Actor triptychs

1815-1829

 

Actors: Nakamura Utaemon III as Omiwa (おみわ, left) and Ichikawa Ichizô I as Kanawagorô Imakuni (金ハ五郎今国, right)

PlayImoseyama onna teikin (妹背山婦女庭訓Imoseyama, an Example of Womanly Virtue)

Date: 7th month of 1815

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Yamamoto-ya Heikichi

 

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image. 

Actors: Nakamura Utaemon III as Shundo Jiroemon

Play: Katakiuchi tsuzure no nishiki (敵討襤褸錦敵討襤褸錦)

Date: 9th month of 1815

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher:

Actors: Onoe Baikô III as Ushiwaka (牛若, left) and Nakamura Utaemon III as Kiichi [Hôgen] (鬼一, right)

Play: Kiichi Hôgen sanryaku no maki (Kiichi Hôgen’s Book of Strategy, 鬼一法眼三略巻)

Date: 10th month of 1815

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Yamamoto-ya Heikichi

Actors: Ichikawa Danjûrô VII as Kumasaka Chohan (熊坂長はん, left), Iwai Hanshirô V as Hachijo no tsubone (為とものてかけ八丈局, center), and Asao Yujirô I as Tosa Jirô Masatoshi (土佐次郎昌俊, right)

Play: Kiyomori Eiga no Utena (清盛栄花台)

Date: 11th month of 1816

Theater: Kawarasaki

Publisher: Iwato-ya Kisaburô 

 

NOTE: Each sheet is signed “Saihôsha Kuniyoshi ga (採芳舎 国芳 ), a signature Kuniyoshi used early in his career.

Actors: Iwai Hanshirô V as Sakurahime (桜姫, left) and Ichikawa Danjûrô VII as Tsurigane Gonsuke (right)

Play: Sakura Hime Azuma Bunshô (桜姫東文章)

Date: 3rd month of 1817

Theater: Kawarasaki

Publisher:

Ichikawa Danjûrô VII as Agemaki no Sukeroku & Matsumoto Koshirô V as Hige no Ikyu 'Sukeroku yukari no Edo zakura' at the Tamakawa (3)1819

Actors: Ichikawa Danjûrô VII as Agemaki no Sukeroku and Matsumoto Koshirô V as Hige no Ikyu (standing)

Play: Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura (助六所縁江戸桜, Sukeroku, Flower of Edo)

Date: 3rd month of 1819

Theater: Tamakawa

Publisher:

 

NOTE: This print is about 13 by 5 inches (33 by 14.5 centimeters), a size known as hosoban. 

Actors: Onoe Kikugorô III as Ono Sadakurô (斧定九郎)

Play: Kiku no entsuki no shiranami (菊宴月白浪)

Theater: Kawarazaki

Date: 9th month of 1821

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Shôzô

 

I am grateful to John Scott for this image and to Robert Pryor for information about the print.

Actors: Left sheet: Ichikawa Danjûrô VII as Hiki no Hangan Yorikazu and Bandô Mitsuemon I as Shikama Takube

Right sheet: Iwai Shijaku I as Izayoi no Rin, wife of Sanpei

PlayKanadehon Chûshingura (仮名手本忠臣蔵)

Date: 1st month of 1824

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Azuma-ya Daisuke

Actors: Iwai Shijaku I as Onoe (尾上, left) and Ichikawa Danjûrô VII as Iwafuji (岩藤, right)

Play: Botan ni cho itsuka fumibako (牡丹蝶初筐)

Date: 3rd month of 1824

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Azuma-ya Daisuke

 

NOTE: The character called Onoe (尾上) in this play us usually called Ohatsu (お初).  I am grateful to Lucienne Parkan for this image.

