Stage names:

Ichikawa Arajirô I
Nakamura Arajirô
Nakamura Kanô
Ichikawa Fukuzô I
Ichikawa Akago

Real name: Nakamura Arajirô

Guilds: Daikokuya, Takashimaya, Wakamatsuya ^[1]

Line number: SHODAI (I)

Poetry name: Baikyô

Existence: 2nd day of the 7th lunar month of 1850 ^[2]: ~ 2 August 1907

Connections:

Master: Ichikawa Kodanji IV

Brothers: Nakamura Jusaburô III, Ichikawa Sadanji I

Son: Ichikawa Arajirô II

Grandson: Ichikawa Arajirô III

Career:

1850: born in Ôsaka. His father Nakamura Seikichi was a theater hair-dresser. His elder brothers were Ichikawa Sadanji I and Nakamura Jusaburô III.

Disciple of Ichikawa Kodanji IV, his first stage name was Ichikawa Akago. He took the name of Ichikawa Fukuzô I around 1856.

8th day of the 5th lunar month of 1866 ^[3]: his master Ichikawa Kodanji IV died.

Around 1870: he became Nakamura Kanô.

June 1871: he took the name of Nakamura Arajirô (his real name).

June 1876: premiere at the Shintomiza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Hototogisu Date no Kikigaki"; Arajirô played the roles of Watanabe Ginpei and Matsuura Shume [casting].

February 1885: Arajirô took part in the opening ceremony of the Chitoseza [more details].

July 1885: Arajirô played at the Kiriza the role of Shôjiki Shôdayû in the drama "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba".

Around March 1889: he took the name of Ichikawa Arajirô I.

March 1890: premiere at the Kiriza of Takeshiba Kisui's drama "Kami no Megumi Wagô no Torikumi"; Arajirô played the role of the sumôtori Aranami Kamenosuke [more details].

Fall 1893: Arajirô went on tour in Niigata, Nagoya, Ôsaka and Toyohashi with his brother Ichikawa Sadanji I.

November 1893: Arajirô took part in the opening ceremony of the Meijiza, rebuilt and managed by his brother Ichikawa Sadanji I [more details].

May 1894: Arajirô performed at the Meijiza, where his son Ichikawa Fukuzô II made his debut on stage.

31 August 1896: his brother Nakamura Jusaburô III died.

August 1897: Arajirô played at the Engiza the role of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane in the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki".

7 August 1904: his brother Ichikawa Sadanji I died.

July 1905: Arajirô played at the Meijiza the role of Tsuribune Sabu in the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami"; the roles of Danshichi Kurobê and Issun Tokubê were played by Ichikawa Enshô II and Ichikawa Kodanji V.

November 1906: Arajirô appeared on stage for the last time, in Tôkyô at the Shintomiza, where he performed in the drama "Suikoden Yuki no Danmari".

2 August 1907: Arajirô died.

Comments:

Ichikawa Arajirô I was a tachiyaku actor, who was active from the first half of the 1850s to the second half of the 1900s. He was a physically imposing actor, built for sumôtori roles, with a gentle personality. He often performed as a wakiyaku for his brother Ichikawa Sadanji I.

[1] Wakamatsuya was his yagô when he performed under the name of Nakamura Arajirô.

[2] The 2nd day of the 7th lunar month of the 3rd year of the Kaei era was the 9th of August 1850 in the western calendar.

[3] The 8th day of the 5th lunar month of the 2nd year of the Keiô era was the 20th of June 1866 in the western calendar.

Ichikawa Arajirô I playing the role of the sumôtori Tetsugadake in the drama "Sekitori Senryô Nobori"

The Ichikawa Arajirô line of actors