Actor triptychs

1851, Part III

Actors: Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Teraoka Heiemon (寺岡平右衛門, left) and Bandô Shuka I as Okaru (おかる, right)

Play: Kanadehon Chûshingura (仮名手本忠臣蔵)

Date: 2^nd month of 1851 (censors Hama and Magome)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Hayashi-ya Shôgorô

Actors: Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Teraoka Heiemon (寺岡平右衛門, left) and Bandô Shuka I as Okaru (おかる, right)

Play: Kanadehon Chûshingura (仮名手本忠臣蔵)

Date: 2^nd month of 1851 (censors Fuku and Muramatsu)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Hayashi-ya Shôgorô

Actors: Bandô Shuka I as Okaru (おかる, left) and Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Teraoka Heiemon (飾間宅兵衛 実ハ寺岡平右衛門, right)

Play: Kanadehon Chûshingura (仮名手本忠臣蔵)

Date: 2^nd month of 1851 (censors Hama and Magome)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Ebi-ya Rinnosuke

Actors: Left sheet: Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Hayano Kanpei (早野かん平)

Center sheet: Nakamura Kanemon I as Yoichibei (百姓与一兵衛) and Ichikawa Komazô VII as Senzaki Yagorô (千崎弥五郎)

Right sheet: Arashi Kichisaburô III as Ono Sadakurô (斧定九郎) holding a janome kasa (snake eye umbrella)

Play: 5^th act of Kanadehon Chûshingura

Date: 2^nd month of 1851 (censors Fuku and Muramatsu)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Jôshû-ya Kinzô

NOTE: This triptych was modified and reprinted for another performance of Kanadehon Chûshingura in the fifth month of 1854. The 1854 reprint has no publisher’s seal, and the actor’s faces have been changed. The reprint has both an 1854 date seal and the aratame censor’s seal.

Actors: Arashi Kichisaburô III as Ono Sadakurô (斧定九郎, standing) and Nakamura Kanemon I as Yoichibei (百性与一兵衛)

Play: 5^th act of Kanadehon Chûshingura

Date: 2^nd month of 1851 (censors Fuku and Muramatsu)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Ebi-ya Rinnosuke

Actors: Arashi Kichisaburô III as Ono Sadakurô (斧定九郎)

Play: 5^th act of Kanadehon Chûshingura

Date: 2^nd month of 1851 (censors Fuku and Muramatsu)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Tsuta-ya Umejirô

Actors: Ichikawa Kuzô II as Kakogawa Honzô (加古川本蔵, left) and Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Momonoi Wakasanosuke (桃の井若狭之助, right)

Play: Kanadehon Chûshingura (仮名手本忠臣蔵)

Date: 2^nd month of 1851

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Enshû-ya Hikobei

Actors: Left sheet (left to right): Nakamura Shijiuku I as Hara Goemon (原郷右衛門), Ichimura Takenojô V as Ôboshi Yuranosuke (大星由良之助), Arashi Kichisaburô III as Enya Hangan (塩冶判官高貞), and Ôtani Tomoemon IV as Ono Kudayu (斧九太夫)

Right sheet (left to right): Ichikawa Kuzô II as Ishido Umanojo (石堂右馬之丞) and Nakayama Bungorô II as Yamana Jirozaemon (山名次郎左衛門)

Play: Kanadehon Chûshingura (仮名手本忠臣蔵)

Date: 2^nd month of 1851 (censors Muramatsu and Fuku)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Enshû-ya Hikobei

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

Actors: Nakayama Bungorô II as Yamana Jirozaemon (above) and Ichimura Takenojô V as Ôboshi Yuranosuke (大星由良之助)

Play: Kanadehon Chûshingura (仮名手本忠臣蔵)

Date: 2^nd month of 1851

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Enshû-ya Hikobei

Actor: Ichimura Takenojô V as Ôboshi Yuranosuke (大星由良之助)

Play: Kanadehon Chûshingura (仮名手本忠臣蔵)

Date: 2^nd month of 1851

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Tanba-ya Hanjirô

Actors: Left sheet: Nakamura Kantarô I as the procurer Kohachi (ぜげん 小八) and Bandô Shuka I as Okaru (勘平妻おかる)

Center sheet: Ichimura Takenojô V as Ichimonjiya Saibei (一文字や才兵衛)

Right sheet: Nakamura Kanemon I as Okaru’s mother Okaya and Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Hayano Kanpei (早野 勘平)

Play: Kanadehon Chûshingura (仮名手本忠臣蔵)

Date: 2^nd month of 1851 (censors Magome and Hama)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Ise-ya Chûsuke

I am grateful to Lucienne Parkan for this alternate state of the above design.

