Stage names:
Arashi Raishi I
Kyôya Shichihei
Arashi Sangorô II
Arashi Tomisaburô I
Other name: Mitsugen
Guild: Kyôya
Poetry name: Raishi
Line number: NIDAIME (II)
Existence: 1732 ~ 2 May 1803
Connection:
Father : Arashi Sangorô I
Son: Arashi Raishi II (Arashi Sangorô III)
Grandsons: Arashi Raishi III, Arashi Sangorô IV
Disciples : Nakamura Kumetarô II, Arashi Yoichi I, Arashi Shigenoi, Arashi Isaburô, Arashi Kashichi, Ikushima Jûjirô, Arashi Bungorô II, Arashi Sennosuke, Arashi Kichizô, Arashi Wakamatsu, Arashi Gohachirô, Arashi Shirogorô, Arashi Sanjirô, Arashi Sodesuke
Career:
July 1739: his father Arashi Sangorô I dies.
November 1739: Arashi Tomisaburô I takes the name of Arashi Sangorô II.
November 1748: Sangorô becomes zamoto and produces the drama "Toyoashihara Taihei Keizu" in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai.
December 1748: the play "Kanadehon Chûshingura" is adapted to Kabuki for the first time, produced by Sangorô in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai; Sangorô plays the role of Ôboshi Rikiya [casting].
November 1750: Sangorô plays in the drama "Yasa Heike Sakiwake Musha", which is produced by Nakamura Jûzô I at the Naka no Shibai.
November 1754: Sangorô plays the role of Yamatonosuke in the drama "Uda Genji Asahi no Menbako", which is produced by Wakayama Bunshichi at the Ônishi no Shibai.
November 1756: Sangorô goes to Kyôto and plays the roles of Mikasa Yomosaku and Kamonnosuke in the kaomise drama "Ukematsuri Hôrai Yakata", which is produced by Somematsu Matsujirô at the Kitagawa no Shibai for the nadai Hoteiya Umenojô.
March 1757: Sangorô plays in the same theater the roles the monk Black Cloud and Bun'yanosuke in the drama "Narukami Fûdô Kitayama Zakura". His stage partners are Ichikawa Danzô III (Narukami, Fudô, Kumedera Danjô), Nakamura Kumetarô I (Princess Taema), Yoshizawa Sakinosuke II (Kisakata Gozen) and Somematsu Shichisaburô (Mimbu).
January 1758: first Kabuki adaptation of the puppet theater drama "Gion Sairei Shinkôki", which is simultaneously produced at the Minamigawa no Shibai [casting] and the Kitagawa no Shibai [casting]; Sangorô plays in the former theater the roles of Kanônosuke Naonobu and Shinsaku.
November 1758: Sangorô becomes zamoto in Kyôto and produces the drama "Inari Yakata Irifune no Arashi".
November 1759: the play "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura" is staged for the first time in Kyôto, at the Minamigawa no Shibai. The play is produced by Sawamura Kunitarô I and Somematsu Matsujirô and the roles of Yoshitsune and Tadanobu are played by Sangorô.
January 1760: Sangorô plays 2 roles in the drama "Senjin Ukisu no Iwa", which is produced in the same theater by Sawamura Kunitarô I.
May 1760: Sangorô plays in the same theater the role of Hiranoya Tokubei in the drama "Sonezaki Shinjû"; the role of the courtesan Ohatsu is played by Nakamura Kiyosaburô I.
September 1761: Sangorô achieves a great success in Kyôto by playing the role of Sanada Yoichi in the drama "Sugomori Hiru-ga-Kojima", which is produced by Sawamura Kunitarô I at the Minamigawa no Shibai.
November 1761: Sangorô goes back to Ôsaka and plays in the kaomise drama "Miyo no Hana Yunzei Kagami", which is produced by Mimasu Daigorô I at the Naka no Shibai.
April 1762: first Kabuki adaptation of the 5-act puppet theater drama "Gosho Zakura Horikawa no Youchi", which is staged at the Naka no Shibai; Sangorô plays the roles of Yoshitsune and Ike-no-Hata Hariemon [casting].
