Stage names:

Arashi Otohachi II
Arashi Hikokichi

Guild: Ebisuya

Line number: NIDAIME (II)

Poetry names: Sanpu, Wakô

Existence: ???

Connection:

Father: Arashi Otohachi I

Elder brother: Bandô Matatarô IV

Son: Arashi Otohachi III

Career:

Beginning of the 1760s: he starts his career in Edo, performing under the name of Arashi Hikokichi.

26 March 1769: his father Arashi Otohachi I dies.

November 1770: Arashi Hikokichi takes the name of Arashi Otohachi II.

November 1775: Otohachi becomes dôkegata and plays at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Hana Zumô Genji Biiki".

January 1776: Otohachi's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, dôkegata section, is two white strokes above jô-jô (superior - superior) [visual].

June 1776: tour in Kôfu; Otohachi plays in the precinct of the Kyôanji Temple the role of Tsuribune Sabu in the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami"; the roles of Danshichi Kurobei, Issun Tokubei and Otatsu are played by Yamashina Shirojûrô, Bandô Mitsugorô I and Yamashita Kinsaku II.

Fall 1777: Otohachi goes to Ôsaka.

November 1777: Otohachi becomes tachiyaku and plays at the Naka no Shibai the role of Shundô Gemba in the kaomise drama "Daijizai Kaminari no Kodakara", which is produced by the zamoto Ichiyama Tajirô.

January 1778: Otohachi's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-(shiro)hankichi (superior - superior - (white) half excellent).

Fall 1778: Otohachi goes to Kyôto.

November 1778: Otohachi becomes katakiyaku and plays in the kaomise drama "Ume no Nazorae Azuma Hyakkan", which is produced by Somematsu Shichisaburô at the Kitagawa no Shibai.

January 1779: Otohachi's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, katakiyaku section, is jô-jô (superior - superior).

November 1779: Otohachi plays in Kyôto in the kaomise drama "Miyako Han'ei Nanshi no Hiraki Hajime", which is produced by Nakayama Ihachi I at the theater of Kameya Kumenojô and Hayagumo Chôdayû.

January 1780: Otohachi's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, katakiyaku section, is jô-jô-(shiro)hankichi (superior - superior - (white) half excellent). He shares the same rank with Kiriyama Monji I.

Fall 1783: Otohachi goes back to Edo. He is expected to perform at the Nakamuraza but this theater is destroyed by fire the 28th of October.

Fall 1797: Otohachi goes to Kyôto.

November 1797: Otohachi plays at the Minamigawa no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Namboku Yuki no Miyako", which is produced by Arashi Kumanosuke and celebrates the shûmei of Arashi Raishi I and Arashi Sangorô III.

January 1798: Otohachi's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, katakiyaku section, is jô-jô-hankichi (superior - superior - half excellent).

13 September 1801: his brother Bandô Matatarô IV dies.

Fall 1800 (?): Otohachi goes back to Edo.

November 1800: Otohachi plays at the Nakamuraza the role of the bonze Chikunenbô in the kaomise drama "Genji Kumo Kogane no Kumadori", which celebrates the return in Edo of Ichikawa Omezô I.

May 1808: Otohachi plays at the Nakamuraza a minor priest role in the classic "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura". This is the last recorded performance of Otohachi; We don't know what happens to him afterwards.

Comments:

Arashi Otohachi II was a supporting katakiyaku actor, who made a 40-year long career from the beginning of the 1700s to the end of the 1800s, in Edo and in Kamigata, where he made several long stays. As an actor, he did not follow in the footsteps of his father Arashi Otohachi I, who was the best dôkegata in Edo whereas his son performed as a dôkegata only for two seasons (1776 and 1777), but as a shop owner, he took over from his late father the management of the successful Ebisuya, a kanoko mochi shop in the district of Ningyô-chô.

The actors Arashi Otohachi II (left) and Ichikawa Danzô IV (right) playing the roles of Ôta Ryôchiku and Amakawaya Gihei in the 10th act of the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which was staged in February 1801 at the Nakamuraza
(print made by Utagawa Toyokuni I)

The Arashi Otohachi line of actors