Actor triptychs

1849, Part I

Actors: Nakamura Utaemon IV as Shoki Shinsuke (庻木申助, left) and Bandô Shûka I as Shinsuke’s wife (nyôbô) Omoto (申介女房おもと, right) holding up a painting of Shôki

Play: Aoto Banashi (青砥調)

Date: 1^st month of 1849 (censors Hama and Magome)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Okaei

Actors: Bandô Shûka I as Izayoi (十六夜, left) and Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Tsukasaburô (司三郎, right)

Play: Aoto Banashi (青砥調)

Date: 1^st month of 1849

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Ningyô-ya Takichi

Actors: Nakamura Utaemon IV as Shoki Shinsuke (庻木申助, left) and Bandô Shuka I as Shinsuke’s wife (nyôbô) Omoto (申介女房おもと, right)

Play: Aoto Banashi (青砥調)

Date: 1^st month of 1849 (censors Kinugasa and Yoshimura)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: No seal

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this simplified state.

Triptych title: Hojo Clan Vassal, Judge Aoto Saemon Fujitsuna, Interrogates the Rights and Wrongs of the People (北条家の臣青砥左エ門藤綱門註所にて民の邪正を糺圖)

Actors: Left sheet: Nakamura Sagisake as Osame (おさめ), Nakamura Kan’emon I as Wakatô (若党市), Nakayama Bungorô II as Azadaira (あざ平), and unidentified actor as Tsuya no Suke (つ屋の助)

Center sheet: Nakamura Utaemon IV as Aoto Saemon Fujitsuna (青砥左エ門藤綱, top center), Nakamura Gennosuke II as Keikû (景空), and Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Tsukasaburô (司三郎)

Right Sheet: Bandô Shuka I as the daughter (musume) Izayoi (娘十六夜), Seki Sanjûrô III as Kanasashi Tosho (金刺図書), possibly Ichikawa Kodanji IV as Shimaya Banzô who is actually Hatashirô (島屋番蔵実ハ籏四郎), and possibly Ichikawa Kodanji IV as Somoshichi (曽茂七)

Play: Aoto Banashi (青砥調)

Date: 1^st month of 1849 (censors Hama and Magome)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Ningyô-ya Takichi

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

Actors: Nakamura Utaemon IV as Aoto Saemon Fujitsuna (青砥左衛門藤綱)

Play: Aoto Banashi (青砥調)

Date: 1^st month of 1849 (censors Kinugasa and Yoshimura)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Sumiyoshi-ya Masagorô

Actors: Bandô Shuka I as Izayoi (十六夜, left) and Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Tsukasaburô (司三郎, right)

Play: Aoto Banashi (青砥調)

Date: 1^st month of 1849 (censors Muramatsu and Yoshimura)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Minato-ya Kohei

I am grateful to Robert Pryor and Lucienne Parkan for these two sheets.

Actors: Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Yari no Gonza (鎗の権三, left) and Ichikawa Kodanji IV as Komurasaki who is actually Shirai Gonpachi (小紫実ハ白井権八, right)

Play: Hatsumoto yui Soga no kyodai (初元結曽我鏡台)

Date: 1^st month of 1849 (censors Muramatsu and Yoshimura)

Theater: Kawarasaki

Publisher: Minato-ya Kohei

NOTE: Kuniyoshi’s signature and seal on Komurasaki’s kimono.

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

Actors: Ichikawa Kodanji IV as Komurasaki who is actually Shirai Gonpachi (小紫実ハ白井権八, left) and Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Sasano Gonza (笹野権三, right)

Play: Hatsumoto yui Soga no kyodai (初元結曽我鏡台)

Date: 1^st month of 1849 (censors Hama and Magome)

Theater: Kawarasaki

Publisher: Kiyoimizu-ya Naojirô

I am grateful to Lucienne Parkan for this image.

Actors: Ichikawa Kodanji IV as Shirai Gonpachi (白井権八) and Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Sasano Gonza (笹野権三)

Play: Hatsumoto yui Soga no kyodai (初元結曽我鏡台, Suzugamori scene at the execution ground)

Date: 1^st month of 1849 (censors Kinugasa and Yoshimura)

Theater: Kawarasaki

Publisher: Koga-ya Katsugorô

Actors: Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Sasano Gonza (笹野権三, left) and Bandô Hikosaburô IV as doctor Teranishi Kanshin (医者 寺西 閑心, right)

Play: Hatsumoto yui Soga no kyodai (初元結曽我鏡台)

Date: 1^st month of 1849

Theater: Kawarasaki

Publisher: Kazusa-ya Iwazô

Actors: Onoe Kikujirô II as Yaeume (八重梅, left), Ichikawa Kodanji IV as Shirai Gonpachi (白井権八, center), and Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Sasano Gonza (笹野権三, right)