Actors: Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Momonoi Wakasanosuke (桃之井若狭之助, left)

Play: Kanadehon Chûshingura (仮名手本忠臣蔵)

Date: 2^nd month of 1851

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Ise-ya Chûsuke

NOTE: Enya Hangan’s wife, Kaoyo, identifies Yoshisada’s helmet (kabuto) at the Hachiman shrine with the others present.

Actors: Left sheet: Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Teraoka Heiemon (寺岡平右ェ門, standing) and Ichimura Takenojô V as Ôboshi Yuranosuke (大星由良之助)

Right sheet: Ichikawa Kuzô II as Kakogawa Honzô (加古川本蔵)

Play: Kanadehon Chûshingura (仮名手本忠臣蔵)

Date: 2^nd month of 1851

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Wakasa-ya Yoichi

Actors: Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Momonoi Wakasanosuke (桃之井若狭之助, left) and Ichikawa Kuzô II as Kakogawa Honzo (加古川本蔵, right)

Play: Kanadehon Chûshingura (仮名手本忠臣蔵)

Date: 2^nd month of 1851

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Ebi-ya Rinnosuke

NOTE: Wakanosuke is not really facing Honzo, indicating a missing sheet with another actor to Wakanosukeʼs right. I am grateful to Marc DeVriese for the left sheet.

Actors: Left sheet: Ichikawa Komazô VI as yakko (servant) Kohei (奴可内) and Nakayama Bungorô II as Sagisaka Bannai (鷺坂伴内)

Right sheet: Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Hayano Kanpei (早野勘平) and Bandô Shuka I as koshimoto Okaru (こし元おかる)

Play: Kanadehon Chûshingura (仮名手本忠臣蔵)

Date: 2^nd month of 1851 (censors Fuku and Muramatsu)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Tsujioka-ya Bunsuke

Actors: Left sheet: Bandô Shuka I as Okaru (おかる) and Nakamura Kantarô I as the maidservant Rin (下女りん)

Right sheet: Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Teraoka Heiemon (飾間宅兵衛 実ハ寺岡平右衛門)

Play: Kanadehon Chûshingura (仮名手本忠臣蔵)

Date: 2^nd month of 1851

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Maru-ya Seijirô

Actors: Left sheet: Nakayama Bungorô II as Sagisaka Bannai

(鷺坂伴内)

Center sheet: Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Hayano Kanpei (早野勘平)

Right sheet: Bandô Shûka I as Okaru (こし元 おかる)

Play: Kanadehon Chûshingura (仮名手本忠臣蔵)

Date: 2^nd month of 1851

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Mikawa-ya

Actors: Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Teraoka Heiemon (寺岡平右ェ門)

Play: Kanadehon Chûshingura (仮名手本忠臣蔵)

Date: 2^nd month of 1851 (censors Hama and Magome)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Kakumoto-ya Kinjirô

NOTE: This print refers to a parable about the battle between wasps and hornets, which is an omen in some versions of Ako story.

Actors: Nakayama Bungorô II as Sagisaka Bannai (鷺坂伴内, left), Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Hayano Kanpei (早野勘平, center), and Bandô Shuka I as Okaru (おかる, right)

Play: Kanadehon Chûshingura (仮名手本忠臣蔵)

Date: 2^nd month of 1851

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Kyôji (京治)

NOTE: This triptych depicts a dance with many quick changes of costume, which was performed between acts of Kanadehon Chûshingura. This particular dance is titled Michiyuki tabiji no hanamuko (道行旅路の花聟), but it is also known as Ochiudo (落人). This type of dance, with many quick costume changes, is known as a hengemono (変化物). I am grateful to Lucienne Parkan for information about this triptych.

Actors: Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Haya no Kanpei (早の勘平) and Ichikawa Komazô VII as Senzaki Yagorô (千崎弥五郎)

Play: Kanadehon Chûshingura (仮名手本忠臣蔵)

Date: 2^nd month of 1851 (censors Muramatsu and Yoshimura)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Horimasa

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

Actors: Unidentified actor as Ninokuchi-mura Magoemon (left), Onoe Baiko IV as Tsuchiya Umegawa (center), and Sawamura Chôjûrô V as Kameya Chubei (right)

Play: Koi bikyaku yamato orai (A Messenger of Love in Yamato)

Date: 2^nd month of 1851

Theater: Kawarasaki

Publisher: Te (phonetic reading of て)

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