Actor triptychs

1849, Part III

Actors: Left sheet: Nakamura Tsuruzô I as 馬士ぐわん八 and Ichikawa Hirogorô I as okujochu Koya (庄屋杢郎兵衛)

Right sheet: Sawamura Chojuro V as Ashikaga Shichiro Yoshitaka (足利三七郎よし高)

Play: Date zensei sakura no iromaku (伊達旭盛桜彩幕)

Date: 4^th month of 1849

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Kiyoimidzu-ya Naojirô

Actors: Matsumoto Kinshô I as Nikki Danjô (仁木弾正, left), Iwai Kumesaburô III as Arajishi Otokonosuke (荒獅子男之助, center), and Onoe Baikô IV as tsubone Masaoka (乳母政岡, right)

Play: Date zensei sakura no iromaku (伊達旭盛桜彩幕)

Date: 4^th month of 1849 (censors Kinugasa and Yoshimura)

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Koga-ya Katsugorô

NOTE: These woodblocks were originally designed for the production of Date kurabe Okuni kabuki in the 3^rd month of 1849. All three faces were recut. I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

Actors: Matsumoto Kinshô I as Nikki Danjô (仁木直則)

Play: Date zensei sakura no iromaku (伊達旭盛桜彩幕)

Date: 4^th month of 1849

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Kazusa-ya Iwazô

Actors: Left sheet: Iwai Kumesaburô III as onnadate Narukami Otsuru (女達雷のおつる) and Nakamura Tsuruzô I in an unidentified role

Right sheet: Sawamura Chôjûrô V as Ashikaga Shichiro Yoshitaka (足利よし高)

Play: Date zensei sakura no iromaku (伊達旭盛桜彩幕)

Date: 4^th month of 1849

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Tsujioka-ya Bunsuke

Actors: Left sheet: Sawamura Chôjûrô V as Ashikaga Yorikane (頼兼)

Center sheet: Iwai Kumesaburô III as Takao (高尾)

Right sheet: Sawamura Chôjûrô V as Ashikaga Yorikane (頼兼) and Iwai Kumesaburô III as Takao (高尾)

Play: Date zensei sakura no iromaku (伊達旭盛桜彩幕)

Date: 4^th month of 1849 (censors Mera and Murata)

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Enshû-ya Matabei

Actors: Onoe Baikô IV as Kii Tamagawa (紀伊玉川, right), Sawamura Chôjûrô V as Noji Tamagawa (野路玉川) and as Ide Tamagawa (井出玉川, center) and Iwai Kumesaburô III as Tôi Tamagawa (梼衣玉川, left)

Play: Date zensei sakura no iromaku (伊達旭盛桜彩幕)

Date: 4^th month of 1849

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Ebi-ya Rinnosuke

I am grateful to Ward Pieters for locating this image

Print title: Loyalty and Filial Piety in the Time of the Hagi (Chûkô Sendai Hagi, 忠孝先代萩)

Actors: Onoe Baiko IV as the wet nurse Masaoka no tsubone (乳母政岡の局 ) and isshi (child) Senmatsu (一子 千松 )

Play: Date zensei sakura no iromaku (伊達旭盛桜彩幕)

Date: 4^th month of 1849 (censors Mera and Murata)

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Iba-ya Sensaburô

I am grateful to Marc DeVriese for this image.

Diptych title: The Six Crystal Rivers, The Chôfu River (Mu Tamagawa no uchi, Chôfu, 六玉川の内 布調)

Actors: Onoe Baiko IV (left) and Sawamura Sôjûrô V (right)

Play: Date zensei sakura no iromaku (伊達旭盛桜彩幕)

Date: 4^th month of 1849 (censors Magome and Hama)

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Norimasa

Title: Six Crystal Rivers, Cloth Bleaching (Mu Tamagawa no uchi fu sarashi, 六玉川の内 布さらし)

Actors: Onoe Baiko IV and Sawamura Sôjûrô V

Play: Date zensei sakura no iromaku (伊達旭盛桜彩幕)

Date: 4^th month of 1849 (censors Magome and Hama)

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Iba-ya Sensaburô

I am grateful to Lucienne Parkan for the image.

