Arashi Rikan II

In 1800, Arashi appeared on stage for the first time in Osaka where he received the name of Arashi Tokusaburō II (二代目 嵐 徳三郎).

He spent the first two decades of his career on the stages of minor theatres across the Kamigata region.^[1] He took the name Rikan II in 1828.

Small in stature, Rikan II was famous for his striking eyes. He was given the moniker Metoku (目徳; transl. Toku of the Eyes), from the characters moku (目; lit. 'eye') and the toku (徳) of his original stage name Tokusaburō.^[1]

He was the particular favourite of artist Shunbaisai Hokuei (fl. 1824-1837) and appears in most of his prints.^[2]

He performed until his death in 1837, and was buried in Osaka. Nakamura Utaemon IV attended his funeral. The Arashi Rikan line continued into the fifth generation, dying out in 1920.^[1]

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  Arashi Rikan II as Osome
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  Arashi Rikan II as Inuyama Dōsetsu (犬山 道節) from the Hakkenden
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  Arashi Rikan II as Higuchi Kanemitsu [ja] (d. 1184), a retainer of Kiso Yoshinaka