Stage names:
| Arashi Otohachi I |  |
| Arashi Otonosuke I | |
Guild: Ebisuya
Line number: SHODAI (I)
Poetry name: Wakô
Existence: 1711 ~ 26 March 1769
Connection:
Master: Arashi Sangorô I
Sons: Arashi Otohachi II, Bandô Matatarô IV
Grandson: Arashi Otohachi III
Disciple: Arashi Otonosuke II
Career:
1710s ~ 1720s: he starts his career in Ôsaka in kodomo shibai, as a disciple of Arashi Sangorô I, performing under the name of Arashi Otonosuke I.
Fall 1732: Otonosuke goes to Edo.
November 1732: he becomes tachiyaku and takes the name of Arashi Otohachi I at the Nakamuraza, performing in the kaomise drama "Yamato Kotoba Imagawajô".
November 1733: Otohachi becomes dôkegata, performing at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Nagi no Hana Asahi Genji"; his stage partners are Sawamura Sôjûrô I, Anegawa Shinshirô I, Segawa Kikunojô I, Ogino Izaburô I, Hayagawa Denshirô, Nakamura Shichisaburô II, Sodesaki Iseno I, Ichikawa Sôzaburô I, Nakamura Kichibei I, Narumi Goroshirô I, Sakata Sadashirô, Yamashita Kamematsu, Sanjô Kantarô II and Ôtani Ryûzaemon I.
March 1738: Otohachi's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, dôkegata section, is jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent).
12 July 1739: his master Arashi Sangorô I dies.
Janvier 1742: Otohachi's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, dôkegata section, is jô-jô-(hanshiro)kichi (superior - superior - almost excellent). He plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Shigehira in the new year drama "Musume Soga Gaijin Yashima".
November 1743: Otohachi plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Akamatsu in the kaomise program "Ishizue Taiheiki".
January 1744: Otohachi's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, dôkegata section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent). He shares the same rank with Matsushima Moheiji.
Janvier 1748: Otohachi plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Danzaburô in the new year drama "Kazari Ebi Yoroi Soga".
April 1750: the play "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami" is produced at the Moritaza for the first time; Otohachi plays the role of Umeômaru [casting].
July 1751: premiere in Edo at the Nakamuraza of the play "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna"; Otohachi plays the role of Umanojô [casting].
November 1763: Otohachi plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Katagiri Yashichi in the kaomise drama "Shikai Nami Yawaragi Taiheiki".
January 1764: Otohachi's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, dôkegata section, is hakudai-jô-jô-kichi (almost grand - superior - superior - excellent).
November 1764: Otohachi plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Sakura Sakubei in the kaomise drama "Wakaki no Hana Suma no Hatsuyuki", which celebrates the shûmei of Yoshizawa Sakinosuke III.
January 1765: Otohachi's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, dôkegata section, is dai-jô-jô-kichi (grand - superior - superior - excellent).
November 1765: Otohachi plays at the Moritaza the role of Itamimura Tarôsaku in the kaomise drama "Kachidoki Sakae Genji".
November 1766: Otohachi plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Asaka Numatarô in the kaomise drama "Kogane no Hana Kaijin Arasmusha", which celebrates the arrival in Edo of the Kamigata actor Kirishima Gizaemon.
January 1767: Otohachi plays in the same theater the role of Oniô Shinzaemon in the new year drama "Hatsu Akinai Ômise Soga".
August 1767: Otohachi plays in the same theater the role of Hakuunbô (white cloud bonze) in the drama "Sono Namo Tsuki no Irobito" (similar to "Narukami"); the roles of the wicked priest Narukami, Princess Taema and Kokuunbô (dark cloud bonze) are played by Ichikawa Danjûrô IV, Nakamura Matsue I and Ichikawa Komazô II.
November 1767: Otohachi plays at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Taiheiki Shizu no Furisode".
November 1768: Otohachi appears on stage for the last time, at the Ichimuraza, playing the role of the thief Ippon Saemon in the kaomise drama "Otokoyama Yunzei Kurabe", which celebrates the shûmei of Ichikawa Tomozô I and Tomizawa Hanzaburô II. He falls ill and has to retire.
26 March 1769: Otohachi dies in Edo; his tombstone is located in the precincts of the Jôshinji Temple in the district of Fukagawa.
Comments:
Arashi Otohachi I was popular and talented 18th century dôkegata actor, who was born and trained in Kamigata and achieved fame for himself in the city of Edo, where he settled in 1732 and stayed up to his death in 1769. He was the first and only dôkegata in Kabuki history to reach the prestigious dai-jô-jô-kichi rank. He was also the founder of the successful Ebisuya, a kanoko mochi shop, which was located in Edo in the district of Ningyô-chô.
Arashi Otohachi I playing the role of Asaka Numatarô
in the kaomise drama "Kogane no Hana Kaijin Arasmusha",
which was staged in November 1766 at the Nakamuraza
(print made by Ippitsusai Bunchô)
Print made by Katsukawa Shunshô in 1768
The Arashi Otohachi line of actors