Actor triptychs

1847, Part III

Triptych title: The Old Story of Kanegafuchi (Sono mukashi Kanegafuchi no yurai, 其昔鐘ヶふちの由来)

Actors: Matsumoto Kinshô I as Dôguja Jinza (道具屋甚三, left), Nakamura Utaemon IV as Hôkaibô (法界坊, center), and Onoe Baikô IV as Jinza’s wife Okumi (おくみ, right)

Play: Hitofudegaki soda no hatsukari (一筆書墨田初雁)

Date: 7^th month of 1847 (censors Hama and Kinugasa)

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Yamamoto-ya Heikichi

NOTE: Kanegafuchi is a placename meaning Bell in the Depths, a bend in the Sumida River. I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image and information.

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this alternate state with Kuniyoshi’s kiri seal on all three sheets.

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this keyblock print for a panel of the above triptych.

Actors: Onoe Baikô IV as Okumi (於くみ, left) and Nakamura Utaemon IV as the ghost of Princes Nowake (野分 姫 ぼうこん, right)

Play: Hitofudegaki soda no hatsukari (一筆書墨田初雁)

Date: 7^th month of 1847 (censors Hama and Kinugasa)

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Shimizu-ya Naojirô

Actors: Nakamura Utaemon IV as Hôkaibô (法界坊, right) and Matsumoto Kinshô I as Dôguja Jinza (道具屋甚三, left)

Play: Hitofudegaki soda no hatsukari (一筆書墨田初雁)

Date: 7^th month of 1847 (censors Hama and Kinugasa)

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Itô-ya Yohei

Actors: Nakamura Utaemon IV as the evil priest Hôkaibô (法界坊, left), Matsumoto Kinshô I as Dôguya Jinza (道具や甚三, center), and Onoe Baikô IV as Jinza’s wife Okumi (おくみ, right)

Play: Hitofudegaki soda no hatsukari (一筆書墨田初雁)

Date: 7^th month of 1847

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Man (phonetic pronunciation of 万)

Actors: Nakamura Utaemon IV as Hôkaibô (法界坊, left) and Onoe Baikô IV as Okumi (right)

Play: Hitofudegaki soda no hatsukari (一筆書墨田初雁)

Date: 7^th month of 1847 (censors Hama and Kinugasa)

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Jôshû-ya Jûzô

I am grateful to Marc DeVriese for this image.

Title cartouche: Kanadehon Chushingura, act two (仮名手本忠臣蔵 二段目)

Actors: Left sheet: Iwai Hanshirô VII as Honzo’s wife Tonase (本蔵妻戸無瀬) and Onoe Baikô IV as daughter Konami (娘小浪)

Center sheet: Sawamura Sôjûrô V as Kakogawa Honzô (加古川本蔵) and Nakamura Sennosuke as Ôboshi Rikiya (大星力弥)

Right sheet: Sawamura Chôjûrô V as Momonoi Wakasanosuke (桃井若狭之助)

Play: Kanadehon Chushingura (假名手本忠臣蔵)

Date: 7^th month of 1847 (censors Muramatsu and Yoshimura)

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Iba-ya Sensaburô

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

Actors: Onoe Kikugorô III, here called by his poetry name, Onoe Umeju (尾上梅寿), as Shirai Gonpachi (白井権八)

Play: Onoe Baiju ichidai banashi (尾上梅寿一代噺, The Lifetime of Onoe Baiju)*

Date: 7^th month of 1847

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Unidentified

NOTE: The Waseda University website identifies this unsigned print as being by Kuniyoshi. The square seal may read “Ichiyusai” in seal script.

