Stage names:
Arashi Shichigorô II
Ichikawa Ryûzô
Arashi Ryûzô I
Other name: Arashi Shagan II (?)
Guild: Kyôya
Line number: NIDAIME (II)
Poetry name: Shagan
Existence: 1733 ~ 28 May 1788
Connection:
Father: Arashi Shichigorô I
Master: Ichikawa Danzô III
Disciples: Arashi Shichigorô III, Arashi Seizô
Career:
1730s ~ 1740s: son of Arashi Shichigorô I, his first stage name is Arashi Ryûzô I. He becomes disciple of Ichikawa Danzô III and receives the name of Ichikawa Ryûzô at an unknown date.
November 1746: Ryûzô becomes zamoto and produces at the Naka no Shibai the kaomise drama "Genji Musha Hinode Ôgi".
August 1748: the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura" is performed for the first time in Ôsaka, at the Naka no Shibai; it is produced by Ryûzô [casting].
1753 ~ 1757: Ryûzô is on tour, performing in inaka shibai.
February 1758: Ichikawa Ryûzô takes the name of Arashi Shichigorô II at the Kado no Shibai, playing the roles of Kaminari Shôkurô, the ghost of Kawazu Saburô and Kudô Saemon Suketsune in the drama "Okina Gusa Goshiki no Hanabusa".
January 1760: Shichigorô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, katakiyaku section, is jô-jô-(shiro)hankichi (superior - superior - (white) half excellent). He shares the same rank with Matsumoto Tomojûrô II.
August 1764: Shichigorô plays at the Naka no Shibai the role of Yahei in the drama "Fumizuki Urami no Kiriko"; the roles of Otsuma and Hachirobei are played by Nakamura Kumetarô I and Mimasu Daigorô I.
November 1768: Shichigorô plays in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Shin-yakata Banzei no Kotobuki", which is produced by Yamashita Yaozô I.
March 1769: Shichigorô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, katakiyaku section, is jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent).
June 1770: Namiki Shôzô I's drama "Yadonashi Danshichi Shigure no Karakasa" is staged for the first time in Ôsaka ôshibai, at the Kado no Shibai; Shichigorô plays the role of Kyûshichi [casting].
Fall 1774: Shichigorô goes to Kyôto.
November 1774: Shichigorô plays the role of Arao Gotôta in the kaomise program "Akanesasu Kogane no Maruyama", which is produced by Fujikawa Sango at Hayagumo Chôdayû and Hoteiya Umenojô theater. His stage partners are Onoe Kikugorô I, Arashi Hinasuke I, Sawamura Sôjûrô III, Onoe Matsusuke I (who arrives from Edo), Onoe Shinshichi I and Yoshizawa Iroha I.
December 1781: premiere in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai of Nagawa Kamesuke's drama "Tengajaya-Mura" [casting]. A similar play is staged a few days later under a different title, "Renga Chaya Homare no Bundai", at the Naka no Shibai. The competition for the best performance and the best line-up is open between the 2 theaters; Shichigorô plays at the Naka no Shibai the role of Sôma Saburôemon [casting].
September 1783: the play "Igagoe Dôchû Sugoroku" is adapted to Kabuki for the first time, in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai; Shichigorô plays the roles of Sawai Matagorô, Matagorô's mother Narumi and Usami Goemon [casting].
January 1784: premiere at the Naka no Shibai of Namiki Gohei's drama "Keisei Yamato Zôshi"; Shichigorô plays the roles of Momonoi Shuridayû, Hikaki and Daiba no Niza [casting].
February 1787: Shichigorô's name appears in a hyôbanki for the last time; his rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, katakiyaku/jitsuaku section, is is two black strokes above jô-jô-(hanshiro)kichi [visual].
Spring 1788: he goes on tour in Sakai with Ichikawa Danzô IV and Mimasu Daigorô II. His last stage performance is most likely in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura", in which he plays the role of Kô no Moronô and Ono no Kudayû. He dies in the city of Mitajiri the 28th of May 1788.
Comments:
Arashi Shichigorô II was a talented actor, who was specialized in katakiyaku and jitsuaku roles and who made most of his career in Kamigata from the middle of the 1740s to the end of the 1780s. He was endowed with a powerful voice and his diction was outstanding.
Arashi Shichigorô II performing in November 1782 at the Naka no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Zu ni Notta Bankoku Tokai"
The Arashi Shagan line of actors
The Arashi Shichigorô line of actors