Actors: Left sheet: Sawamura Chojûrô V as Saigyô the priest (西行法師)

Center sheet: Ichikawa Kuzô II as Kisô Yoshinaka (木曾よし仲) and Iwai Kumesaburô III as Utsushie hime (うつしゑ)

Right sheet: Onoe Baiko IV as tayu Osakayama (おほ坂山)　

Play: Fujimi Saigyô (富士見西行)

Date: 4^th month of 1849 (censors Mera and Murata)

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Tsujioka-ya Bunsuke

I am grateful to robert Pryor for this alternate state.

Actors: Left sheet: Sawamura Chojûrô V as Sato Norikiyo (佐藤 義清) who becomes Saigyô

Right sheet: Ichikawa Kuzô II as Kisô Yoshinaka and Onoe Baikô IV as tayu Osakayama (おほ坂山)

Play: Fujimi Saigyô (富士見西行)

Date: 4^th month of 1849 (censors Hama and Magome)

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Sumiyoshi-ya Masagorô

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

Actors: Iwai Kumesaburô III as Utsushi hime (うつしゑ姫, left), Sawamura Chojûrô V as the hunchback minister actually the monk Saigyô (せむし大尽実ハ西行法師, center), and Onoe Baiko IV as Osakayama (right)

Play: Fujimi Saigyô (富士見西行)

Date: 4^th month of 1849 (censors Fuku and Maramatsu)

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Daikoku-ya Heikichi

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

Actors: Sawamura Chojurô V as novice priest Saygyô (佐藤入道 西行, left) and Iwai Kumesaburô III as Utsushi hime (うつしゑ, right)

Play: Fujimi Saigyô (富士見西行)

Date: 4^th month of 1849 (censors Mera and Murata)

Theater: Nakamura

Publisher: Shimizu-ya Naojirô

Triptych title: Kanadehon chûshingura (仮名手本忠臣蔵)

Actors: Left sheet: Ichikawa Kodanji IV as Hayano Kanpei (早野勘平)

Center sheet: Onoe Kikujirô as Okaru (おかる)

Right sheet: Bandô Hikosaburô IV as Fuwa Kazuemon (不破数右衛門) and Bandô Takesaburô I as Senzaki Yagorô (千崎弥五郎)

Play: Kanadehon Chûshingura (仮名手本忠臣蔵)

Date: 4^th month of 1849 (censors Fuku and Muramatsu)

Theater: Kawarasaki

Publisher: Yamamoto-ya Heikichi

NOTE: The wood blocks for the left and center panels were originally used for the performance of Chûshin meimei kikigaki zosho in the 6^th month of 1847.

Actors: Left sheet: Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Kôsuke, actually Tanizawa Mondonosuke (幸助実は谷沢主水之助)

Right sheet: Nakamura Kantarô I as the servant (tedai) Hachibei (手代八兵衛) and Nakamura Utaemon IV as Torii Matasuke (鳥居又助)

Play: O megumi niuruo Iwafuji (恵閏初夏藤)

Date: 4^th month of 1849 (censors Muramatsu and Yoshimura)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Enshû-ya Hikobei

NOTE: The titlee of this play, 恵閏初夏藤, may also be read as Megumi ni uruô Iwafuji. I am grateful to Lucienne Parkan for this image.

Actors: Left sheet: Nakamura Utaemon IV as tsubone Iwafuji (つぼね岩ふぢ)

Center sheet: Ichimura Uzaemon XII as meshitsukai Ohatsu (召仕おはつ, standing)

Right sheet: Fujikawa Kaju III as churo Onoe (中老於の江, standing)

Play: O megumi niuruo Iwafuji (恵閏初夏藤)

Date: 4^th month of 1849 (censors Muramatsu and Yoshimura)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Koga-ya Katsugorô

NOTE: This triptych is a reissue of one from the production of Kamakura yamasakura no gosho zome (鎌倉山桜御所染) in the 3^rd month of 1848. There are numerous alterations, including the actors’ faces. It still bears the seals of the censors Muramatsu and Yoshimura, which are appropriate for the earlier date. I am grateful to Robert Pryor for information about this triptych.

