Kuniyoshi Project

Actor triptychs

1846-1852

These actor triptychs and diptychs were published between the 12^th month of 1846 and the 2^nd month of 1852, but I have been unable to associate them with a particular production. Prints published during this period generally bear two circular censor’s seals without an oval date seal. These seals are usually near the artist’s signature, and sometimes are only found on a single sheet of a multi-sheet composition.

Actors: Left sheet: Actors as Shizunome (しづの女) and Zôhei (ぞう兵)

Center sheet: Actor as Shizunome (しづの女)

Right sheet: Actors as Shizunoo (しづの男) and Kaya-uri (かやうり)

Play: Possibly Igagoe Yomikiri koshaku, 2^nd month of 1852

Date: 1849-1852 (censors Hama and Magome)

Publisher: Minato-ya Kohei

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

Actors: Left sheet: Unidentified actors as Shinobu (しのぶ) and にせあんま三九

Center sheet: Unidentified actors as Daikokuya Soroku (大黒や宗六) and Jousuke (丈助)

Right sheet: Unidentified actors as Soroku’s wife Okura (宗六女房おくら) and Yomoshichi (与茂七)

Play: Possibly Go taiheiki date no masugata (碁太平記達升形)

Date: c. 1850 (censors Mera and Murata)

Publisher: Ebi-ya Rinnosuke

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

Actors: Left sheet: Onoe Shinshichi III, Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII, and Ichikawa Ebijûrô IV (probably)

Center sheet: Ichikawa Ebizô V and Ichikawa Kodanji IV

Right sheet: Ichikawa Shinsha I, Nakayama Ichizô I, and Onoe Kikujirô II

Play:

Date: c. 1850 (censors Hama and Kinugasa)

Publisher: Isetsuru (伊勢鶴)

NOTE: This triptych is a mitate, meaning that it is an imaginary scene with actors who never actually appeared together on stage in these roles. According to the website of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, this triptych may have been made to celebrate the return to Edo of Ichikawa Ebizô V in the 3^rd month of 1850. I am grateful to Lucienne Parkan for information about this triptych.

Actors: Unidentified actor (left), Onoe Kikugorô III (center), and Bandô Shuka I (right)

Play: Probably Ise ondo koi no netaba (伊勢音頭恋寝刃)

Date: 1847-1850 (censors Mera and Murata)

Publisher: Fujioka-ya Hikotarôro

Actors: Iwai Kumesaburô III as Kiyokawa (清川, left) and Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Karigane Bunshichi (雁金文七, right)

Date: 1848 (censors Hama and Kinugasa)

NOTE: This diptych is from the series Select Series of Book Titles. It is a mitate, meaning that these actors did not perform these roles together on stage.

Title: Imayô Teruuji furudera no kozu (Up-to-date Teruuji in an Old Picture at an Old Temple, 今様輝氏古寺之古圖)

Actors: In an abandoned temple, actors as Teruuji (center) offering a towel to his lover Tasogare (left) with Shinonome (しのゝめ) eavesdropping (right)

Play: A play based on The Tale of Genji

Date: 1849-1850 (censors Kinugasa and Watanabe)

Theater: This triptych is not believed to portray a specific production

Publisher: Sawa-ya Kôkichi

NOTE: This print is not damaged; it shows a water damaged sliding door in an abandoned temple.

Actors:

Play:

Date: 1847-1850 (censors Mera and Murata)

Publisher: Minato-ya Kohe

Actors: Unidentified actors as Hako-o Maru (箱王丸, left), Saburô Kawazu, the spirit of Yudo (河津三郎祐道の霊, center), and Soga Jûrô (right, 曽我十郎)

Play:

Date: 1846-1848 (censors Muramatsu and Yoshimura)

Publisher: Ebi-ya Rinnosuke

Actors: Probably Ickikawa Ebizô V

Play:

Date: c. 1850

Publisher: Maru-Han

Actors: Arashi Rikan III as wrestler Hanaregoma no Chôkichi (放駒長吉, left) and Nakamura Utaemon IV as wrestler Nuregami Chôgorô (濡髪長五郎, right)

Date: 1846-1852

Publisher: Ôta-ya Takichi

NOTE: This triptych is believed to be a mitate, meaning that it is an imaginary scene with actors who never actually appeared together on stage in these roles.

Actors: Left sheet: Bandô Shûka I as Inuzuka Shinno (犬坂毛野, left standing)

Center sheet:

Right sheet: Unidentified actor as Inuyama Dôsetsu Tadatomo (犬山道節忠興)

Play:

Date: 1849-1851 (censors Fuku and Muramatsu)

Theater:

Publisher: Ôta-ya Takichi

Actors: Ichimura Uzaemon XII (left), Nakamura Utaemon IV (center), and Bandô Shûka I (right)

Play: Possibly Yoshitsune koshigoejô (義経腰越状)

Date: 1847-1848 (censors Hama and Kinugasa)

Publisher: Ôta-yaTakichi

Actors:

Play: Possibly Act VIII of Kanadehon Chûshingura

Date: 1846-1852

Publisher: Tsujioka-ya Bunsuke

Actors: Ichimura Takenojô V as a yûjo (prostitute, 遊女) and his son Ichimura Uzaemon XIII as a kamuro

Play:

Date: 1851 (censors Muramatsu and Fuku)

Publisher: Takada-ya Takezô

NOTE: These three prints represent an original print (left) and two memorial prints (shini-e), derived from the original. The text on the original print reads odori zukushi (collection of dances, 踊り尽くし). I am grateful to Marc DeVriese for the images.