Actor triptychs

1840, Part I

Actors: Iwai Shijaku I as Rokushaku Kotani (女六人小谷, left) and Ichikawa Danzô V as Sanshichirô Nobutaka (三七郎信孝, right)

Play: Keisei Haru no Tori (けいせい青陽鷦)

Date: 1^st month of 1840

Theater: Kado (in Osaka)

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Chôzô

I am grateful to and Lucienne Parkan and Horst Graebner for information about this diptych.

Actors: Onoe Kumesaburô III as geisha Koito (芸者小糸, left), Onoe Kikugorô III as Omatsuri Sashichi (お祭佐七, center), and Ichikawa Ebizô V as Hantoki Kurobei (半時九郎兵衛, right)

Play: Ume saku ya wakagiba Soga (梅咲若木場曽我)

Date: 1^st month of 1840

Theater: Kawarazaki

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Shôzô

I am grateful to Lucienne Parkan for this image.

Actors: Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Yokichi (男達 与吉, left), Iwai Shijaku I as Keishiya (仲町 けいしや, center), and Nakamura Utaemon IV as the sumô wrestler Shirafuji Genta (関取 白藤源太, right)

Play: Koi zumô yawaragi Soga (戀相撲和合曾我)

Date: 2^nd month of 1840

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Sôshû-ya Yohei

Actors: Nakamura Utaemon IV as the greengrocer (yaoya) Hanbei (八百屋半兵衛)

Play: Shimekazari otakara Soga (七五三翫宝曽我)

Date: 2^nd month of 1840

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Yamamoto-ya Heikichi

Actors: Onoe Kikugorô III as Ohan (おはん, left) and Ichikawa Ebizô V as Obiya Choemon (長右衛門, right)

Play: Go chumon shusu no Obiya (御注文繻子帯屋)

Date: 3^rd month of 1840

Theater: Kawarasaki

Publisher: Fujioka-ya Hikotarô (藤彦)

Actors: Arashi Kichisaburô III as Ôtomono Kuronushi, also known as Sekibei (left), Sawamura Tosshô I as spirit of the cherry tree (center), and Sawamura Tosshô I as Miyakogawa no Amiuchi (宮戸川の網打, right)

Play: Hina asobi wagô no aishô (雛遊睦相生)

Date: 3^rd month of 1840

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Unknown, possible phonetic reading: Sôshô (宗小)

I am grateful to Andreas Marks and Lucienne Parkan for information about this triptych.

Actors: Left sheet: Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Minamoto no Yoshitsune (源の義経)

Center sheet: Ichikawa Ebizô V as Musashibo Benkei (弁慶)

Right sheet: Ichikawa Kuzô II as Togashi no Saemon (富樫左衛門)

Play: Sanmon Gosan no Kiri (楼門五山桐)

Date: 3^rd month of 1840

Theater: Kawarasaki

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Shôzô

NOTE: This triptych was reissued in a slightly altered from for the production of Kanjinchô in the 3^rd month of 1849.

Actors: Ichikawa Ebizô V as Ishikawa Gôemon (石川五右衛門, left) and Onoe Kikugorô III as Yata (矢田平, right)

Play: Sanmon Gosan no Kiri (楼門五山桐)

Date: 3^rd month of 1840

Theater: Kawarasaki

Publisher: Izumi-ya Ichibei

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

Actors: Arashi Kichisaburô III as Yokogawa Zenji (横河禅司覚範, left), Sawamura Tosshô I as Satô Tadanobu (佐藤忠信) with a go board (center), and Onoe Kikujirô II as Kamon Koshiba’s daughter Oshizu (小柴嘉門娘おしづ郎, right)

Play: Toki mo Yoshino Senbon zakura (時節吉野千本桜）

Date: 3^rd month of 1840

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Echizen-ya Heisaburô

NOTE: Sawamura Tosshô is written as 澤村訥升, instead of the more usual 沢村訥升. I am grateful to and Lucienne Parkan for this image.

