Stage names:

Anegawa Kikuhachi
Arashi San'emon VII
Arashi Koroku II
Anegawa Kikuhachi

Guild: Daikokuya

Poetry name: Wafû

Existence: ???

Connection:

Masters: Arashi Hinasuke I, Anegawa Daikichi

Career:

Before 1765: he starts his career as a disciple of the actor Anegawa Daikichi, who gives him the name of Anegawa Kikuhachi and trains him as a wakaonnagata. He is also adopted by the Toyotakeza puppeteer Fujii Kosaburô II.

11th lunar month of 1765: Kikuhachi becomes zamoto in Ôsaka, producing the kaomise drama "Hanayagura Kikigaki Taiheiki".

1775: he becomes a disciple of Arashi Hinasuke I.

10th lunar month of 1775: his master's father Arashi Koroku I retires under the name of Arashi Koshichi I. It is decided to give his stage name to Kikuhachi.

11th lunar month of 1775: Anegawa Kikuhachi takes the name of Arashi Koroku II in Kyôto, playing the role of Miura Danjô's wife Sawarabi in the kaomise drama "Kono Hana Sakae Hachinoki"; his stage partners are Onoe Kikugorô I, Nakamura Jûzô II, Onoe Shinshichi I, Onoe Matsusuke I, Arashi Tôjûrô, Arashi Shichigorô II, Somematsu Shichisaburô II (who also celebrates his shûmei), Fujikawa Sango, Asao Toyozô, Matsuyama Kogenji (who also celebrates his shûmei), Sakata Raizô, Nakamura Shôgorô (who also celebrates his shûmei), Asao Kunigorô I, Arashi Matsunojô IV and Arashi Shigenoi.

11th lunar month of 1777: Koroku plays at the Minamigawa no Shibai the role of Oume in the kaomise drama "Yunzei Nanshi no Sakigake".

1st lunar month of 1778: Koroku's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent).

15th day of the 1st lunar month of 1787: his first master Anegawa Daikichi dies.

Summer 1790: Arashi Koroku II takes the name of Arashi San'emon VII.

Fall 1791: Arashi San'emon VII takes back the name of Anegawa Kikuhachi.

29th day of the 3rd lunar month of 1796: his second master Arashi Koroku III dies.

Spring 1797: Kikuhachi's rank in the hama shibai hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).

1798: Kikuhachi performs at the Kita Shinchi no Shibai and at the Goryô no Shibai in Ôsaka.

1799: Kikuhachi performs at the Kadomaru no Shibai in Ôsaka.

1800: Kikuhachi performs at the Amida-ga-Ike no Shibai in Ôsaka.

Comments:

Anegawa Kikuhachi was a Kamigata onnagata, who was active from the beginning of the Meiwa era to 1800. He held two of the most prestigious names in Kamigata Kabuki but did not really achieved fame for himself in ôshibai. He was more successful in hama shibai or miyaji shibai. No records of stage performances after 1800.

The actors Ichikawa Otojûrô (left), Hanagiri Toyomatsu III (top right) and Anegawa Kikuhachi (bottom right) playing the roles of Hidesato's yakko Otohei, Hidesato's wife Shikinami and Hidesato's daughter Princess Kotobuki in the kaomise drama "Temomutsumajiya Ryûgû no Shimadai", which was staged in the 11th lunar month of 1771 at the Naka no Shibai

The Arashi Koroku line of actors

The Arashi San'emon line of actors