1848
1849

Actors: Nakamura Utaemon IV as Torii Matasuke (鳥居又助) and Nakayama Bungorô II in an unidentified role

Play: O megumi niuruo Iwafuji (恵閏初夏藤)

Date: 4^th month of 1849 (censors Hama and Magome)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Iba-ya Kyûbei

I am grateful to and Lucienne Parkan for this image.

Actors: Fujikawa Kaju III as churo Onoe (中老尾上, left) and Nakamura Utaemon IV as Iwafuji (局岩藤, right)

Play: O megumi niuruo Iwafuji (恵閏初夏藤)

Date: 4^th month of 1849

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Horimasa

Actors: Nakamura Utaemon IV as Iwafuji (局岩藤, right) and Ichimura Uzaemon XII as meshitsukai Ohatsu (尾上召仕おはつ, left)

Play: O megumi niuruo Iwafuji (恵閏初夏藤)

Date: 4^th month of 1849 (censors Fuku and Muramatsu)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Kiyoimidzu-ya Naojirô

Actors: Ichimura Uzaemon XII as heyakata Ohatsu (召仕はつ, left), Fujikawa Kaju III as churo Onoe (中老尾上, center), and Nakamura Utaemon IV as Iwafuji (つぼね岩藤, right)

Play: O megumi niuruo Iwafuji (恵閏初夏藤)

Date: 4^th month of 1849 (censors Mera and Murata)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Wakasa-ya Uhei

NOTE: The woodblocks for this triptych were originally used for the performance of Kamakura yamasakura no gosho zome in the 3^rd month of 1848, and partially recut.

Actors: Bandô Shuka I as Ochiyo (岩藤召仕おちよ, left), Nakamura Utaemon IV as Wakatô Kihei (若党喜兵衛, center), and Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Ohatsu (尾上召仕お初, right)

Play: O megumi niuruo Iwafuji (恵閏初夏藤)

Date: 4^th month of 1849

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Kiyoimidzu-ya Naojirô

Actors: Left sheet: Bandô Shuka I as Iwafuji’s maid (meshitsukai) Ochiyo (岩藤召仕おちよ) and Nakamura Utaemon IV as Wakatô Kihei (若党喜兵衛)

Right sheet: Ichimura Uzaemon XII as the meshitsukai (female servant) Ohatsu (尾上召仕おはつ)

Play: O megumi niuruo Iwafuji (恵閏初夏藤)

Date: 4^th month of 1849

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Tsujioka-ya Bunsuke

I am grateful to Lucienne Parkan for the image.

Actors: Nakamura Utaemon IV as Torii Hatasuke (鳥井畑助, left) and Seki Sanjûrô III as 大月伝蔵 (right)

Play: O megumi niuruo Iwafuji (恵閏初夏藤)

Date: 4^th month of 1849 (censors Fuku and Muramatsu)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Tsujioka-ya Bunsuke

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

Actors: Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Tanizawa Mondonosuke (谷沢主水, left), Nakamura Utaemon IV as Torii Matasuke (鳥井又助, center), and Seki Sanjûrô III as Mochizuki Genzô (望月源蔵, right)

Play: O megumi niuruo Iwafuji (恵閏初夏藤)

Date: 4^th month of 1849 (censors Mera and Murata)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Kazusa-ya Iwazô

I am grateful to Lucienne Parkan for this image.

Actors: Fujikawa Kaju III as churo Onoe (中老尾上) and Iwai Kumesaburô III as meshitsukai Ohatsu (召仕お初)

Play: O megumi niuruo Iwafuji (恵閏初夏藤)

Date: 4^th month of 1849

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Uhei

I am grateful to Marc DeVriese for the image on the right.