Actors: Onoe Eizaburô III as the koshimoto (female servant) Chidori (こしもと千鳥, left), Ichikawa Kuzô II as Kajiwara Genda (梶原源太, center), and Seki Sanjûrô III as Kajiwara Heiji (梶原平二, right)

Play: Hiragana Seisuiki (ひらかな盛衰記, Life’s Ups and Downs Written in the Japanese Cursive Syllabary)

Date: 4^th month of 1840

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Sôshû-ya Yohei

NOTE: The print on the right gives the actor’s name as Ichikawa Yaozô changing his name to Seki Sanjûrô III (市川八百蔵改三代目関三十郎). I am grateful to Lucienne Parkan for this image.

The center sheer from another state of the above design

Actors: Arashi Kichisaburô III as Busuke (武助, left), Sawamura Tosshô I as Karaki Masaemon (唐木政右衛門, center), and Bandô Hikosaburô IV as Sawai Matagorô (沢井又五郎, right)

Play: Igagoe Yomikiri Kôshaku (伊賀越読切講釈)

Date: 5^th month of 1840

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Yamamoto-ya Heikichi

I am grateful to Marc DeVriese for this image and to Lucienne Parkan for identifying it.

Actors: Sawamura Tosshô I as Karaki Masaemon (left) and Bandô Hikosaburô IV as Dainaiki (right)

Play: Igagoe Yomikiri Kôshaku (伊賀越読切講釈)

Date: 5^th month of 1840

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Izumi-ya Ichibei

I am grateful to Marc DeVriese for this image.

Actors: Left sheet: Bandô Hikosaburô IV as Gantetsu (願てつ) and Ichikawa Ebizô V as Sano Jirozaemon (佐野次郎左エ門)

Right sheet: Ichikawa Kuzô II as Omamori Denbe (お守り伝兵衛), Onoe Kikujirô II as Dote no Oroku (土手のお六), and Iwai Kumesaburô III as Manjiya Yatsuhashi (八ツはし)

Play: Yukari no hana iro mo Yoshiwara (紫花色吉原)

Date: 5^th month of 1850 (censors Kinugasa and Watanabe with shita-uri seal)

Theater: Kawarazaki

Publisher: Wakasa-ya Yoichi

I am grateful to Lucienne Parkan for information about this diptych.

Actors: Left sheet: Bandô Hikosaburô IV as Koheiji’s wife Ohyaku (小平次女房お百) and Ichikawa Kurosaru as the pimp (zegen, ぜげん) Ushi no Gohei (牛の五兵衛)

Right sheet: Ôtani Mansaku II as Tetsugen of Kyôshin-ji Temple as (教心寺哲玄) and Bandô Hikosaburô IV as Koheiji’s ghost (小平次ぼうこん)

Play: Azuma kagami kaidan banashi (東鑑怪談噺)

Date: 6^th month of 1840

Theater: Kawarasaki

Publisher: Yorozu-ya Kichibei

Additional text: Left sheet: Quick-change role (hayagawari, 早替り) and an all-time hit to packed houses (Kokon ôiri ôatari ôatari, 古今大入大当り／＼)

Right sheet: An unparalleled underwater quick-change role, Bravo! (Suichû hayagawari murui ôdeki ôdeki, 水中早替り無類大出来／＼)

NOTE: Ohyaku, the name of Koheiji’s wife, also means cheapskate. I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image and information.

