Kuniyoshi Project

Actor triptychs

1841, Part II

Actors: Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Satô Yomoshichi (佐藤与茂七, left), Nakamura Utaemon IV as Ôboshi Rikiya (大星由良之助, center), and Bandô Shûka I as Ôboshi Yuranosuke (大星力弥, right)

Play: Hana Ayame Iroha Renga (花菖いろは連歌)

Date: 5^th month of 1841

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Izumi-ya Ichibei

I am grateful to Michel Ouellet for locating this image.

Triptych title: Midarete kesa koi no Yamasaki (乱朝恋山崎)

Actors: Ichikawa Kuzô II as Awajima Shodayu with a cat mask (left), Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Yogorô (与五郎) dancing with a fan (center), and Bandô Shuka I as the courtesan Azuma (right)

Musicians and reciters: (from right to left) Kishizawa Jusuke, Kishizawa Shikawa, Tokiwazu Bunjidayu, Tokiwazu Kanedayu, and Tokiwazu Kumidayu

Play: Hana ni choiro no dekiaki (種花蝶色成秋)

Date: 5^th month of 1841

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Shôzô (川口屋正三)

Actors: Ichikawa Kuzô II as Awajima (left) and Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Yogorô (与五郎, right)

Play: Hana ni choiro no dekiaki (種花蝶色成秋)

Date: 5^th month of 1841

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Yamaguchi-ya Tobei

NOTE: The toshidama seal on the far right is distorted to resemble a cat. I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this prelimenery sketch for the above diptych.

Actor: Ichikawa Kuzô II as Awajima Shodayu

Play: Hana ni choiro no dekiaki (種花蝶色成秋)

Date: 5^th month of 1841

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Yamamoto-ya Heikichi

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

Actors: Onoe Tamizô II as Nitta Umejirô (新田梅次郎, left), Bandô Hikosaburô IV as the hunter (ryoshi) Amikura (猟師綱蔵, center), and Onoe Tamizô II as Tsunakura’s sister Otsuru (綱蔵妹おつる, right)

Play: Kasane ogi chiyo no Matsuwaka (重扇寿松若)

Date: 5^th month of 1841

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Yamaguchi-ya Tobei

Actors: Left sheet: Sawamura Kunisaburô asてふ／＼うりお国 and Nakamura Tsuruzô as 猟師かに六　

Right sheet: Onoe Tamizô II as Tsunakura’s sister Otsuru (綱蔵妹おつる)

Play: Kasane ogi chiyo no Matsuwaka (重扇寿松若)

Date: 5^th month of 1841

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Shôzô

I am grateful to Lucienne Parkan for this image.

Actors: Onoe Tamizô II as kitsune (fox) Tadanobu (源九郎狐, left), Onoe Tamizô II as the peasant Kyorosaku (百姓きよろ作, center), and Onoe Eizaburô III as Shizuka-gozen (the mistress of Yoshitsune, しずか御ぜん, right)

Play: Yoshitsune Senbon zakura (Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees, 義経千本桜)

Date: 5^th month of 1841

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Jôshû-ya Juzô

Actors: Left sheet: Arashi Kichisabûrô III as Yokogawa Kakuhan (横川の覚はん)

Center sheet: Onoe Tamizô II as Kitsune (fox) Tadanobu (狐忠信, top)

Right sheet: Onoe Eizaburô III as Shizuka (the mistress of Yoshitsune)

Play: Yoshitsune Senbon zakura (Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees, 義経千本桜)

Date: 5^th month of 1841

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Tsuru-ya Kiemon

I am grateful to Edward Pieters for providing information about this triptych.

