Stage names:
Arashi Shichigorô III
Arashi Ryûzô II
Other name: Arashi Shagan III (?)
Guild: Kyôya
Line number: SANDAIME (III)
Poetry name: Shagan
Existence: 1761 ~ 5 November 1798
Connection:
Master: Arashi Shichigorô II
Career:
Before 1780: he starts his career in Kamigata as a disciple of Arashi Shichigorô II, who trains him and gives him the name of Arashi Ryûzô II.
1780: Ryûzô goes to Edo for a short stay. He goes on tour in Sawara in June, then goes back to Ôsaka.
Fall 1786: Ryûzô definitively settles in Edo.
November 1786: Ryûzô plays at the Moritaza the roles of Kurando Yukihira and Ishida Saburô in the kaomise drama "Onna Musha Kiku no Sen'yoki", which celebrates the shûmei of Nakamura Kichisaburô III.
28 May 1788: his master Arashi Shichigorô II dies.
September 1790: the play "Yoshitsune Koshigoejô" is staged for the first time in Edo, at the Ichimuraza; it celebrates the onagori kyôgen of the Kamigata star Asao Tamejûrô I; Ryûzô plays the role of Date no Jirô [more details].
November 1791: Ryûzô plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Musashi Saemon in the kaomise drama "Kinme Nuki Genji no Kakutsuba", which celebrates the shûmei of Ichikawa Ebizô and Ichikawa Danjûrô VI.
January 1792: Ryûzô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, is jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent).
September 1792: Ryûzô plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Soga no Emiji in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".
November 1792: Ryûzô plays at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Koganegiku Date no Ôkido".
May 1793: Ryûzô plays in the same theater the roles of Ono no Kudayû and Ichimonjiya Saibei in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
July 1793: Ryûzô plays in the same theater the role of Soga no Emiji in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".
October 1794: due to some financial difficulties, the salaries of all the actors are drastically reduced. Ryûzô's yearly salary for the coming season is set to 250 ryô after a reduction of 10 ryô.
April 1795: Ryûzô plays at the Miyakoza the roles of Teraoka Heiemon and Ôta Ryôchiku in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
January 1796: premiere at the Kiriza of Namiki Gohei I's drama "Suda no Haru Geisha Katagi"; Ryûzô plays the role of Gengobei [casting].
September 1796: the play "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi" is staged for the first time in Edo, simultaneously at the Kiriza and the Miyakoza; Ryûzô plays the role of Kyôgoku no Takumi in the former theater [casting].
September 1797: Ryûzô plays at the Kiriza the role of Fujiwara no Shihei in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".
November 1797: Arashi Ryûzô II takes the name of Arashi Shichigorô III at the Nakamuraza, playing the role of Igu no Jûrô in the kaomise drama "Kaikei Kokyô no Nishikigi".
September 1798: Shichigorô appears on stage for the last time, at the Nakamuraza, where he plays the roles of the taiko mochi Jirôemon and Yazama Kinai in the drama "Taiheiki Chûshin Kôshaku".
5 November 1798: Shichigorô dies in Edo.
Comments:
Arashi Shichigorô III was a good katakiyaku and jitsuaku actor, born and trained in Kamigata, who was very active in Edo for 12 years, from 1786 to 1798. He unfortunately died too young, before being able to reach the prestigious jô-jô-kichi level. The print-maker Tôshûzai Sharaku, who had a brief but brilliant career between 1794 and February 1795 before disappearing mysteriously, left behind a few famous prints depicting this actor.
Arashi Shichigorô III playing the role of Igu no Jûrô
in the kaomise drama "Kaikei Kokyô no Nishikigi",
which was staged in November 1797 at the Nakamuraza
(print made by Utagawa Toyokuni I)
Print made by Tôshûsai Sharaku in 1794
The Arashi Shagan line of actors
The Arashi Shichigorô line of actors