Actors: and Nakamura Daikichi III as Otsû (おつう, left) and Bandô Hikosabûrô IV as Akane Hanshichi (赤根半七, right)

Play: Chigusa no nobe tsuyu no neregoto (千種野辺露濡事)

Date: 6^th month of 1840

Theater: Kawarasaki

Publisher: Kawaguchiya Chôzô

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

Actors: Iwai Shijaku I as Kano Yukihime (狩野雪姫, left) and Nakamura Utaemon IV as Matsunaga Taizen (松永大膳, right)

Play: Go hiiki yakko no konoshita (御贔屓梶虎木下)

Theater: Ichimura

Date: 7^th month of 1840

Publisher: Maru-ya Jimpachi

Actors: Nakamura Utaemon IV as Naniwa no Jirôsaku (波花 の 次郎作, left), Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Azuma no Yoshirô (あづま の 与四郎, center) and Bandô Shuka I as the kamuro Tayori (かむろ たより, right)

Play: Go hiiki yakko no konoshita (御贔屓梶虎木下)

Theater: Ichimura

Date: 7^th month of 1840

Publisher: Arita-ya Seiemon

NOTE: The blue background pattern is different on each sheet.

Actors: Ichimura Uzaemon XII as the palanquin carrier Azuma no Yoshirô (left), Bandô Shuka I as the kamuro Tayori (center), and Nakamura Utaemon IV as the palanquin carrier Naniwa no Jirôsaku (right)

Play: Go hiiki yakko no konoshita (御贔屓梶虎木下)

Theater: Ichimura

Date: 7^th month of 1840

Publisher: Maru-ya Jimpachi

NOTE: This triptych was actually designed by Kunisada for the 1838 production of Modori kago iro no Aikata. It appears that the same woodblocks were used, with recarving of the actors’ faces and costumes:

In Kunisada’s triptych, Ichikawa Danzô V was the palanquin carrier Azuma no Yoshirô, Iwai Tojaku I was the kamuro Tayori, and Ichikawa Ebizô V was the palanquin carrier Naniwa no Jirôsaku. I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image and information.

Actors: Ichimura Uzaemon XII as the palanquin carrier Azuma no Yoshirô and Nakamura Utaemon IV as the palanquin carrier Naniwa no Jirôsaku

Play: Go hiiki yakko no konoshita (御贔屓梶虎木下)

Theater: Ichimura

Date: 7^th month of 1840

Publisher: Maruko

NOTE: These two different states actually show children in the guise of the palanquin carriers Azuma no Yoshirô and Naniwa no Jirôsaku.

Actors: Nakamura Utaemon IV as Konoshita Tôkichi (此下藤吉, left) with go board, Seki Sanjûrô III as 松永鬼藤太 (center), and Iwai Shijaku I as Kano Yukihime (狩野雪姫, right)

Play: Go hiiki yakko no konoshita (御贔屓梶虎木下)

Theater: Ichimura

Date: 7^th month of 1840

Publisher: Mori-ya Jihei

Actor: Iwai Shijaku I as Kano no Yukihime (狩野之雪姫)

Play: Go hiiki yakko no konoshita (御贔屓梶虎木下)

Theater: Ichimura

Date: 7^th month of 1840

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Shôzô

Actors: Iwai Shijaku I as Kano Yukihime (狩野雪姫, left), Nakamura Utaemon IV as Matsunaga Taizen (松永大膳, center), and Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Konoshita Tôkichi (right)

Play: Go hiiki yakko no konoshita (御贔屓梶虎木下)

Theater: Ichimura

Date: 7^th month of 1840

Publisher: Sôshû-ya Yohei

Actors: Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Kanonosuke Naonobu (狩野之助直信, left) and Nakamura Utaemon IV as Matsunaga Taizen (right)

Play: Go hiiki yakko no konoshita (御贔屓梶虎木下)

Theater: Ichimura

Date: 7^th month of 1840

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Shôzô

Actors: Left sheet: Ichimara Uzaemon XII as Shinsaku (曽呂利 しん作)

Center sheet: Seki Sanjûrô III as Yazesai, who is actually Matsushita Kaiheiji (屋是斎 実ハ松下嘉平治)

Right sheet: Nakamura Utaemon IV as Mashiba Hisayoshi (筑前守久吉) and Bandô Katsujirô as Teruwaka (輝若君)