Play: Hatsumoto yui Soga no kyodai (初元結曽我鏡台)

Date: 1^st month of 1849

Theater: Kawarasaki

Publisher: Ôta-ya Takichi

Actors: Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Akane Tabiya Hanshichi (茜たび屋半七, left), Onoe Kikujirô II as Mikazuki no Osayo who later becomes Sankatsu (三日月のおさよ 後二三かつ, center), and Bandô Hikosaburô IV as Akane Tabiya Chokuro (茜足袋屋長九郎, right)

Play: Hatsumoto yui Soga no kyodai (初元結曽我鏡台)

Date: 1^st month of 1849 (censors Hama and Magome)

Theater: Kawarasaki

Publisher: Enkakudô

Actors: Left sheet: Ichikawa Kodanji IV as Shirai Gonpachi (白井権八) standing over Onoe Kikujirô II as Sukedayu’s daughter (musume) Yaeume (助太夫娘八重梅), and Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Akane Tabiya Hanshichi (茜たびや半七, inset)

Center sheet: Bando Hikosabûrô IV as the outcast (hinin) Yoime no Nisuke (非人宵張の仁助) with the spear over his right shoulder and a purse in his mouth and Onoe Kikujirô II as Sankatsu (三か津, inset)

Right sheet: Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Sasano Gonza (笹野権三) holding a spear with a giant centipede at the end of it and Bandô Hikosaburô IV as Akane Tabiya Chokuro (茜たびや長九郎, inset)

Play: Hatsumoto yui Soga no kyodai (初元結曽我鏡台)

Date: 1^st month of 1849

Theater: Kawarasaki

Publisher: Ningyô-ya Takichi

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

Actors: Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Akane Tabiya Hanshichi (茜たび屋半七, left) Onoe Kikujirô II as Sankatsu (三かつ, right)

Play: Hatsumoto yui Soga no kyodai (初元結曽我鏡台)

Date: 1^st month of 1849

Theater: Kawarasaki

Publisher: Kiyoimizu-ya Naojirô

NOTE: The actor’s names are written in ink on the face of these prints. I am grateful to Marc DeVriese for this image and to Lucienne Parkan for information about the diptych.

Actors: Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as (茜たび屋半七, standing), Onoe Kikujirô II as Sankatsu (三かつ), and Ôtani Tomoemon IV as Imaichi Zen’emon (今市善右エ門, inset)

Play: Hatsumoto yui Soga no kyodai (初元結曽我鏡台)

Date: 1^st month of 1849 (censors Hama and Magome)

Theater: Kawarasaki

Publisher: Ôta-ya Takichi

I am grateful to Maximilian Bürger for this image.

Diptych title: Sangokuken (三国けん)

Actors: Left sheet: Bandô Shûka I as Ohide from the town of Ôiso (Ôiso Nakanocho Ohide, 大磯中の丁お秀, female) and Ichimura Uzaemon XII as the roofing boss (tobigashira) Kakichi (鳶の頭嘉吉)

Right sheet: Nakamura Utaemon IV as the fortuneteller (uranaisha) Sangokuken (駒形の占者三国軒)

Dance interlude: Shinki ikken tori no hatsugoe (A Ken Game with New Rules to the First Cry of the Cock, 新規一拳酉魁声)

Date: 1^st month of 1849 (censors Hama and Magome)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Ôta-ya Takichi

NOTE: The diptych title, Sangokuken, translates as “Three Kingdoms Fist”, a hand game similar to rock-paper-scissors. The text on the gate reads Instruction in the performing arts (Shogei shian no uchi, 諸芸指安の内).

Actors: Left sheet: Seki Sanjûrô III as the quack doctor (taiko isha) Hôfutei (たいこ医者宝富亭) and Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Tobigashira Kakichi (鳶の頭嘉吉, crouching)

Center sheet: Bandô Shûka I as Ohide of Kewaizaka (female) and Nakamura Utaemon IV as Aoto Fujitsuna

Right sheet: Bandô Shûka I as Oiso no Otama (大磯のお玉), and an actor in an unidentified male role

Dance interlude: Shinki ikken tori no hatsugoe (A Ken Game with New Rules to the First Cry of the Cock, 新規一拳酉魁声)

Date: 1^st month of 1849 (censors Hama and Magome)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Okaei

Text: Learning everything about kemari (Kemari e mon zukushi no manabi, けまりえもんなづくしのまなび)

Actors: Bandô Shûka I as Oiso Naka no Cho Ohide (大磯中の丁お秀, female), Seki Sanjûrô III as the hack doctor (taiko isha) Hôtufei (たいこ医者宝冨亭, in black), and Ichimura Uzaemon XII as the roofing boss (tobigashira) Kakichi (鳶頭嘉吉)

Dance interlude: Shinki ikken tori no hatsugoe (A Ken Game with New Rules to the First Cry of the Cock, 新規一拳酉魁声)

