Stage names:

Arashi San'emon VI
Arashi Matsujirô I

Guild: Yoshidaya

Line number: ROKUDAIME (VI)

Poetry names: Ranshi, Bunsha

Existence: 1760 ~ 26th day of the 8th lunar month of 1785 ^[1]

Connection:

Career:

1760 ~ 1773: according to the book "Kabuki Jinmei Jiten", he started his career as a disciple Arashi Sanjûrô II ^[2] who gave him the name of Arashi Matsujirô I and trained him as a wakashugata. Later on, he joined Arashi Hinasuke I at an unknown date.

11th lunar month of 1773: Matsujirô became zamoto and produced the kaomise drama "Itari Yaitari Mukadeyama" at the Naka no Shibai.

5th lunar month of 1774: Matsujirô produced in the same theater the drama "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata". He also became wakaonnagata.

8th lunar month of 1774: Matsujirô produced in the same theater the drama "Katakiuchi Ganryûjima".

9th lunar month of 1774: Matsujirô produced in the same theater the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

11th lunar month of 1774: Matsujirô produced in the same theater the kaomise drama "Gosho Zakura Horikawa no Youchi".

1st lunar month of 1775: Matsujirô produced in the same theater the drama "Kumetono Aiaigasa".

4th lunar month of 1775: premiere in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai of Nagawa Kamesuke I's drama "Hade Kurabe Ise Monogatari", which was produced by Matsujirô [more details].

7th lunar month of 1775: Matsujirô produced in the same theater the drama "Otokodate Itsutsu Karigane".

11th lunar month of 1777: Matsujirô played at the Kado no Shibai the role of Princess Yachiyo in the kaomise drama "Ôiri Kabuki no Tsuitachi", which was produced by Ogawa Kichitarô I and celebrated the shûmei of Shibazaki Rinzaemon II.

11th lunar month of 1778: Matsujirô achieved a great success at the Kado no Shibai by playing the role of female fox Kojorô in the kaomise drama "Genpei Tatoezukushi", which was produced by Ogawa Kichitarô I.

1st lunar month of 1779: Matsujirô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was jô-jô (superior - superior) [visual].

3rd lunar month of 1779: premiere in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai of Namiki Gohê's play "Sode Nikki Banshû Meguri"; Matsujirô played the roles of the koshimoto Akashi and Naizen's younger sister Ikuyo [casting].

9th lunar month of 1779: Arashi Matsujirô I took the name of Arashi San'emon VI at the Kado no Shibai, dancing in duo with his master in the shosagoto "Ôtsue no Shosagoto".

Fall 1779: San'emon and his master went to Kyôto.

11th lunar month of 1779: San'emon performed in the kaomise drama "Kaikei Kikkegawara", which was produced in Kyôto by Somematsu Shichisaburô II.

1st lunar month of 1780: San'emon's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was jô-jô (superior - superior) [visual]. Namiki Gohê's drama "Kinmon Gosan no Kiri" was produced for the first time in Kyôto; San'emon played the roles of the courtesan Hanatachibana and Okiku [casting].

6th lunar month of 1781: tour in the Kishû province with his master Arashi Hinasuke I.

9th lunar month of 1781: San'emon played the role of Ofude in the epic drama "Hirakana Seisuiki", which was produced par Yamashita Yaozô I at the Kitagawa no Shibai; his stage partners were Arashi Hinasuke I (Kajiwara Heiji Kagetaka, Matsuemon, Higuchi no Jirô Kanemitsu), Onoe Kikugorô I (Enju, Shigetada), Arashi Sangorô II (Kajiwara Genta Kagesue), Sawamura Kunitarô I (Chidori), Shibazaki Rinzaemon II (Takatsuna, Gonshirô) and Anegawa Minato II (Oyoshi).

1st lunar month of 1784: premiere at the Naka no Shibai of Namiki Gohê's drama "Keisei Yamato Zôshi"; San'emon played the roles of the keisei Konohana and the koshimoto Matsugae [casting].

8th lunar month of 1785: San'emon appeared on stage for the last time, playing the roles of Asagiku and Okabei's sister in the drama "Gokusaishiki Musume Ôgi", which was produced by Arashi Tanin in Ôsaka at the Wakadayû no Shibai.

26th day of the 8th lunar month of 1785 ^[1]: San'emon died in Ôsaka.

Comments:

Arashi San'emon VI was a promising wakaonnagata actor, who had a good potential but unfortunately died too young, before reaching the peak of his art. He spent his short career only in Kamigata theaters, excelling in Princess and Maiden roles.

[1] The 26th day of the 8th lunar month of the 5th year of the Tenmei era was the 29th of September 1785 in the western calendar.

[2] We believe that his master was Arashi Koroku I (the future Arashi San'emon V), not Arashi Sanjûrô II because the latter actor died in 1750, 10 years before the birth of the future Arashi San'emon VI.

Arashi San'emon VI as depicted in the book "Santo Yakusha Omokage Zukushi" published in Ôsaka in 1784 by Yamatoya Kaemon

Prints & Illustrations

The Arashi San'emon line of actors