Actors: Sawamura Sôjûrô V as Shiragara Jûemon (白柄十右衛門, left) and Onoe Kikugorô III as Shirai Gonpachi (白井権八, right)

Play: Onoe Baiju ichidai banashi (尾上梅寿一代噺, The Lifetime of Onoe Baiju)*

Date: 7^th month of 1847 (censors Hama and Kinugasa)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Enshû-ya Matabei

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

Actors: Matsumoto Kinshô as Banzui Chobei (left) and Onoe Kikugorô III as Shirai Gonpachi

Play: Onoe Baiju ichidai banashi (尾上梅寿一代噺, The Lifetime of Onoe Baiju)*

Date: 7^th month of 1847 (censors Mera and Murata)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Minato-ya Kohei

Actors: Left sheet: Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Goshaku Somegoro (五尺染五郎) and Onoe Kikugorô III as Dozaemon Denkichi (土左衛門伝吉, inset)

Right sheet: Sawamura Sôjûrô V as Shiragara Jûemon (白柄十右衛門) and Bandô Shûka I as Komurasaki (小紫, inset)

Play: Onoe Baiju ichidai banashi (尾上梅寿一代噺, The Lifetime of Onoe Baiju)*

Date: 7^th month of 1847 (censors Muramatsu and Yoshimura)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Iba-ya Sensaburô

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this sheet from another state of the above design.

Actors: Left sheet: Ôtani Hiroemon V as Oura, the junk shop daughter (dôguya musume Oura, 道具屋娘おうら) and Sawamura Sojûrô V as Seishichi the clerk (tedai Seishichi, 手代清七)

Right sheet: Nakayama Bungorô II as Denpachi the clerk (tedai Denpachi, 手代傳八) and Bandô Shûka I as Danshichi’s wife (nyôbô) Okaji (団七女房おかぢ)

Play: Onoe Baiju ichidai banashi (尾上梅寿一代噺, The Lifetime of Onoe Baiju)*

Date: 7^th month of 1847 (censors Mera and Murata)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Iba-ya Sensaburô

NOTE: おうち may be read as either Oura or as Ouchi. I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image and information.

Actors: Bandô Shûka I as Danshichi’s wife (nyôbô) Okaji (團七女房おかぢ, left) and Sawamura Sojûrô V as Seishichi the clerk (tedai Seishichi, 手代清七), right)

Play: Onoe Baiju ichidai banashi (尾上梅寿一代噺, The Lifetime of Onoe Baiju)*

Date: 7^th month of 1847 (censors Mera and Murata)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Shimizu-ya Naojirô

I am grateful to Michel Ouellet for this image and information.

Actors: Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Tsukimoto Inaba no suke (月本いなばの助, left), Onoe Kikugorô III as Tenjuku Tokubei (天竺徳兵衛, center), and Sawamura Sojûrô V as Tamashima Itto (玉しま逸とふ, right)

Play: Onoe Baiju ichidai banashi (尾上梅寿一代噺, The Lifetime of Onoe Baiju)*

Date: 7^th month of 1847 (censors Muramatsu and Yoshimura)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Ebi-ya Rinnosuke

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

Actors: Onoe Kikugorô III as the magician Tenjiku Tokubei (天竺徳兵衛), with a severed head of Yoshioka Sôkanin his mouth

Play: Onoe Baiju ichidai banashi (尾上梅寿一代噺, The Lifetime of Onoe Baiju)*

Date: 7^th month of 1847 (censors Muramatsu and Yoshimura)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher:

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

Title on print: The Old Tale of the Cat Spirit (Furukoto neko no yôkai, 古事猫のよふくはい)

Actors: Onoe Kikugorô III as the cat-witch wearing a jûnihitoe (twelve-layer robe), carrying a child, and accompanied by dancing nekomata (supernatural cat)

Play: Onoe Baiju ichidai banashi (尾上梅寿一代噺, The Lifetime of Onoe Baiju)*

Date: 7^th month of 1847 (censors Mera and Murata)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Shimizu-ya Naojirô

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

Actors: Sawamura Sojûrô V as Nippon Daemon (日本駄右エ門, left), Onoe Kikugorô III as the cat-witch (古猫之怪, center) and Bandô Shuka I as Kineya Onaka (杵屋おなか, right)

Play: Onoe Baiju ichidai banashi (尾上梅寿一代噺, The Lifetime of Onoe Baiju)*

Date: 7^th month of 1847 (censors Hama and Kinugasa)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Yamamoto-ya Heikichi

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this keyblock print for the right sheet of the above triptych.

