under the name of Arashi Kanshirô I.
January 1700: Kanshirô plays in Ôsaka in the new year drama "Kamakura Shôgatsu Tsukai", which is produced by Arashi San'emon II.
Fall 1701: Kanshirô goes to Edo.
November 1701: Arashi Kanshirô I takes the name of Arashi Kan'emon II at the Moritaza, performing in the kaomise drama "Taiheikoku Yuzuriha no Kagami".
Fall 1706: he goes back to Ôsaka.
November 1706: Arashi Kan'emon II takes back the name of Arashi Kanshirô II, performing in Ôsaka in the kaomise drama "Kantô Koroku", which is produced by Shinozuka Jirozaemon I; his others stage partners are Otowa Jirosaburô I, Hyakunin'isshu Genzaburô, Bandô Kikumatsu I, Hanai Azuma and Onogawa Orie.
November 1713: Kanshirô plays in Ôsaka the role of Madenojô in the kaomise drama "Yoyo Meoto Tsuru no Mago" [more details], which was staged in November 1713 at Shioya Kuroemon's theater.
November 1723: Kanshirô becomes jitsuaku and plays at the Naka no Shibai the role of Tada Kurando in the kaomise drama "Chûshin Futaba no Matsu", which is produced by Matsushima Hyôtarô.
January 1724: Kanshirô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, is jô-jô (superior - superior).
November 1724: Kanshirô plays at the Ônishi no Shibai the role of Iwagaki Jûrôbei in the kaomise drama "Sembon Matsu Hi-no-De no Maizuru".
January 1725: Kanshirô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, is jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent).
November 1726: Kanshirô plays at the Kado no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Bunbu Aioi no Matsu", which is produced by Fujii Hanamatsu.
January 1727: Kanshirô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, is jô-jô-(hanshiro)kichi (superior - superior - almost excellent).
November 1727: Kanshirô plays at the Ônishi no Shibai the role of Fuwa Banzaemon in the kaomise drama "Onna Kabuki Chiyo no Hajime".
January 1728: Kanshirô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
Fall 1729: Kanshirô goes to Kyôto.
November 1729: Kanshirô becomes tachiyaku and plays the role of Suminoe Manzaemon in the kaomise drama "Fukuju Yakata Wagô no Futabashira", which is produced at Kameya Kumenojô's theater by Sakakiyama Shirotarô I.
January 1730: Kanshirô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-(hanshiro)kichi (superior - superior - almost excellent).
November 1730: Kanshirô plays in Kyôto the role of Nakatomi Tanzaemon in Sawamura Bunji's kaomise drama "Inari Yakata Manpô no Kura", which is produced by Arashi Koroku I at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater.
Fall 1731: Kanshirô goes back to Ôsaka.
November 1731: Kanshirô becomes jitsuaku and plays the role of Minatoyama Daigaku in the kaomise drama "Aioi Kikenjô", which is produced by his son Arashi Kokuseki.
January 1732: Kanshirô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, is jô-jô-(hanshiro)kichi (superior - superior - almost excellent).
Fall 1732: Kanshirô goes to Kyôto.
November 1732: Kanshirô becomes tachiyaku and plays the role of Naniwazu Kanzaemon in the kaomise drama "Hayazaki Kogane no Hanabusa".
January 1733: Kanshirô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
January 1734: Kanshirô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is a little bit lower, down to jô-jô-(hanshiro)kichi (superior - superior - almost excellent).
Fall 1734: Kanshirô goes back to Ôsaka.
November 1734: Kanshirô becomes jitsuaku and plays the role of Mochizuki Kôemon in the kaomise drama "Honchô Bugaku no Hajimari", which is produced by Iwai Hanshirô III at the Naka no Shibai.
January 1735: Kanshirô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
November 1735: Kanshirô plays the role of the rônin Nagagara Tamiemon in the kaomise drama "Toyo no Asahi Eitaigura", which is produced by Iwai Hanshirô III at the Naka no Shibai and celebrates the arrival in Ôsaka of the Edo actor Bandô Hikosaburô I.
November 1736: Kanshirô plays the role of the senior retainer Ishimaru Hideemon in the kaomise drama "Yamato Fumi Mannen no Ayatsuri", which is produced by Iwai Hanshirô III at the Kado no Shibai.
November 1737: Kanshirô plays at the Naka no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Fukakusa-no-In Sannô no Maki".
January 1738: Kanshirô appears on stage for the last time, playing in the same theater the role of Kanjûrô in the new year drama "Gonin Onna Itazuragami".
22 August 1739: Kanshirô dies in Ôsaka.
Comments:
Arashi Kanshirô I was an important jitsuaku and tachiyaku actor, who made most of his career in Kamigata from the end of the Genroku era to the Genbun era. He was excelling in budôgoto and also in aragoto, a rare feature in Kamigata, in jidaimono dramas. He was endowed with a big powerful voice and it was said at the end of his career that nobody would be talented enough to replace him as a jitsuaku!
Arashi Kanshirô I playing the role of Minatoyama Daigaku in the kaomise drama "Aioi Kikenjô", which was staged in November 1731 at the Kado no Shibai