Two sheets from another state of the above triptych

Actors: Onoe Tamizô II as Eda no Genzô (江田の源蔵, left) and Ichikawa Ebizô V as Yuri Hachirô (由利八郎, right)

Play: Yoshitsune Senbon zakura (Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees, 義経千本桜)

Date: 5^th month of 1841

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Shôzô

Actors: Onoe Tamizô II as Nitta Umejirô (新田梅次郎)

Play: Yoshitsune Senbon zakura (Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees, 義経千本桜)

Date: 5^th month of 1841

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher:

Actors: Ichikawa Ebizô V as Yuri no Hachirô (由利の八郎, left) and Onoe Tamizô II as Eda no Genzô (江田の源蔵, right)

Play: Yoshitsune Senbon zakura (Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees, 義経千本桜)

Date: 5^th month of 1841

Theater: Nakamura

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for these hanshita-e (final drawings).

Actors: Arashi Kichisaburô III as yakko Okahei (奴岡平, left) and Onoe Tamizô II as Magician Tenjiku Tokubei (天竺徳兵衛, right)

Play: Tenjiku Tokubei banri no irifune (天竺徳兵衛万里入船)

Date: 7^th month of 1841

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Izumi-ya Ichibei

Actors: Nakayama Genjûrô I as the thief Tetsubo (盗人願鉄坊, left), Onoe Tamizô II as Tenjiku Tokubei, actually Dainichimaru (天竺徳兵衛大日丸, center), and Arashi Kishisaburô III as yakko Okahei (奴岡平, right)

Play: Tenjiku Tokubee banri no irifune (天竺徳兵衛万里入船)

Date: 7^th month of 1841

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Shôzô

I am grateful to Lucienne Parkan for this triptych.

Actors: Onoe Tamizo II as Rokusaburô (六三郎, left), Bandô Hikosaburô IV as Magarigane no Kingorô (まがり金の金五郎, center), and Arashi Kishisaburô III as Yoshimiya Jiemon (吉見や治右衛門, right)

Play: Tenjiku Tokubei banri no irifune (天竺徳兵衛万里入船)

Date: 7^th month of 1841

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Shôzô

Actors: Left sheet: Unidentified actor of the Nakamura line (中村　鶴作) as 庄や仲右衛門 and Onoe Tamizo II as the carpenter Rokusaburô (大工六三郎)

Center sheet: Arashi Kanjûrô I as Shimiya Jiemon (しみや治右衛門) and Bando Hikosaburo IV as Kashiku’s older brother (ani) Kingorô (かしく兄金五郎)

Right sheet: Onoe Eizaburo III as Kashiku (かしく) and Nakayama Genjûrô I as the waitress Okan (仲居おかん)

Play: Tenjiku Tokubei banri no irifune (天竺徳兵衛万里入船)

Date: 7^th month of 1841

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Shôzô

Actors: Onoe Tamizô II as Tenjiku Tokubei (天竺徳兵衛), Dainichimaru (大日丸), Tokubei (徳兵衛), Rokusaburo (六三郎), and as Saichiro’s ghost (佐市郎死霊). Also shown are Onoe Eizaburô III (no role), Nakayama Genjûrô I as 願?坊, and Nakamura Tsuruzô I as Oyama Tokijir (小山時五郎)

Play: Tenjiku Tokubei banri no irifune (天竺徳兵衛万里入船)

Date: 7^th month of 1841

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Izumi-ya Ichibei and Echizen-ya Heisaburô

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

Actors: Onoe Tamizô II as Takahashi Saichirô and Nakamura Tsuruzô I as Ôyama Tokijirô

Play: Tenjiku Tokubei banri no irifune (天竺徳兵衛万里入船)

Date: 7^th month of 1841

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Echizen-ya Heisaburô

I am grateful to Lucienne Parkan for this image.

Actors: Onoe Tamizô II as the ghost (shiryô) of Saichirô (佐市郎死霊) and Bandô Hikosaburô IV as Kashiku’s older brother (ani) Kingorô (かしく兄金五郎)

Play: Tenjiku Tokubei banri no irifune (天竺徳兵衛万里入船)

Date: 7^th month of 1841

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Yamamoto-ya Heikichi

Print title: Yae kokonoe hana no sugatae, Onoe Tamizô… (八重九重花姿絵, 尾上多見蔵相勤申候)