Actors: Left sheet: Onoe Kikugorô III as Hikosô (彦惣, in purple) and Segawa Kikunojô V as Kogane (小金, female role)

Right sheet: Onoe Kikugorô III as Tamaya Shinbei (玉屋新兵衛) and Seki Sanjûrô II as Ukai Kujûrô (鵜飼九十郎, on top)

Play: Hanagumori sato no getakasa (花曇艶街下駄傘, Wooden Sandals and Umbrellas on a Cloudy Day amidst Cherry Blossoms)

Date: 3rd month of 1824

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Azuma-ya Daisuke

Actors: Left sheet: Segawa Kikunojô V as the geisha Osaku

Right sheet: Ichikawa Monnosuke III as the geisha Oyoshi (standing) ans Iwai Kumesaburô II as the kamuro Chidori 

Play: 酒償色三肩(possibly read as Sadashi Mashiro no Sanmai

Date: 5th month of 1824

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Azuma-ya Daisuke

 

I am grateful to Lucienne Parkan for this image. 

Actors: Iwai Kumesaburô II as the courtesan Koman (けいしやだつきの小まん, left), Matsumoto Kôshirô V as Satsuma Gengobê (さつま源五兵衛 実ハ不破数右衛門, center), and Ichikawa Danjûrô VII as Sasanoya Sangorô (笹のや舟頭三五郎, right)

Play: Kamikakete Sango taisetsu (盟三五大切)

Theater: Nakamura

Date: 9th month of 1825

Publisher: Matsumura Tatsuemon

 

I am grateful to Lucienne Parkan for this image.

Actors: Onoe Kikugorô III as Rokusaburô (六三郎)

Play: Keisei Date no Kikigaki (けいせい伊達抄)

Date: 1st month of 1826

Theater:

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Shôzô

Actors: Iwai Kumesaburô II as wife (nyôbô) Otoku (女房 お徳, left), Seki Sanjûrô II in his farewell performance (before going on tour) as Matahei (onagori Matahei, 御名残又平, center), and Mimasu Morizô as the maidservant (gejo, 下女, right)

Play: Keisei hangonkô (けいせい反魂香)

Date: 9th month of 1826

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Matsumura Tatsuemon

 

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image and information.

1826-9Keisei

Actors: Segawa Kikunojô V as Kojorô (小女郎)

Play: Keisei hangonkô (けいせい反魂香)

Date: 9th month of 1826

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Matsumura Tatsuemon

 

I am grateful to Marc DeVriese for this image.

Actors: Ichikawa Danjûrô VII (left), Bandô Mitsugorô III (center), and Iwai Kumesaburô II (right) in unidentified roles

Play: Ise Heishi Rishô no kaomise (伊勢平氏恵顔鏡)

Date: 11th month of 1826

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Tsuru-ya Kiemon

 

I am grateful to Lucienne Parkan for identifying this image.

Another state of the above design

Actors: Bandô Mitsugorô III (left), Ichikawa Danjûrô VII (center), and Iwai Kumesaburô II (right) in unidentified roles

Play: Ise Heishi Rishô no kaomise (伊勢平氏恵顔鏡)

Date: 11th month of 1826

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Matsumura Tatsuemon

 

I am grateful to Lucienne Parkan for identifying this image.

Actors: Sawamura Tosshô I as Shirasuka Rokurô leaning on a naginata (left), Ôtani Tomoemon II as Saito Dozan holding a scroll (center), and Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Takeda Katsuyori (武田勝頼) standing near a house (right)

Play: Honchô Nijûshikô (本朝廿四孝, 24 Examples of Filial Piety in Japan)

Date: 3rd month of 1827

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Yamada-ya Shôbei

Triptych title: Nissaka Station Area [on the Tokaido] (Nissaka Iriyama Tsumura no ba, 日坂入山津村の場)

Actors: Bandô Mitsugorô III as Teranishi Kanshin, in reality Date no Yosaku (寺西かんしん 実ハ丹波与作, left), Ichikawa Danjûrô VII as Edobei, in reality Fujikawa Mizuemon (江戸平 実ハ藤川水右衛門, center), and Onoe Kikugorô III as Nippon Daemon (二本駄右衛門, right)

Play: Hitori tabi Gojusan tsugi (独道中五十三駅)

Date: 6th month of 1827

Theater: Kawarasaki

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Uhei

 

NOTE: The flames indicate that there is something supernatural happening

Kuniyoshi - (mask, hole) L- Ichikawa Danjûrô VII; C- Onoe Kikugorô III as Shirai Gonpachi; R- Onoe Kikugorô III as Jinenjo Kozô Sankichi, Iwai Kumesaburô II as Shigenoi-hime in 'Hitori tabi Gojusan tsugi' (6)1827

