Stage names:

Arashi Kiyosaburô I
Hanai Kiyosaburô

Line number: SHODAI (I)

Existence: ??? ~ 15th day of the 5th lunar month of 1713 ^[1]

Connection:

Master: Arashi San'emon II

Brother: Sawano Hachigorô

Nephew: Arashi Kiyosaburô II

Career:

Before 1697: he started his career in hama shibai, performing under the name of Hanai Kiyosaburô.

1697: he became disciple of Arashi San'emon II and took the name of Arashi Kiyosaburô I.

7th day of the 11th lunar month of 1701 ^[2]: his master Arashi San'emon II died.

1st lunar month of 1702: premiere at Miyako Mandayû's theater (Kyôto) of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Keisei Mibu Dainenbutsu", which was produced by Kokon Shinzaemon. The two leading actors were Sakata Tôjûrô I and Kiyosaburô.

Fall 1707: Kiyosaburô went to Edo.

11th lunar month of 1707: Kiyosaburô played at the Nakamuraza the role of Suô-no-Naishi in the kaomise drama "Suô no Naishi Azuma Nishiki".

1st lunar month of 1708: Kiyosaburô played in the same theater the role of Soga Jûrô's lover, the courtesan Ôiso no Tora, in the new year drama "Keisei Arashi Soga"; the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari was played by Nakamura Shichisaburô I (last stage performance for this actor who dies the 3rd day of the 2nd lunar month of 1708). He also achieved a great success by playing the role of Yaoya Oshichi.

11th lunar month of 1708: Kiyosaburô played at the Nakamuraza the role of Aoi-no-Ue in the kaomise drama "Miyasundokoro Monomiguruma".

3rd lunar month of 1709: Kiyosaburô achieved a great success at the Nakamuraza by playing the role of Yaoya Oshichi.

Fall 1709: Kiyosaburô went back to Kyôto.

11th lunar month of 1709: Kiyosaburô performed in Kyôto in the kaomise drama "Kokonotsu Kogura Hitotsubu Manbai", which was produced by Miyako Mandayû for the nadai Hayagumo Chôdayû.

Fall 1710: Kiyosaburô went to Edo.

11th lunar month of 1710: Kiyosaburô played in at the Yamamuraza in the kaomise drama "Jinriki Teika Azuma Asobi"; his main stage partners were Ichikawa Danjûrô II, Ôtani Hiroji I, Ikushima Shingorô, Ôtani Hiroemon I, Asao Jûjirô I, Kokan Tarôji I and Sakurayama Shirosaburô I.

11th lunar month of 1711: Kiyosaburô moved to the Nakamuraza and played the role of Hanadori-no-Mae in the kaomise drama "Mitsu Uroko Katoku Biraki".

1st lunar month of 1712: Kiyosaburô played in the same theater the role of Soga Gorô's lover, the courtesan Kewaizaka no Shôshô, in the new year drama "Kotobuki Maizuru Soga"; the role of Soga Gorô Tokimune was played by Matsumoto Koshirô.

1st lunar month of 1713: Kiyosaburô appeared on stage for the last time, in Edo at the Nakamuraza, performing in the new year sogamono drama "Ôkazari Kanô Soga". Kiyosaburô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

15th day of the 5th lunar month of 1713 ^[1]: Kiyosaburô died in Edo.

Comments:

Arashi Kiyosaburô I was a talented onnagata actor, who made a short but successful career from the end of the Genroku era to the beginning of the Shôtoku era. He was able to perform any kind of role and excelled in nuregoto and in keisei roles. He was so successful in the role of Yaoya Oshichi, the archetype of a strong-willed Edo woman, that his blazon, the fujibumi blazon (an envelope within a circle), was used by subsequent actors playing this role and became identified as the blazon of Yaoya Oshichi.

[1] The 15th day of the 5th lunar month of the 3rd year of the Shôtoku era was the 7th of June 1713 in the western calendar.

[2] The 7th day of the 11th lunar month of the 14th year of the Genroku era was the 6th of December 1701 in the western calendar.

Arashi Kiyosaburô I (left) and Nakamura Denkurô I (right) playing the roles of Hanadori-no-Mae and Nikaidô Tôtazaemon in the drama "Mitsu Uroko Katoku Biraki", which was staged in the 11th lunar month of 1711 at the Nakamuraza

Print made by Torii Kiyonobu in 1711

The Arashi Kiyosaburô line of actors