Actors: Bandô Shuka I as meshitsukai Ochiyo (召仕於千代, left), Nakamura Utaemon IV as Iwafuji (局岩藤, center), and Seki Sanjûrô III as Mochizuki Genzô (望月源蔵, right)

Play: O megumi niuruo Iwafuji (恵閏初夏藤)

Date: 4^th month of 1849 (censors Mera and Murata)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Uhei

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

Actors: Ichimura Uzaemon XII as heyakata Ohatsu (尾上召仕於はつ, left) and Nakamura Utaemon IV as Iwafuji (局岩藤, right)

Play: O megumi niuruo Iwafuji (恵閏初夏藤)

Date: 4^th month of 1849

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Ningyô-ya Takichi

Actors: Left sheet: Nakamura Utaemon IV as Iwafuji and an unidentified actor dancing

Right sheet: Iwai Kumesaburô III (岩井粂三郎) as Ohatsu and an unidentified actor standing

Play: O megumi niuruo Iwafuji (恵閏初夏藤)

Date: 4^th month of 1849

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Probably Okaei

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

Diptych title: The Four Social Classes (shinôkôshô, 士農工商)

Actors: Left sheet: Seki Sanjûrô III as Katsura Matsunoshin (三蓋松之進) and Bandô Shuka I as Katsumi-no O-hide (勝見の小秀)

Right sheet: Nakamura Utaemon IV as Uraume Kozue (裏梅梢)

Play: O megumi niuruo Iwafuji (恵閏初夏藤)

Date: 4^th month of 1849 (censors Hama and Magome)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Enshû-ya Hikobei

I am grateful to Lucienne Parkan for this image.

Actors: Left sheet: Nakayama Bungorô II as Nakayama (中山) and Bandô Shuka I as meshitsukai Ochiyo (岩藤召仕おちよ)

Center sheet: Fujikawa Kaju III as churo Onoe (中老尾上)

Right sheet: Nakamura Utaemon IV as Iwafuji (局岩藤)

Play: O megumi niuruo Iwafuji (恵閏初夏藤)

Date: 4^th month of 1849 (censors Fuku and Muramatsu)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Ebi-ya Rinnosuke

Actors: Nakamura Utaemon IV as Iwafuji meshitsukai Chiyo (left), Nakamura Utaemon IV as Wakatô Kihei (center), and Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Tanizawa Tanomo (谷沢頼母, right)

Play: O megumi niuruo Iwafuji (恵閏初夏藤)

Date: 4^th month of 1849 (censors Mera and Murata)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Sano-ya Kihei

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

Actors: Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Tanizawa Tanomo (谷沢頼母, left) and Bandô Shûka I as Iwafuji’s maid (meshitsukai) Ochiyo (足利の息女いつき姫, right)

Play: O megumi niuruo Iwafuji (恵閏初夏藤)

Date: 4^th month of 1849 (censors Mera and Murata)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Horimasa

Actors: Bandô Shuka I as Iwafuji’s maid (meshitsukai) Ochiyo (岩藤召仕お千代, left), Fujikawa Kaju III as churo Onoe (中老尾上, center), and Nakamura Utaemon IV as Iwafuji (局岩藤, right)

Play: O megumi niuruo Iwafuji (恵閏初夏藤)

Date: 4^th month of 1849 (censors Fuku and Muramatsu)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Ebisu-ya Shôshichi

I am grateful to Lucienne Parkan for this image.

Actors: Nakamura Utaemon IV as Iwafuji (局岩藤, left) and Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Tanizawa Tanomo (谷沢頼母之助, right)

Play: O megumi niuruo Iwafuji (恵閏初夏藤)

Date: 4^th month of 1849 (censors Fuku and Muramatsu)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Tsujioka-ya bunsuke

I am grateful to Lucienne Parkan for this image.

Actors: Left sheet: Nakamura Utaemon IV as Matasuke (又助) and an unidentified actor as 金かし翫六

Right sheet: Unidentified actors as 谷沢主木之進 and 十九文や小夜六

Play: O megumi niuruo Iwafuji (恵閏初夏藤)

Date: 4^th month of 1849 (censors Hama and Magome)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Tsujioka-ya Bunsuke

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

This print, with the roles removed from the red cartouches, was probably used for another production.

Actors: Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Kôsuke, actually Tanizawa Mondonosuke (幸助実は谷沢主水之助), Seki Sanjûrô III in an unidentified role, and a child actor as …uemon (…右衛門)

Play: O megumi niuruo Iwafuji (恵閏初夏藤)

Date: 4^th month of 1849 (censors Hama and Magome)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Minato-ya Kohei

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image and to Lucienne Parkan and Horst Graebner for the above information.