Title: An Imaginary Scene of the Origin of the Cat Stone at Okabe, from the Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido Road (Mitate Tôkaidô gojûsan tsugi Okabe neko ishi no yurai, 見立東海道五十三次岡部猫石の由来)

Actors: Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Inaba no suke (大江因幡之助, left), Onoe Kikugorô III as the cat-witch (center), and Sawamura Sojûrô V as Teranishi Kanshin (寺西関心, right)

Play: Onoe Baiju ichidai banashi (尾上梅寿一代噺, The Lifetime of Onoe Baiju)*

Date: 7^th month of 1847 (censors Muramatsu and Yoshimura)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Ku (phonetic reading of ク)

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this alternate state.

Actors: Sawamura Sôjûrô V as Teranishi Kanshin (寺西閑心, left), Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Inabanosuke (因幡之助, center), and Onoe Kikugorô III as Usugomo with the cat-ghost Okabe (right)

Play: Onoe Baiju ichidai banashi (尾上梅寿一代噺, The Lifetime of Onoe Baiju)*

Date: 7^th month of 1847 (censors Hama and Kinugasa)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Wakasa-ya Uhei

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

Another state of the above triptych

Actors: Onoe Kikugorô III as Shirai Gonpachi (白井権八)

Play: Onoe Baiju ichidai banashi (尾上梅寿一代噺, The Lifetime of Onoe Baiju)*

Date: 7^th month of 1847 (censors Muramatsu and Yoshimura)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Eikyu-do

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

Actors: Onoe Kikugorô III as Usugomo and Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Inabanosuke (因幡之助) with ghost in background

Play: Onoe Baiju ichidai banashi (尾上梅寿一代噺, The Lifetime of Onoe Baiju)*

Date: 7^th month of 1847 (censors Hama and Kinugasa)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Uhei

Actors: Sawamura Sojûrô V as Shibaemon (斯波右衛門, left), Onoe Kikugorô III as Tenjiku Kaja (天竺冠者, center), and Bandô Shuka I as princess Morokoshi (唐土姫, right)

Play: Onoe Baiju ichidai banashi (尾上梅寿一代噺, The Lifetime of Onoe Baiju)*

Date: 7^th month of 1847 (censors Hama and Kinugasa)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Chû (phonetic pronunciation of 忠)

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this alternate state without bokashi (shading) on princess Morokoshi’s kimono.

Title: Otsu (大津)

Actors: Sawamura Sojûrô V as the bandit leader Nippon Daemon (left) and Onoe Kikugorô III as the Buddhist holy man (rakan) Nakasaina Sonja (right)

Play: Onoe Baiju ichidai banashi (尾上梅寿一代噺, The Lifetime of Onoe Baiju)*

Date: 7^th month of 1847 (censors Hama and Kinugasa)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Tajima-ya Saburô

Actors: Left sheet: Onoe Kikugorô III as Tenjiku Kaja Dainichimaru (天竺冠者)

Center sheet: Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Tsukimoto Enshû (月本遠州) and Onoe Kikugorô III as Tokuichi (徳市)

Right sheet: Sawamura Sojûrô V as Shiba Saemon (斯波右エ門)

Play: Onoe Baiju ichidai banashi (尾上梅寿一代噺, The Lifetime of Onoe Baiju)*

Date: 7^th month of 1847 (censors Muramatsu and Yoshimura)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Ise-ya Ichibe

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

Actors: Onoe Kikugorô III as Tokuichi (left) and probably Sawamura Sôjûrô V as Shiragara Jûemon (right)

Play: Onoe Baiju ichidai banashi (尾上梅寿一代噺, The Lifetime of Onoe Baiju)*

Date: 7^th month of 1847

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Minato-ya Kohei

Actors: Mimasu Gennosuke as Teranishi Kanshin (寺西閑心, left), Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Nakano Tohei (中野藤兵衛, center), and Onoe Kikugorô III as Dozaemon Denkichi (土左衛門伝吉, right)

Play: Onoe Baiju ichidai banashi (尾上梅寿一代噺, The Lifetime of Onoe Baiju)*

Date: 7^th month of 1847 (censors Muramatsu and Yoshimura)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Iba-ya Sensaburô

Text: Nakano Tohei, a retainer of Ishii, is killed in retaliation for his loyalty at the Oi river (石井の家来中野藤兵衛 忠義のために大井川にて返討にあふ図)

