The Fifty-three Stations on Shank’s Mare

(Hizakurige go-jû-san eki, 膝栗毛五十三驛)

1854

“Shank’s mare” is a British expression that means walking, especially when unable to use another form of transportation. These prints illustrate the comic kabuki play Tabi suzume aiyado banashi (旅雀我好話) which was performed at the Nakamura Theater in the seventh month of 1854. The total number of prints is unknown, but each illustrates a station along the Tôkaidô. The play, in turn, was based upon a comic novel by Jippensha Ikku titled Hizakurige go-jû-san eki, which is usually translated as The Fifty-three Stations on Shank’s Mare. The prints in this series are each about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as ôban. The series is listed as number 204 in Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson (Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1961).

	Station: Odeawara (小田原宿) Actors: Nakayama Ichizô I as Yajirobei (弥二郎兵衛), Ôtani Tokuji as the maidservant Otoku (下女 おとく), Nakamura Tsurozô I as Kitahachi (喜多八), and an unidentified actor as 後家お猿 Description: Traveller Kitahachi in a bath helped by servants while Yajirobei looks in from outside Publisher: Ebi-ya Rinnosuke
	Station: Yui (由井宿) Actors: Unidentified actor as Saruichi (さる市), unidentified actor as Osai (おさい), Nakamura Tsuruzô I as Kitahachi (喜太八), unidentified actor as 鴫吉, Nakayama Ichizô I as Yajirô (弥次郎), and Arashi Wonkichi III as 犬市 Description: Yaji, Kita, Saruichi, Inuichi, the maid Osai, and blind men at the inn of Yui Station Publisher: Ôta-ya Takichi
	Station: Okitsu (奥津川の場) Actors: Arashi Otohachi III as 犬市, Nakayama Ichizô I as Yajirobee (弥二郎兵衛), Nakamura Tsurozô I as Kitahachi (キ太八), and an unidentified actor as さる市 Description: Publisher: Tsujioka-ya Bunsuke
Station: Odawara (小田原宿) Actors: Left sheet: Nakamura Ichizô I as Yajirobei and Arashi Wonkichi III as Yadoroku (与太兵衛) Right sheet: Nakamura Tsuruzô I as Kitahachi (喜太八) and Ôtani Tokuji as the maidservant (gejo) Otoku (下女おとく) Description: Publisher: Ebi-ya Rinnosuke

“Robinson” refers to listing of the series in Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson (Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1961).

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