Actor: Onoe Tamizô II in eight roles

Left column: The Queen Mother of the West (Seiôbô,茶や廻り), the teahouse waiter (chaya mawari, おそめ), and taming the gourd (hyôtan osae, ひよふたんおさへ)

Center column: Yasuna (猟し) and Gorô Tokimune (五郎時宗)

Right column: The thunder god (Kaminari, 神なり), the hunter (harishi, せい王母), and the unmarried girl (musume, 保名)

Play: Yae kokonoe hana no Sugata-e (八重九重花姿絵)

Date: 7^th month of 1841

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Echizen-ya Heisaburô

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

Text: A big hit of flying, unrivalled in the past or present (Kokon murui no chunori ooatari, 古今無類の中のり大あたり／＼), in the Dance of Nine Changes (kyûhenge no uchi, 九へん化の内), caricature of Kaminari (Kaminari toba-e, 神なり鳥羽絵), Onoe Tamizô performing (Onoe Tamizô tsutome moshi soro, 尾上多見蔵相勤申候)

Actor: Onoe Tamizô II

Play: Yae kokonoe hana no Sugata-e (八重九重花姿絵)

Date: 7^th month of 1841

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Shôzô

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

Actors: Nakamura Utaemon IV as sumô wrestler Nuregami Chôgorô (right) and Ichikawa Hazaemon as sumô wrestler Hanaregoma Chôkichiin (left)

Play: Futatsu Chôchô kuruwa nikki (双蝶々曲輪日記)

Date: 8^th month of 1841

Theater:

Publisher: Edo-ya Matsugorô

Actors: Left sheet: Nakamura Utaemon IV as the monk Kisen Hoshi (Inset: Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Ono no Komachi)

Center sheet: Nakamura Utaemon IV as the courtier Otomo no Kuronushi (Inset: Nakamura Utaemon IV as Sojo Henjo)

Right sheet: Ichimura Uzaemon XII as O-Kaji of Gion (Inset: Nakamura Utaemon IV as Ariwara no Harihara)

Play: Rokkasen sugata no irodori (The Six Poet Immortals in Colourful Guises, 六歌仙容彩)

Date: 8^th month of 1841

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Sôshû-ya Yohei

Actors: Bandô Shûka I as Komachi (小町), Seki Kasuke as Lady Akishino (官女秋篠), Asao Okuyama II as 官女☆葉, Ichimura Kakitsu III as Narihira (業平), Ichimura Kakitsu III as the maid (jijo, 侍女), Nakamura Utaemon IV as Kisen (喜撰), Nakamura Utaemon IV as Kuronushi (黒主), Nakamura Utaemon IV as Yasuhide (康秀), and Nakamura Utaemon IV as 遍招

Play: Rokkasen sugata no irodori (The Six Poet Immortals in Colourful Guises, 六歌仙容彩)

Date: 8^th month of 1841

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher:

Actors: Onoe Kikujirô II as Okumi (おくみ, left), Sawamura Tosshô I as Hôkaibô (法界坊, center), and Iwai Shijaku I as Miyakodori no Oshizu (都鳥のおしづ, right)

Title of the play: Ehon Taikôki (鐘渕劇場故)

Performance title: Ehon Taikôki Kamagafuchi Shibai no Furukoto (鐘渕劇場故)

Date: 9^th month of 1841

Theater: Kawarasaki

Publisher: Sano-ya Kihei

I am grateful to Lucienne Parkan for this triptych.

Actors: Onoe Eizaburô III as the geisha Oshiyun (おしゅん, left), Onoe Tamizô II as the monkey trainer (sarumawashi) Yojirô (猿まはし与次郎, center), and Bandô Hikosaburô IV as Izutsuya Denbei (傳兵衛, right)

Play: Sarumawashi kadode no Hitofushi (猿曳門出諷)

Date: 9^th month of 1841

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Uhei (川口屋守兵衛)

NOTE: Chikagoro Kawara no Tatehiki (近頃河原達引, Recent Extracts from the Tabloids) is an alternate name for this play. The circles in the right upper corner of each sheet contain rebuses for the actors’ names.