Stage names:
Arashi Koroku IV
Kanô Minshi I
Arashi San'emon VIII
Arashi Iwajirô II
Other name: Kanô San'emon I
Guild: Yoshidaya
Line number: YODAIME (IV)
Poetry name: Minshi
Existence: 1783 ~ 15 November 1826
Connections:
Father: Arashi Koroku III
Brothers: Arashi Hinasuke II, Arahi Hinasuke III, Arashi Koroku V
Disciple: Arashi San'emon IX
Career:
July 1795: he makes his first appearance on stage in Ôsaka as a wakaonnagata actor; he receives the name of Arashi Iwajirô II and plays the role of Ohan in the drama "Katsuragawa Renri no Shigarami".
March 1796: his father Arashi Koroku III dies.
November 1797: Arashi Iwajirô II takes the name of Arashi San'emon VIII in Ôsaka, playing in the kaomise drama "Hanekonda Uma no Kaomise", which is produced by the zamoto Mimasu Daijirô at the Wakadayû no Shibai.
November 1801: San'emon settles in Kyôto and takes the name of Kanô Minshi I, playing in the kaomise drama "Furuki Omotte Aratama no Kaomise", which is produced by the zamoto Arashi Sankichi.
October 1809: Minshi plays at the Kado no Shibai the role of Shinobu in the drama "Go Taiheiki Shiraishi Banashi", which is produced by Mimasu Kumesaburô; the roles of Miyagino and Sôroku are played by Nakayama Yoshio I and Kataoka Nizaemon VII.
November 1809: Minshi plays at the Kado no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Keishoku Yuki-miru Yama", which is produced by Mimasu Kumesaburô and stars Nakayama Hyakka, Yoshizawa Ayame V, Arashi Kichisaburô II, Asao Kuzaemon I, Nakayama Shinkurô III, Nakamura Daikichi I and Asao Okuyama II.
January 1814: Minshi plays the roles of Oran and the courtesan Segawa in the drama "Keisei Tsukushi no Tsumagoto", which is staged in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai. This is the first performance in Kabuki history of a play based on the "Asagao Nikki" world [casting].
April 1814: "Keisei Tsukushi no Tsumagoto" is staged with the same casting in Kyôto at the Minamigawa no Shibai.
November 1814: Minshi plays at the Kitagawa no Shibai 2 roles in the drama "Tsugi Awase Ekiji no Ume".
1816: Minshi goes back to Ôsaka.
August 1816: Minshi plays the role of Azuma in the drama "Abura Uri Kuruwa Monogatari", which is produced by the zamoto Asao Tokusaburô at the Naka no Shibai.
November 1817: Kanô Minshi I takes the name of Arashi Koroku IV at the Naka no Shibai, playing the role of Osan in the drama "Echizen Sangoku Meoto Zuka".
January 1818: Koroku's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
August 1818: Koroku plays at the Naka no Shibai the role of Oito in the drama "Musume Kagekiyo Yashima Nikki". His stage partners are Arashi Kichisaburô II (Yoshitoki, Kagekiyo) and Asao Kuzaemon I (Mataroku, Sajidayû).
November 1818: Koroku plays in the same theater the role of Oyone in the drama "Igagoe Dôchû Sugoroku"; the roles of Jûbei and Heisaku are played by Arashi Kichisaburô II and Asao Kuzaemon I.
January 1821: Koroku plays at the Kado no Shibai the roles of Misao, Koman and Chiyo in the dramas "Ehon Taikôki", "Gempei Nunobiki no Taki" and "Keisei Kagamiyama", which are produced by Nakamura Matsuyo. His stage partners are the Edo star Bandô Mitsugorô III and the Kamigata star Nakamura Utaemon III.
March 1821: Koroku plays in the same theater the roles of Omiwa and Koganosuke in the drama "Imoseyma Onna Teikin". His stage partners are Bandô Mitsugorô III (Daihanji, Iruka, Fujiwara no Tankai), Nakamura Utaemon III (Fukashichi, Sadaka) and Nakamura Matsue III (Hinadori).
September 1821: Koroku plays at the Naka no Shibai the role of Komurasaki in the drama "Tatehiki Kotoba no Hanakawado". He shares the stage with the Edo stars Matsumoto Kôshirô V (Banzuiin Chôbei) and Iwai Hanshirô V (Shirai Gompachi).
January 1822: Koroku plays at the Kado no Shibai the roles of Chiyo and Tatsuta in the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", which is produced by Nakamura Kanesuke; the role of Matsuômaru is played by Bandô Mitsugorô III.
February 1822: Koroku plays in the same theater the role of Sonoo-no-Kata in the drama "Kinmon Gosan no Kiri". His stage partners are Ichikawa Danzô V (Hisayoshi) and Bandô Mitsugorô III (Ishikawa Goemon).
January 1824: Koroku's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is dai-jô-jô-kichi (grand - superior - superior - excellent).
September 1824: premiere at the Naka no Shibai of the drama "Banshû Sarayashiki"; Koroku plays the role of Okiku [more details].
September 1825: Koroku plays in the city of Sakai the roles of Suke-no-Tsubone and Osato in the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura".
November 1825: Koroku appears on stage for the last time, at the Kado no Shibai, playing the roles of Otoki and Yaeume in the drama "Ume no Naniwa Hayazaki Genji"; his stage partners are Onoe Kikugorô III and Fujikawa Tomokichi II. Koroku suddenly falls ill and dies the 15th of this month.
Comments:
Arashi Koroku IV was a talented Kamigata wakaonnagata actor, who achieved fame for himself in Ôsaka and Kyôto during the first half of the nineteenth century.
Arashi Koroku IV playing the role of Okashi in the drama "Katakiuchi Tengajaya-Mura" (print made by Asayama Ashiyuki in 1818)
Print made by Asayama Shibakuni in 1821
The Arashi San'emon line of actors
The Arashi Koroku line of actors