September 1762: Sangorô plays in the same theater the roles of Kokingo, Yasuke and Yoshitsune in the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura".
December 1762: Sangorô achieves a great success in the same theater by playing the role of Ukiyonosuke in the drama "Ide no Tamagawa Shôhei Ori".
February 1763: Sangorô plays the role of Shirojirô in the drama "Keisei Hangonkô", which is produced by Mimasu Daigorô I at the Naka no Shibai. His stage partners are Mimasu Daigorô I (Matahei), Nakamura Tomijûrô I (Tôyama) and Iwata Somematsu (Otoku).
May 1766: first Kabuki adaptation of the 5 acts puppet theater drama "Honchô Nijûshikô", which is staged in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai; Sangorô plays the roles of Katsuyori and Minosaku [casting].
August 1768: Sangorô plays at the Kitagawa no Shibai the roles of Kokingo, Yasuke, Tadanobu and the fox Genkurô in the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura".
March 1770: Sangorô plays the roles of Yogorô and Sukeichi in the drama "Ranjatai Nitta Keizu", which is produced in Kyôto by Onoe Kumesuke.
Spring 1770: tour in Miyajima with Arashi Hinasuke I.
Fall 1771: Sangorô goes to Edo.
November 1771: Sangorô plays at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Meoto Giku Izu no Kisewata".
May 1774: the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami" is staged for the first time at the Ichimuraza; Sangorô plays the role of Issun Tokubei [casting].
March 1776: Sangorô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
May 1776: the play "Honchô Nijûshikô" is performed for the first time in Edo, at the Nakamuraza; Sangorô plays the roles of Katsuyori and Minosaku [casting].
September 1777: Sangorô celebrates his coming departure from Edo by playing at the Nakamuraza the role of Shirojirô in the dance "Hangonkô Nagori no Nishikie"; the role of the courtesan Tôyama is played by Nakamura Tomijûrô I.
Fall 1777: Sangorô goes back to Ôsaka after 6 seasons spent in Edo.
November 1777: Sangorô plays at the Naka no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Daijizai Kaminari no Kodakara", which is produced by the zamoto Ichiyama Tajirô.
January 1778: Sangorô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
September 1778: Sangorô plays in the same theater the role of Sakuramaru in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". His stage partners are Nakamura Utaemon I (Matsuômaru), Arashi Kichisaburô I (Shiratayû, Genzô, Terukuni), Yamashita Kamenojô IV (Tatsuta, Haru), Sawamura Kunitarô I (Tonami, Kakuju, Yae), Arashi Shichisaburô II (Umeômaru), Bandô Iwagorô (Shihei, Shundô Genba), Mimasu Tokujirô I (Kan Shôjô, Chiyo) and Nakamura Jiroza II (Hyôei, Mareyo).
November 1778: Sangorô goes to Kyôto and plays in the kaomise drama "Ume no Nazorae Azuma Hyakkan", which is produced by Somematsu Shichisaburô at the Kitagawa no Shibai.
January 1778: Sangorô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
Summer 1780: Sangorô plays the role of the blindman Hyôsuke in the drama "Gokusaishiki Musume Ôgi", which is produced by Nakayama Ihachi in Kyôto. The role of Gambei is played by Asao Tamejûrô I.
March 1781: tour in Ise; Sangorô plays the roles of Yasuke and Tadanobu ("Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura"), Tôkichi ("Gion Sairei Shinkôki") and Hyôsuke ("Gokusaishiki Musume Ôgi").
June 1781: Sangorô goes back to Kyôto and plays the roles of Yasuke, Tokaiya Gimpei, Taira no Tomomori and Tadanobu in the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura", which is produced by Yamashita Yaozô I at the Kitagawa no Shibai. The roles of Osato, Shizuka Gozen and Suke-no-Tsubone are played by Sawamura Kunitarô I.
