Stage names:

Arashi Kitsusaburô VI
Nakamura Tomitarô
Bandô Takeshirô
Bandô Tsurukichi

Real name: Ishihara Arata

Guild: Itamiya

Line number: ROKUDAIME (VI)

Birthday: 22 October 1944

Connections:

Master: Nakamura Tomijûrô

Career:

October 1944: born in the city of Kuwana (Mie prefecture).

May 1963: he became disciple of Bandô Tsurunosuke IV and appeared on stage for the first time, at the Ôsaka Shinkabukiza, where he received the name of Bandô Tsurukichi.

May 1964: Bandô Tsurunosuke IV and Bandô Tsurukichi took at the Kabukiza the respective names of Ichimura Takenojô VI and Bandô Takeshirô.

September 1972: Ichimura Takenojô VI and Bandô Takeshirô took at the Kabukiza the respective names of Nakamura Tomijûrô V and Nakamura Tomitarô.

October 1977: Tomitarô became nadai and took at the Shinbashi Enbujô the prestigious name of Arashi Kitsusaburô VI, playing the roles of the yakko Kikuhei and Yamashita Mondo in the dramas "Ishikiri Kajiwara" and "Kinkakuji".

March 1991: revival at the National Theatre of Namiki Gohei I's play "Sode Nikki Banshû Meguri"; Kitsusaburô played the role of the hyakushô Kôsaku [more details].

June 2005: Chikamatsuza tour in the USA with Nakamura Ganjirô, Nakamura Kanjaku and Nakamura Kikaku. The program was made up of the dance "Bô Shibari" and Chikamatsu Monzaemon's masterpiece "Sonezaki Shinjû"; Kitsusaburô played the role of Sone Matsubê and Hiranoya Tokubê's uncle Kyûemon in the former and latter items [more details].

November 2013: Kitsusaburô joined the first league of Kabuki actors (kanbu shôshin); he played at the Kabukiza the role of Ono no Kudayû in the 4th and 7th acts of the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

November 2015: revival at the National Theatre of the drama "Shinrei Yaguchi no Watashi" (tôshi kyôgen in 4 acts); Kitsusaburô played the role of the priest Dônen [more details|casting].

March 2017: "Igagoe Dôchû Sugoroku" was staged as a tôshi kyôgen at the National Theatre. The core of this revival was "Okazaki". The third act, commonly called "Engakuji", which was staged for the last time in February 1931 at the Meijiza, was revived as well; Kitsusaburô played the role of Wada Yukie [more details | casting].

Comments:

Arashi Kitsusaburô VI is a very active and talented supporting tachiyaku, who proved that he was worthy holding such a prestigious name. He plays frequently the role of the condemned man when his master Nakamura Tomijûrô plays the leading role of Kajiwara in the drama "Ishikiri Kajiwara". He is also a reputed tachimawari choreographer.

The Arashi Kitsusaburô line of actors