Triptych title: The Scene of the Suzuka Mountains at Minakuchi and the Noji Jewel River at Kusatsu (水口すゞか山場 草津のぢの玉川, Minakuchi Suzukayama no ba, Kusatsu Noji no Tamagawa)

Actors: Left sheet: Ichikawa Danjûrô VII as Yui Minbunosuke (由井民部之助)

Center sheet: Onoe Kikugorô III as Shirai Gonpachi (白井権八) holding the severed head of the demon Ôeyama (Shuten-dôji)

Right sheet: Onoe Kikugorô III as Jinenjo Kozô Sankichi (しねんしよこぞう三吉) and Iwai Kumesaburô II as Shigenoi-hime (重の井姫)

Play: Hitori tabi Gojusan tsugi (独道中五十三駅)

Date: 6th month of 1827

Theater: Kawarasaki

Publisher: Yamaguchi-ya Tobei

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this variant of the above design.

Actors: Bandô Tamasaburô as the courtesan Higaki (おはん, left) and Onoe Kikugorô III as Kuwanaya Tokuzô (桑名や徳蔵, right)

PlayHitori tabi Gojusan tsugi (独道中五十三駅)

Date: 6th month of 1827

TheaterKawarasaki

Publisher: Ômi-ya Heihachi

 

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for information about this diptych.

Sheet from another state of the above design without floorboards.

Actors: Left sheet: Iwai Kumesaburô II as Gihei’s wife Osono (おその)

Right sheet: Ichikawa Danjûrô VII as Gihei (儀兵衛) and Bandô Mitsugorô III as Ôboshi Yuranosuke (大星由良之助)

Play: Kanadehon Chûshingura (仮名手本忠臣蔵), Act 10

Theater: Ichimura

Date: 7th month of 1827

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Uhei

 

I am grateful to Milan Kulheim for the left sheet, to Lucienne Parkan for the right sheet, and to Horst Graebner for information about the diptych.

Actors: Iwai Kumesaburô II as Okaru (おかる)

PlayKanadehon Chûshingura (仮名手本忠臣蔵), Act VII

Date: 7th month of 1827

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Takahashi-ya Takakichi (榮 高橋屋)

 

NOTE:  The identification of the performance is tentative.  Iwai Kumesaburô II played the role of Okaru four times: 1825, 1827, 1830 and 1832.  An additional problem is that, according to Publishers of Japanese Woodblock Prints: A Compendium by Andreas Marks, the publisher Takahashi-ya Takakichi was active c. 1844-1847, suggesting that the woodblocks were purchased from the original publisher and reissued.  I am grateful to Frederik Balhuizen and Josta Klaassen for this image, and to Lucienne Parkan and Horst Graebner for information about the print. 

Actors: Segawa Kikunojô V (left), Nakamura Shikan II (center) and Iwai Hanshirô V (right)

Play: Kinbusen Yosooi Genji (金峯山艶色源氏)

Date: 11th month of 1827

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Kaga-ya Kichiemon

Actors: Arashi Kamenojô II as Tamao hime (玉折姫, left) and Nakamura Shikan II as Kumagai Jiro Naozane (熊谷次郎直実, right)

Play: Ichinotani futaba gunki (一谷嫩軍記)

Date: 3rd month of 1828

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Chôzô

 

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

Actors: Bandô Mitsugorô III as Yogorô (与五郎, left), Ichikawa Danjûrô VII as Taheiji (太平次, center) and Iwai Kumesaburô II as nyôbô Oyone (与五郎女房およね, right)

Play: Ehon gappô gatsuji (絵本合法衢)

Date: 9th month of 1828

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Uhei

 

NOTE: The object in the left-upper corner is a group of straw sandals (waraji, 草鞋 ) bound together. 

Actor: Ichikawa Komazô V as Ushiwakamaru (牛若丸), Gengobei (源五兵衛), Sangobei (三五兵衛), Kisanta (喜三太), and as ☆ヶ谷

Date: 1828

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Shôzô 

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