Other name: Arashi Shagan I (?)
Guild: Kyôya
Line number: SHODAI (I)
Poetry name: Shagan, Hoppi (?)
Existence: ???
Connection:
Master: Arashi Sangorô I
Brother: Arashi Hidegorô
Son: Arashi Shichigorô II
Career:
Before 1728: most likely born in Kamigata. He starts his career with his brother in countryside theaters, as disciples of Arashi Sangorô I. His stage name is Arashi Shichigorô I.
November 1728: Shichigorô plays at the Ônishi no Shibai; this is most likely his first stage appearance in ôshibai.
November 1730: Shichigorô plays as a wakashugata in Ôsaka in the kaomise drama "Kunkoku Ôe no Kôbai", which is produced by Asao Motogorô.
November 1733: Shichigorô becomes katakiyaku and plays in Kyôto in the kaomise drama "Meotogura Kogane no Masugata".
January 1734: Shichigorô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, katakiyaku section, is jô-jô-(shiro)hankichi (superior - superior - (white) half excellent).
November 1734: Shichigorô becomes jitsuaku and plays at Miyako Mandayû's theater the role of Sekiguchi Manzô in the kaomise drama "Tomi Yakata Kogane no Yaguruma".
January 1735: Shichigorô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, is jô-jô-hankichi (superior - superior - half excellent).
November 1736: Shichigorô plays in Kyôto in the kaomise drama "Tomi no Ichi Kogane no Aratama", which is produced by Nakamura Tomijûrô I. His stage partners are Ichiyama Sukegorô I, Nakamura Shingorô I, Sakurayama Shirosaburô II, Yamanaka Heijûrô II, Sanogawa Mangiku, Yamashita Kinsaku I, Tatsuoka Hisagiku and Tatsuoka Someemon.
January 1737: Shichigorô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
January 1739: Shichigorô plays in Kyôto at Kameya Kumenojô's theater the role of Kantetsu and Ishidô Hyôbu in the drama "Keisei Arashiyama", which is produced by Nakamura Tomijûrô I.
Fall 1739: Shichigorô goes to Ôsaka.
December 1739: Shichigorô plays at the Ônishi no Shibai the role of Fuwa Banzaemon in the drama "Kewai Musha Ômi Genji", which is produced by Yoshizawa Ayame II; his stage partners are Yoshizawa Ayame II (Okichi), Nakamura Sôjûrô (Shôgen), Sakakiyama Shirotarô I (Nagoya Sanza), Anegawa Shinshirô I (Matahei) and Segawa Kikunojô I (the courtesan Tôyama).
November 1740: Shichigorô plays at the Ônishi no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Yaguruma Yakata no Fuji", which is produced by Nakamura Tomijûrô I; his stage partners are Yamamoto Kyôshirô I, Nakamura Shingorô I, Nakayama Shinkurô I, Sanogawa Mangiku, Segawa Kikunojô I, Onoe Kikugorô I and Nakamura Sôjûrô.
November 1741: Shichigorô plays at the Ônishi no Shibai the kaomise drama "Bankoku Taiheiki", which includes the "Uirô Uri" scene and stars Ichikawa Ebizô II, Ichikawa Danjûrô III, Yamamoto Kyôshirô I, Sadoshima Chôgorô I, Onoe Kikugorô I, Yamashita Kinsaku I, Nakamura Jirôsa I, Bandô Toyosaburô I, Shibazaki Taminosuke, Yamanaka Heijûrô II and Yamatogawa Akashi.
January 1742: premiere at the Ônishi no Shibai of the play "Narukami Fudô Kitayama Zakura"; Shichigorô plays the role of Yatsurugi Gemba [casting].
November 1743: Shichigorô plays at the Ônishi no Shibai in Namiki Sôsuke's kaomise drama "Futatsu Biki Nishiki no Manmaku", which is produced by the zamoto Nakamura Jûzô II; his stage partners are Sawamura Sôjûrô I, Nakamura Tomijûrô I, Sanogawa Mangiku, Sakurayama Shirosaburô II, Nakamura Shingorô I and Iwai Hanshirô III.
September 1745: Shichigorô plays the roles of Yakampei and Shôgen in the drama "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami" , which is produced by Nakamura Jûzô I at the Ônishi no Shibai; his stage partners are Bandô Toyosaburô I (Abe no Yasuna), Nakamura Jûzô I (Dôman), Nakayama Shinkurô I (Yokampei), Ichikawa Danzô III (Sakon Tarô) and Yoshizawa Ayame II (Kuzu-no-Ha).
December 1745: the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami" is performed for the first time in Ôsaka, simultaneously in the three major theaters of the city, which starts a competition for the best performance; Shichigorô plays the role of Danshichi Kurobei at the Naka no Shibai [casting].
November 1750: Shichigorô plays at the Kado no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Tachibana Gojûyongun", which is produced by Iwata Somematsu; his stage partners are Ichikawa Danzô III, Bandô Toyosaburô I, Yoshizawa Sakinosuke II and Kirishima Gizaemon.
Fall 1751: Shichigorô goes to Edo.
November 1751: Shichigorô plays at the Ichimuraza the role of the painter Matahei, in reality Ômi no Kotôta, in the kaomise drama "Kamimukae Nigiwai Genji", which celebrates the shûmei of Bandô Hikosaburô II.
January 1752: Shichigorô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
November 1752: Shichigorô plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Adachi Hachirô in the kaomise drama "Ume Sakura Ninin Semimaru".
January 1753: Shichigorô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, is dai-jô-jô-kichi (grand - superior - superior - excellent). He plays in the same theater the role of Kajiwara Heizô Kagetoki in the new year drama "Haru Fukami Iroha Soga". This is his last recorded performance. What happens to him afterwards is unknown.
Comments:
Arashi Shichigorô I was a talented actor, who achieved fame for himself during the first half of the 18th century as a jitsuaku actor. He made most of his career in Kamigata but ended it with a short and successful stay in Edo. He was said to be better in jidaimono rather than in sewamono.
Arashi Shichigorô I and Yamatogawa Akashi playing the roles of Moronô and Ôhara no Matsuo in the drama "Bankoku Taiheiki", which was staged in November 1741 at the Ônishi no Shibai
The Arashi Shagan line of actors
The Arashi Shichigorô line of actors