Stage names:

Arashi Rikan V
Arashi Tokusaburô V
Arashi Wasaburô III
Arashi Hidejirô

Real name: Asakawa Iwagorô

Guild: Hamuraya

Line number: GODAIME (V)

Poetry name: Shishi

Existence: 11th day of the 3rd lunar month of 1871 ~ 6 September 1920

Connections:

Grandfather (???): Arashi Kitsusaburô I (Arashi Rikan I)

Adoptive father: Arashi Rikan IV

Disciple: Arashi Tokusaburô VI

Career:

3rd lunar month of 1871: born in Ôsaka in the pleasures district of Sôemon-chô. His father was a wealthy Ôsaka merchant, who was a patron of the actor Arashi Rikan IV. It was said that one of his grandfathers was none other than the great actor Arashi Kitsusaburô I.

1875: the family business went bankrupt and he was adopted by Arashi Rikan IV.

1876: first stage appearance, at the Nakaza, where he received the name of Arashi Hidejirô and performed in the drama "Keisei Awa no Naruto".

September 1881: Arashi Hidejirô took the name of Arashi Wasaburô III at the Ichimuraza, performing with his adoptive father in the drama "Seki-ga-Hara Tôzai Gunki".

June 1882: premiere at the Saruwakaza of Kawatake Mokuami's Nagauta-based matsubamemono "Imayô Mochizuki" (commonly called "Mochizuki"); Wasaburô played the role of Hanawaka [casting].

December 1888: Arashi Wasaburô III took the name of Arashi Tokusaburô V at the Kitagawa no Shibai.

Summer 1890: Tokusaburô and his lover elope to Tôkyô after a quarrel with his adoptive father. This affair caused quite a stir in Ôsaka. Tokusaburô went back to Ôsaka in August and reconciled with Arashi Rikan IV thanks to the efforts of both Kataoka Gadô III and Ichikawa Udanji I.

31 May 1894: his adoptive father Arashi Rikan IV died.

July 1903: Tokusaburô played at the Bentenza (Ôsaka) the role of Tamate Gozen in the drama "Sesshû Gappô-ga-Tsuji"; his stage partners were Arashi Kitsusaburô IV (Gappô) and Kataoka Gadô IV (Takayasu Shuntokumaru).

August 1904: Tokusaburô played at the Kadoza the role of Sôshichi in the drama "Koi Minato Hakata no Hitofushi"; his stage partners were Jitsukawa Enjaku II (Kezori) and Nakamura Shibajaku IV (the courtesan Kojorô).

November 1911: Tokusaburô played at the Nakaza the role of Princess Yaegaki in the "Jusshukô" scene of the drama "Honchô Nijûshikô"; his stage partners were Jitsukawa Enjaku II (Katsuyori) and Nakamura Naritarô I (Nureginu).

January 1916: Tokusaburô played at the Naniwaza (Ôsaka) the role of Tôkichi in the drama "Kinkakuji"; his stage partners were Arashi Ganshô (Daizen) and Kataoka Gadô IV (Princess Yuki). This play was staged with the same casting in April at the Suehiroza (Nagoya).

May 1918: Arashi Tokusaburô V took the name of Arashi Rikan V at the Nakaza.

December 1919: Rikan played at the Naniwaza (Ôsaka) the roles of Kakogawa Honzô, Okaru, Ishidô Umanojô and Momonoi Wakasanosuke in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

6 September 1920: Rikan died in Ôsaka.

Comments:

Arashi Rikan V was a talented kaneru yakusha, who was very popular in Kamigata and proved that he was the worthy heir of a distinguished line of actors. He retired in Kyôto in the middle of the nineties (of the 19th century) but his numerous fans succeeded in calling him back on stage. He played in many new played in his latter years. He was nicknamed kakeochi yakusha ("the elopement actor") because of the 1890 love affair.

Arashi Rikan V

Print made by Morikawa Chikashige in 1882

Print made by Toyohara Kunichika in 1883

The Arashi Wasaburô line of actors

The Arashi Tokusaburô line of actors

The Arashi Rikan line of actors