September 1781: Sangorô plays in the same theater the role of Kajiwara Genta Kagesue in the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki". His stage partners are Onoe Kikugorô I (Enju, Shigetada), Shibazaki Rinzaemon II (Takatsuna, Gonshirô), Arashi Hinasuke I (Kajiwara Heiji Kagetaka, Matsuemon, Higuchi no Jirô Kanemitsu), Sawamura Kunitarô I (Chidori), Arashi San'emon VI (Ofude) and Anegawa Minato II (Oyoshi).
November 1782: Sangorô goes to Ôsaka and plays at the Naka no Shibai in the kaomise program.
January 1783: Sangorô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is dai-jô-jô-kichi (grand - superior - superior - excellent). He plays the roles of En'ya Hangan and Okaya in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which is produced by Arashi Tanin at the Naka no Shibai.
September 1783: the play "Igagoe Dôchû Sugoroku" is adapted to Kabuki for the first time, in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai; Sangorô plays the roles of Sasaki Tan'emon, Honda Dainaiki and Ikezoe Magohachi [casting].
December 1783: Sangorô plays in the same theater the role of Kajiwara Genta Kagesue in the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki". The sudden death of the star Onoe Kikugorô I casts a pall over the performance.
January 1784: premiere at the Naka no Shibai of Namiki Gohei I's drama "Keisei Yamato Zôshi"; Sangorô plays the roles of Kitabatake Yukienosuke and Sukekuni [casting].
April 1784: Sangorô plays in the same theater the roles of Gyôji Shôkurô and Okô in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki".
May 1784: the play "Katsuragawa Renri no Shigarami", which was originally written in October 1776 by Suga Sensuke for the puppet theater, is adapted to Kabuki for the first time by Namiki Gohei I, and staged in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai; Sangorô plays the role of Imadegawa Raisaku [casting].
May 1784: Sangorô and Sawamura Kunitarô I go together to Kyôto.
Fall 1784: Sangorô and Sawamura Kunitarô I perform together in the dance "Chô no Michiyuki", which is produced by Nakayama Raisuke II.
November 1784: Sangorô goes back to Ôsaka and plays at the Kado no Shibai the roles of Sakuramaru and Kakuju in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", which is produced by Onoe Ushinosuke I.
May 1785: the Kado no Shibai is destroyed by a fire; Sangorô decides to go to Kyôto.
September 1785: Sangorô plays at Hoteiya Umenojô's theater the roles of Hayano Kampei and En'ya Hangan in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which commemorates the 2nd anniversary (3rd memorial service) of late Onoe Kikugorô I.
Summer 1786: tour in Miyajima.
January 1789: Sangorô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent).
December 1790: Sangorô plays at the Naka no Shibai the role of Mashiba Hisayoshi in the drama "Kinmon Gosan no Kiri"; the role of the king of thieves Ishikawa Goemon is played by Arashi Hinasuke I.
March 1795: Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Komochi Yamamba", which was originally written for the puppet theater, is adapted to Kabuki for the first time, in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai; Sangorô plays the roles of Tabakoya Genshichi (in reality Sakata Kurando Tokiyuki) and Kaidômaru [casting].
February 1797: Arashi Sangorô II retires and takes the name of Kyôya Shichihei.
November 1797: great shûmei for the Kyôya guild; Kyôya Shichihei takes the name of Arashi Raishi I and appears on stage for the last time, in Kyôto at the Minamigawa no Shibai, for his isse ichidai performance; he achieves a great success by playing 3 roles in the drama "Namboku Yuki no Miyako". His son Arashi Matsunosuke takes the name of Arashi Sangorô III.
Spring 1798: Raishi definitively retires from the theater world. He shaves his head and becomes a monk called Mitsugen. He spends his latter years in Kyôto in the district of Okazaki.
Comments:
Arashi Sangorô II was an outstanding tachiyaku actor, who won a fame for himself in the three major cities (Kyôto, Ôsaka and Edo) during the second half of the eighteenth century. His fields of excellence were wagoto and budôgoto roles in jidaimono dramas.
Arashi Sangorô II in a print made by Katsukawa Shunshô
Print made by Katsukawa Shunkô
Print made by Katsukawa Shunshô
Print made by Ippitsusai Bunchô in 1770
Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1862~1863
The Arashi Sangorô line of actors