Date: 1^st month of 1849 (censors Hama and Magome)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Wakasa-ya Uhei

Actors: Left sheet: Iwai Kumesaburô III as yaoya Oshichi (八百屋娘お七, on ladder) and Matsumoto Kinshô I as Oshichi’s brother Somegoro (お七兄染五郎)

Right sheet: Ichikawa Kuzô II as Dozaemon Denkichi (土左エ門伝吉, standing) and Sawamura Sôjûrô V as gejo Osugi (下女お杉)

Play: Sono mukashi koi no edozome (其往昔恋江戸染)

Date: 1^st month of 1849 (censors Kinugasa and Yoshimura)

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Ningyô-ya Takichi

I am grateful to Lucienne Parkan for this less labor-intensive state of the above design.

Actors: Ichikawa Kuzô II as Dozaemon Denkichi (土左衛門伝吉, left) and Iwai Kumesaburô III as yaoya Oshichi (八百屋於七, right)

Play: Sono mukashi koi no edozome (其往昔恋江戸染)

Date: 1^st month of 1849 (censors Kinugasa and Yoshimura)

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Ningyô-ya Takichi

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

Actors: Left sheet: Sawamura Sôjûrô V as gejo Osugi (下女お杉) and Iwai Kumesaburô III as yaoya Oshichi (八百屋娘お七)

Right sheet: Onoe Baiko IV as Kosho Kichizo (小性吉三)

Play: Sono mukashi koi no edozome (其往昔恋江戸染)

Date: 1^st month of 1849 (censors Hams and Magome)

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Iba-ya Sensaburô

Actors: Left sheet: Iwai Kumesaburô III as yaoya Oshichi (八百屋娘於七) and an unidentified actor as the groom (馬士)

Right sheet: Sawamura Sôjûrô V as Nitta Shiro Tadatsune (仁田四郎忠常) and Matsumoto Kinshô I as Goshaku Somegorô (五尺染五郎)

Play: Sono mukashi koi no edozome (其往昔恋江戸染)

Date: 1^st month of 1849

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Kiyoimidzu-ya Naojirô

Actors: Left sheet: Sawamura Chôjûrô V as priest Shunkan (俊寛僧都, large figure) and Ichikawa Kuzô II as Tanzaemon Motoyasu (small figure)

Center sheet: Matsumoto Kinshô I as Senô Tarô Kaneyasu (瀬ノ尾太郎兼康)

Right sheet: Iwai Kumesaburô III as

Chidori of Satasumagata (薩摩潟ノ千鳥)

Play: Takane no kumo Yorokobi Soga (高蓉岳雲賀曽我)

Date: 1^st month of 1849

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Fujioka-ya Keijiriô

Actors: Sawamura Sôjûrô V as priest Shunkan (俊寛僧都, left), Matsumoto Kinshô I as Senô Tarô (瀬尾太郎, center), and Iwai Kumesaburô III as the island woman (ama) Chidori (蜑千鳥, right)

Play: Takane no kumo Yorokobi Soga (高蓉岳雲賀曽我)

Date: 1^st month of 1849 (Kinugasa and Yoshimura)

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Okaei

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

Actors: Iwai Kumesaburô III as Chidori of Satasumagata (薩摩潟ノ千鳥, left) and Sawamura Chôjûrô V as priest Shunkan (俊寛僧都, right)

Play: Takane no kumo Yorokobi Soga (高蓉岳雲賀曽我)

Date: 1^st month of 1849 (censors Kinugasa and Yoshimura)

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Kiyoimizu-ya Naojirô

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

Actors: Iwai Kumesaburô III as Chidori (ちどり, left) and Sawamura Chôjûrô V as priest Shunkan (俊寛僧都, right)

Play: Takane no kumo Yorokobi Soga (高蓉岳雲賀曽我)

Date: 1^st month of 1849

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Ôta-ya Takichi

NOTE: Copies of this diptych exist with the seals of the censors, Hama and Magome, printed backwards () on the right sheet instead of correct ().

Actors: Bandô Shûka I as Shinsuke’s wife (nyôbô) Omoto (申助 女房 おもと, left), Nakamura Utaemon IV as Shoki Shinsuke (庻木申助, center), and Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Tomiya Jinbei (富屋甚兵衛, right)

Play: Yoru no tsuru omoi no yukidoke (夜鶴思雪解)

Date: 1^st month of 1849

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Enkakudô

Actors: Nakamura Utaemon IV as Shoki Shinsuke (庻木申介, left), Bandô Shûka I as Shinsuke’s wife (nyôbô) Omoto (center), and Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Tomiya Jinbei (富屋甚兵衛, right)

Play: Yoru no tsuru omoi no yukidoke (夜鶴思雪解)

Date: 1^st month of 1849 (censors Hama and Magome)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Uhei

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