Actors: Left sheet: Nakamura Utaemon IV as an artisan (工) and Ichimura Uzaemon XII as a merchant (商)

Right sheet: Seki Sanjûrô III as a farmer (農) and Bandô Shûka I as a servant (侍)

Play: Yomito uta Tosa-e no Irodori (四民歌土佐画彩)

Date: 4^th month of 1849

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Ningyô-ya Takichi

Title: The Four Social Classes (Shinôkôshô no uchi, 士農工商の内)

Actors: Seki Sanjûrô III, Bandô Shûka I, and Nakamura Utaemon IV

Play: Yomito uta Tosa-e no Irodori (四民歌土佐画彩)

Date: 4^th month of 1849 (censors Hama and Magome)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Ise-ya Sanjirô

Title: Mitate of the Four Social Classes

Actors: Seki Sanjûrô III as Katsura Matsunoshin (三蓋松之進), Bandô Shuka I as Katsumi no Kohide (勝見の小秀), and Nakamura Utaemon IV as Uraume no Kozue (裏梅の梢)

Play: O megumi niuruo Iwafuji (恵閏初夏藤)

Date: 4^th month of 1849 (censors Hama and Magome)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Daikoku-ya Heikichi

Diptych title: The Four Social Classes (Shinôkôshô no uchi, 士農工商の内)

Actors: Left sheet: Seki Sanjûrô III as Katsura Matsunoshin (standing) and Nakamura Utaemon IV as Uraume Kozue

Right sheet: Bandô Shûka I

Play: Yomito uta Tosa-e no Irodori (四民歌土佐画彩)

Date: 4^th month of 1849 (censors Hama and Magome)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Tama-ya Sôsuke

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

Actors: Bandô Shûka I as 士 (left), Nakamura Utaemon IV as Banze (番匠, center), and Seki Sanjûrô III as the farmer (農人, right)

Play: Yomito uta Tosa-e no Irodori (四民歌土佐画彩)

Date: 4^th month of 1849 (censors Hama and Magome)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher:

Actors: Seki Sanjûrô III as the imayô dancer Katsura Matsunoshin (imayô no maibito Katsura Matsunoshin, 今様の舞人三蓋松之進, left), Bandô Shuka I as the imayô dancer Katsumi O-hide (imayô no maibito Katsumi O-hide, 今様の舞人勝見小秀, center), and Nakamura Utaemon IV as the imayô dancer Uraume Kozue (imayô no maibito Uraume Kozue, 今様の舞人裏梅梢, right)

Play: Yomito uta Tosa-e no Irodori (四民歌土佐画彩)

Theater: Ichimura

Date: 4^th month of 1849 (censors Hama and Magome)

Publisher: Hayashi-ya Shôgorô

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image and to Lucienne Parkan for information about the triptych.

Description: Actors having a vision of sparrows performing the sparrow dance (suzume odori, 雀踊り)

Left sheet: Seki Sanjûrô III (left) and Nakamura Fukusuke I

Right sheet: Nakamura Utaemon IV

Play: Yomito uta Tosa-e no Irodori (四民歌土佐画彩)

Date: 4^th month of 1849 (censors Hama and Magome with shita-uri seal)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher’s seals: Suruga-ya Sukujirô on left sheet and Shimizu-ya Tsunejirô on center sheet

Text: 立かへる歳またれけり冬玉梅　春心斎翁妓

I am grateful to Ward Pieters for locating this image

Actors: Onoe Kikujirô II as Okura (於かる, left) and Ichikawa Gangyoku I as Renma Takubei, actually (jitsu wa) Teraoka Heiemon (廉間宅兵衛実ハ寺岡平右エ門, right)

Play: Kanadehon Chûshingura (仮名手本忠臣蔵)

Date: 4^th intercalated month of 1849* (censors Hama and Magome)

Theater: Kawarasaki

Publisher: Minato-ya Kohei

NOTE: The website of the Art Research Center, Ritsumeikan University associates this diptych with the performance of Kanadehon Chûshingura in the 4^th intercalated month of 1849. However, the website of the Museum of Fine Art, Boston associates this diptych with the performance of Kanadehon Chûshingura in 2^nd month of 1851.

*An extra month inserted between the 4^th and 5^th months in the same manner as an extra day is added to a leap year

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