Play: Go hiiki yakko no konoshita (御贔屓梶虎木下)

Theater: Ichimura

Date: 7^th month of 1840

Publisher: Fujioka-ya Hikotarô

Actors: Left panel: Iwai Shijaku I as the nurse Jiju (乳人侍従)

Center panel: Nakamura Utaemon IV as Hashiba Hisayoshi (筑前守久吉) and the child actor Bandô Katsujirô as Teruwaka (輝若)

Right panel: Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Shinsaku (新作)

Play: Go hiiki yakko no konoshita (御贔屓梶虎木下)

Theater: Ichimura

Date: 7^th month of 1840

Publisher: Yorozu-ya Kichibei

I am grateful to Lucienne Parkan for this image.

Actors: Nakamura Utaemon IV as Mitsuhide (武智光秀, left), Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Harunaga (春永, center), and Seki Sanjûrô III as Ranmaru (蘭丸, right)

Play: Go hiiki yakko no konoshita (御贔屓梶虎木下)

Theater: Ichimura

Date: 7^th month of 1840

Publisher: Yorozu-ya Kichibei

NOTE: Essentially the same play was produced a month later in a different theater with a different cast, under the title Gion Sairei Shinkôki, and the woodblocks for the above triptych were altered for the new production. I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

Actors: Ichikawa Ebizô V as Mitsuhide (武智光秀, left) and Arashi Kichisaburô III as Harunaga (春永, right)

Play: Gion Sairei Shinkôki (祇園祭礼信仰記)

Theater: Nakamura

Date: 8^th month of 1840

Publisher: Yorozu-ya Kichibei

Actors: Sawamura Tosshô I as Konoshita Tôkichi (此下藤吉, left), Onoe Kikujirô II as 藤吉女房お菊 (center), and Ichikawa Ebizô V as Yamaguchi Kurojirô (山口九郎次郎, right)

Play: Gion Sairei Shinkôki (祇園祭礼信仰記)

Theater: Nakamura

Date: 8^th month of 1840

Publisher: Izumi-ya Ichibei

Actors: Left sheet: Arashi Kichisaburô III as Satô Masakiyo (佐藤政清, larger figure), and Nakamura Tsuruzô I as Higuruma (初代)

Center sheet: Sawamura Tosshô I as Chikuzen no kami Hisayoshi (筑前守久吉) and the child actor Sawamura Hôkichi as Teruwakamaru

Right sheet: Ichikawa Seijûrô as Sorori Shinsaku (曽呂利 新作)

Play: Gion Sairei Shinkôki (祇園祭礼信仰記)

Theater: Nakamura

Date: 8^th month of 1840

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Shôzô

I am grateful to Ward Pieters for locating this image.

Actors: Sawamura Tosshô I as Chikuzen no kami Hisayoshi (筑前守久吉, left) and Arashi Kichisaburô III as Satô Masakiyo (佐藤政清, right)

Play: Gion Sairei Shinkôki (祇園祭礼信仰記)

Theater: Nakamura

Date: 8^th month of 1840

Publisher: Yamaguchi-ya Tôbei

I am grateful to Marc DeVriese for this image.

Actors: Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Kano Utanosuke (狩野哥之助, left), Nakamura Utaemon IV as Ukiyo Matahei (浮世又平, center), and Iwai Shijaku I as Matahei’s wife Otoku (又平女房おとく, right)

Play: Keisei hangonkô (傾城反魂香)

Theater: Ichimura

Date: 8^th month of 1840

Publisher: Yorozu-ya Kichibei

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

Another state of the above design without any purple

Actors: Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Azuma no Yojirô (left) and Nakamura Utaemon IV as Naniwa no Jirosaku (right)

Play: Modorikago Iro ni Aikata (戻駕色相肩, A Returning Palanquin)

Theater:

Date: 8^th month of 1840

Publisher: Jôshû-ya Jûzô

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