Stage name:

Arashi Sangorô I

Nickname: Kyôya Kiyû

Guild: Kyôya

Poetry name: Kiyû

Line number: SHODAI (I)

Existence: 1687 ~ 12th day of the 7th lunar month of 1739 ^[1]

Connection:

Masters: Arashi San'emon III, Arashi Kanshirô I

Son: Arashi Raishi I (Arashi Sangorô II)

Son-in-law: Onogawa Kamegiku

Grandson: Arashi Raishi II (Arashi Sangorô III)

Great-grandsons: Arashi Raishi III, Arashi Sangorô IV

Disciples: Arashi Otohachi I, Arashi Shichigorô I, Arashi Bungorô I (?)

Career:

1687 ~ 1721: born in a house of farmers named Shimada. His first name was Kumagorô. He joined a troupe of children-actors (kodomo shibai) and performed at the Takeda no Shibai. He was spotted by Arashi Kanshirô I, who welcomed him on as a disciple and gave him the name of Arashi Sangorô I.

Fall 1721: he became disciple of Arashi San'emon III.

11th lunar month of 1721: Sangorô became tachiyaku and played at the Higashi no Shibai (Ôsaka) the role of Izuminosuke in the kaomise "Tenryû Chiryû Kogane no Suzunari", which was produced by his master.

11th lunar month of 1722: Sangorô played at the Kado no Shibai the role of Ashikaga Matatarô in the kaomise drama "Shingoten Aioi no Komatsu", which was produced by Arashi San'emon III.

11th lunar month of 1723: great kaomise in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai to celebrate the arrival of the Edo star Ôtani Hiroji I. The zamoto Arashi San'emon III produced the drama "Kogane no Hanagata" in which Sangorô played the role of Yomosaku.

1st lunar month of 1724: premiere at the Kado no Shibai of "Edoe Ukiyo Soga", an Edo-flavored new year drama welcoming in Ôsaka the Edo actor Ôtani Hiroji I; Sangorô played the role of Oniô Shinzaemon [more details].

Fall 1726: Sangorô went to Edo with Tsugawa Kamon.

11th lunar month of 1726: Sangorô achieved a great success at the Ichimuraza by performing in the kaomise drama "Hinazuru Tokiwa Genji".

Fall 1728: Sangorô went to Kyôto.

11th lunar month of 1728: Sangorô played at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater the role of Yomohachi in the kaomise drama "Daimyô Kogane no Uroko", which was produced by Sanogawa Mangiku.

Fall 1730: Sangorô went to Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1730: Sangorô played at the Kado no Shibai the role of Kokonoe Kinjûrô in the kaomise drama "Matsukane Fukki no Ishizue".

3rd lunar month of 1734: Sangorô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1738: Sangorô became zamoto and produced at the Naka no Shibai the kaomise drama "Fuji Daiko Wagô no Shirabe".

12th day of the 7th lunar month of 1739 ^[1]: Sangorô died of physical exhaustion while producing in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai the drama "Tsu-no-Kuni Shikanjima".

Comments:

Arashi Sangorô I was a talented and popular tachiyaku actor, born and trained in Kamigata, who excelled in jitsugoto or yatsushigoto, especially in sewamono dramas. He was also an outstanding dancer, especially in hengemono or hyôshigoto.

[1] The 12th day of the 7th lunar month of the 4th year of the Genbun era was the 16th of August 1739 in the western calendar.

Tsugawa Kamon (top) and Arashi Sangorô I (bottom) in a print made by Torii Kiyomasu II in 1727 [Minneapolis Institute of Art (print in the public domain)]

Prints & Illustrations

The Arashi Sangorô line of actors