Stage names:
Arashi Rikan III
Arashi Kicchô
Arashi Tokusaburô III
Onoe Wasaburô
Guild: Hamuraya
Poetry name: Kicchô
Line number: SANDAIME (III)
Existence: 1812 ~ 21 April 1863
Connection:
Father: Ikushima Iwagorô
Master: Arashi Rikan II, Onoe Tamizô II
Son: Arashi Rikan IV
Disciple: Arashi Minshi VI
Career:
1812 ~ 1830: born in Kyôto. His father is a travelling actor. He starts his career in his father's troupe. he becomes disciple of the actor Onoe Tamizô II at an unknown date, becomes wakaonnagata and receives the name of Onoe Wasaburô.
September 1830: Wasaburô plays in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai the roles of Hatsuhana and Kuzu-no-Ha in the dramas "Hakone Reigen Izari no Adauchi" and "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami".
Fall/Winter 1830: he is spotted by the star Arashi Rikan II, who welcomes him as a disciple and gives him the name of Arashi Tokusaburô III.
January 1831: Tokusaburô becomes zamoto and produces the drama "Keisei Sato no Odamaki" in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai.
February 1831: Tokusaburô produces in the same theater the drama "Sumidagawa Gonichi no Omokage".
March 1831: tour in Ise with Arashi Rikan II.
November 1832: Tokusaburô goes back to Kyôto and plays the role of la courtesan Musashi in the drama "Katakiuchi Ganryûjima".
January 1833: Tokusaburô's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent).
November 1834: Arashi Tokusaburô III takes the name of Arashi Kicchô.
June 1837: his master Arashi Rikan II dies; Arashi Kicchô takes back the name of Arashi Tokusaburô III.
August 1838: Tokusaburô goes to Edo and plays at the Ichimuraza in the drama "Koi no Nadanebiki no Tomozuna".
January 1839: Tokusaburô goes back to Ôsaka and plays at the Ônishi no Shibai the roles of Sakuragi, Oritsu, Oyana and Komurasaki in the drama "Keisei Fukamagafuchi".
November 1843: Arashi Tokusaburô III takes the name of Arashi Rikan III at the Ônishi no Shibai.
September 1845: Rikan plays at the Naka no Shibai the roles of Sôma Tarô, Kuzu-no-Ha and Kambei in the drama "Yomeiri Shinoda Zuma".
January 1846: Rikan plays the roles of Masakiyo and the yakko Yadahei in the drama "Keisei Hama no Masago", which is produced by the zamoto Ichikawa Yonezô IV at the Naka no Shibai and celebrates the shûmei of Mimasu Daigorô IV.
March 1847: Rikan plays at the Naka no Shibai the difficult role of Sodehagi in the drama "Ôshû Adachi-ga-Hara"; his stage partners are Mimasu Daigorô IV (Abe no Sadatô), Kataoka Ichizô I (Abe no Munetô), Jitsukawa Enzaburô I (Minamoto no Yoshiie) and Arashi Wasaburô II (Okimi).
May 1847: Rikan plays at the Wakadayû no Shibai (Ôsaka) the role of Danshichi dans the sewamono "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami"; his stage partners are Arashi Kichisaburô III (Tokubei) and Ichikawa Shikô II (Sabu).
January 1848: Rikan's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, Hanagata Sampukutsui section ("A trio of young stars"), is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent). The two others actors in this trio are Kataoka Gadô II and Jitsukawa Enzaburô I.
May 1848: short stay in Kyôto; Rikan plays at the Minamigawa no Shibai the role of Tomohei in the drama "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi".
1849: tour in Ise (Naka-no-Jizô no Shibai) and Nagoya (Seijuin no Shibai).
1851 ~ 1855: Rikan settles in Edo and plays at the Kawarazakiza. His yearly salary is 700 ryô.
January 1852: Rikan's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is hakushi-jô-jô-kichi (almost unique - superior - superior - excellent). He is also the kanjiku for tachiyaku actors.
July 1852: premiere at the Kawarazakiza of Kawatake Mokuami's drama "Jiraiya Gôketsu Monogatari"; Rikan plays the role of Takasago Yûminosuke [Utagawa Toyokuni III's print / casting].
January 1854: Rikan's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is shi-jô-jô-kichi (unique - superior - superior - excellent). He is also the kanjiku for tachiyaku actors.
December 1855: Rikan goes back to Ôsaka.
January 1856: Rikan's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is shi-jô-jô-kichi (unique - superior - superior - excellent). He is also the kanjiku for tachiyaku actors and becomes zagashira at the Kado no Shibai, playing the roles of Princess Wakana, Akishino and Namiroku in the drama "Keisei Shiranui Monogatari".
March 1856: Rikan plays at the Kado no Shibai the roles of Soga no Iruka and Omiwa in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".
May 1856: Rikan plays at the Sakai no Shibai the roles of Sodehagi and Abe no Sadatô in the drama "Ôshû Adachi-ga-Hara" (the role of Abe no Munetô is played by Kataoka Ichizô I). He also plays the role of Satsuma Gengobei in Namiki Gohei I's drama "Godairiki Koi no Fûjime"; his stage partners are Kataoka Ichizô I (Sasano Sangobei), Nakamura Karoku I (Tomitaya Oichi) and Arashi San'emon IX (Kikuno).
January 1858: Rikan's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is hakudai-jô-jô-kichi (almost grand - superior - superior - excellent).
January 1859: Rikan's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is dai-jô-jô-kichi (grand - superior - superior - excellent).
January 1860: Rikan's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is hakugoku-jô-jô-kichi (almost extreme - superior - superior - excellent).
November 1860: Rikan plays in Kyôto at the Minamigawa no Shibai in the drama "Yaemusubi Jiraiya Monogatari".
May 1862: Rikan plays at the Kado no Shibai the role of Tamate Gozen in the drama "Sesshû Gappô-ga-Tsuji"; his stage partners are Kataoka Ichizô I (Gappô) and Nakamura Sennosuke (Shuntokumaru).
January 1863: Rikan appears on stage for the last time, at the Kado no Shibai, playing 3 roles in the drama "Keisei Sôshinji".
April 1863: Rikan dies in Ôsaka. His tombstone is located in the precincts of the Hôzenji temple, in the heart of the Ôsaka theaters and pleasures district (Dôtombori).
Comments:
Arashi Rikan III was an outstanding kaneru yakusha, born and trained in Kamigata, who made a fame for himself in the three cities of Kyôto, Ôsaka and Edo. He was a large-built actor and his elocution was great thanks to his powerful voice. He was excellent in any kind of tachiyaku or onnagata roles in jidaimono dramas. He was also a talented shamisen player.
Arashi Rikan III playing the role of Watônai in a print made by Hirosada in 1848
Print made by Shumbaisai Hokuei in 1835
Print made by Utagawa Kunisada in 1852
Print made by Utagawa Kuniyoshi in 1852
Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1854
The Arashi Rikan line of actors