Stage names:

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

Guild: Daikokuya

Poetry names: Wayû, Wayû

Existence: ???

Connection:

Masters: Arashi Hinasuke I, Anegawa Daikichi I

Career:

Before 1765: he started his career as a disciple of the actor Anegawa Daikichi I, who gave him the name of Anegawa Kikuhachi and trained him as a wakaonnagata. He was also adopted by the Toyotakeza puppeteer Fujii Kosaburô II.

11th lunar month of 1765: Kikuhachi became zamoto in Ôsaka, producing the kaomise drama "Hanayagura Kikigaki Taiheiki" at the Wakadayû no Shibai.

1775: he became a disciple of Arashi Hinasuke I.

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

11th lunar month of 1775: Anegawa Kikuhachi took 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 were Onoe Kikugorô I, Nakamura Jûzô II, Onoe Shinshichi I, Onoe Matsusuke I, Arashi Tôjûrô, Arashi Shichigorô II, Somematsu Shichisaburô II (who also celebrated his shûmei), Fujikawa Sango, Asao Toyozô I, Matsuyama Kogenji (who also celebrated his shûmei), Sakata Raizô, Nakamura Shôgorô (who also celebrated his shûmei), Asao Kunigorô I and Arashi Shigenoi.

11th lunar month of 1777: Koroku played at the Minamigawa no Shibai the role of Oume in the kaomise drama "Yunzei Nanshi no Sakigake", which was produced by Mimasu Jirokichi.

1st lunar month of 1778: Koroku's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent) [visual]. Premiere of Namiki Gohê's drama "Keisei Hakata Ori", which was produced at the Minamigawa no Shibai by Mimasu Jirokichi; Koroku played the role of Omatsu [casting | picture and details].

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1800: Kikuhachi performed 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

Prints & Illustrations

The Arashi Koroku line of actors

The Arashi San'emon line of actors