Stage names:

Arashi Rikaku V
Arashi Kakuzô V
Arashi Katsunosuke

Real name: Ôe Katsunosuke

Guild: Teshimaya

Line number: GODAIME (V)

Poetry name: Kakô

Existence: 3 September 1900 ~ 27 December 1980

Connection:

Uncle (and adoptive father): Arashi Rikaku IV

Son: Arashi Kakuzô VI

Career:

3rd of September 1900: born in Ôsaka.

1903: nephew and adopted son of Arashi Rikaku IV, he started his career in Ôsaka at the Bentenza, performing under the name of Arashi Katsunosuke in a Shinpa drama.

July 1913: Arashi Katsunosuke took the name of Arashi Kakuzô V.

1930s ~ 1940s: Kakuzô became a good nimaime in Nakamura Senjaku I's troupe.

24 November 1918: his adoptive father Arashi Rikaku IV died.

March 1945: while Japan's major cities were destroyed by American air raids, Arashi Kakuzô V took the name of Arashi Rikaku V, playing at the Nakaza the role of Mashiba Hisayoshi in the drama "Ehon Taikôki".

February 1948: Rikaku played at Minamiza the role of Sagisaka Bannai in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

October 1972: Rikaku played at the Misonoza the roles of Katôta, Edoya Tahê and Kawatsura Hôgen in "Meiboku Sendai Hagi", "Shinjû Ten no Amijima" and "Kawatsura Hôgen Yakata". This was his last performances in Nagoya in a special kaomise program which celebrated the shûmei of Nakamura Tomijûrô V.

December 1979: Rikaku played for the last time the role of Sagisaka Bannai in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura", in Kyôto at the Minamiza.

June 1980: Rikaku played at the Nakaza the roles of Matsuya Gen'emon and the rakugo storyteller Gokyôtei Aishô in "Shinpan Ukina no Yomiuri" and "Kirare Yosa". This was his last performances in Ôsaka.

November 1980: Rikaku played at the Kabukiza the role of the inkyo Hansai in the drama "Obiya". This was his last performances in Tôkyô.

December 1980: Rikaku appeared on stage for the last time, in Kyôto at the Minamiza, where he played the role of Tenmaya Sôbê in the drama "Sonezaki Shinjû".

27th of December 1980: Rikaku died.

Comments:

Arashi Rikaku V was an outsanding supporting actor for the Kamigata Kabuki. One of his best roles was Sagisaka Bannai in the third and seventh acts of the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura". He was also the father of Arashi Kakuzô VI who unfortunately quickly stopped acting.

Nakamura Ganjirô II (left) and Arashi Rikaku V (right) playing the roles of the bantô Zenroku and Matsuya Gen'emon in the drama "Shinpan Ukina no Yomiuri" (illustration courtesy of RANCHUROW (2009) all rights reserved)

The Arashi Rikaku line of actors