Actors: Mimasu Gennosuke as Teranishi Kanshin (寺西閑心, left) on a palanquin being carried by coolies across the Oi river, Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Nakano Tohei (中野藤兵衛, center) subduing an opponent on the shore, and Onoe Kikugorô III as Tenjiku Kaja (天竺冠者) standing on the shore (right)

Play: Onoe Baiju ichidai banashi (尾上梅寿一代噺, The Lifetime of Onoe Baiju)*

Date: 7^th month of 1847 (censors Muramatsu and Yoshimura)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Enshû-ya Matabei

Text: With loyalty, filial piety, and courage, he seeks out his enemy and reveals his name at the Oi river (忠孝義勇敵をたづね大井川にて英名をあらはす)

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

Actors: Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Tsukimoto Inabanosuke (月本因幡之助, left), Onoe Kikugorô III as Tenjiku Tokubei (天竺徳兵衛, center), and Sawmura Sôjûrô V as Tamashima Itto (玉嶋逸当, right)

Play: Onoe Baiju ichidai banashi (尾上梅寿一代噺, The Lifetime of Onoe Baiju)*

Date: 7^th month of 1847 (censors Hama and Kinugasa)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Kazusa-ya Iwazô

NOTE: On top are scenes from various plays. I am grateful to Robert Pryor for information about this triptych.

Actors: Onoe Kikugorô III as Tenjuku Tokubei (天竺徳兵衛)

Play: Onoe Baiju ichidai banashi (尾上梅寿一代噺, The Lifetime of Onoe Baiju)*

Date: 7^th month of 1847

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Kiyoimizu-ya Naojirô

Actors: Sawamura Sôjûrô V as Ishii Gennoshin (石井源之進, left), Onoe Kikugorô III as Tenjiku Kaja (天竺冠者, center), and Bandô Shûka I as Todo hime (唐土姫, right)

Play: Onoe Baiju ichidai banashi (尾上梅寿一代噺, The Lifetime of Onoe Baiju)*

Date: 7^th month of 1847 (censors Muramatsu and Yoshimura)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Jôshû-ya Juzô

Actors: Onoe Kikugorô III as Konobei Neriko (此兵衛ねりこ の 此兵衛, left), Bandô Shûka I as Neriko no Matsukaze (ねりこ の 松風, center), and Sawamura Sojûrô V as Neriko no Gyohei (行平 ねりこ の 行平, right)

Play: Onoe Baiju ichidai banashi (尾上梅寿一代噺, The Lifetime of Onoe Baiju)*

Date: 7^th month of 1847 (censors Muramatsu and Yoshimura)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Iba-ya Sensaburô

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this sheet from another state of the above triptych.

Actors: Nakamura Utaemon IV as Saitô Tarozaemon (斎藤太郎左エ門, left) and Onoe Baikô IV as Uma-gashira’s wife Hanazono (右馬頭妻花園, right)

Play: Ôtô no miya Ashi no Yoroi (大塔宮曦鎧)

Date: 7^th month of 1847

Theater: Kawarasaki

Publisher: Iba-ya Sensaburô

NOTE: This diptych is from the series Select Series of Book Titles

Actors: Left sheet: Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Chobakure (ちょぼくれ) and Bandô Shûka I as Asazuma (浅妻, inset)

Center sheet: Bandô Shûka I as Chatsumi (茶つみ), Ichimura Uzaemon XII as the monkey trainer (sarumawashi, さるまわし) and Onoe Kikujirô II as Umegae (梅ヶ枝, inset)

Right sheet: Bandô Shûka I as a geisha in male dress accompanying a festival float (sairei no tekomai, 祭礼のてこまい) and Ichikawa Kodanji IV as Genta (源太, inset)

Play: Yamato Gana Iro no Nana Moji (倭仮名色七文字)

Date: 7^th month of 1847 (censors Muramatsu and Yoshimura)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Iba-ya Sensaburô (outer sheets) and Minato-ya Kohei (center sheet)

NOTE: Since this “triptych” bears the seals of two different publishers, it may not have been intended to be displayed in this manner.

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this sheet from another state.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO PART IV

* Baiju was the poetry name of Onoe Kikugorô III. In both English-speaking countries and Japan, the production is also known as Onoe Kikugorô ichidai banashi (The Lifetime of Onoe Kikugorô III).