Chûshingura (忠臣蔵)

1849

 

This series of prints illustrates pairs of characters in a performance of the kabuki play Kanadehon Chûshingura at the Nakamura-za Theater in the 7th month of 1849.  The actors are:

Actor

Role

Iwai Kumesaburô III

Lady Kaoyo

Iwai Kumesaburô III

Ôboshi Rikiya

Sawamura Chôjûrô V

Ôbosh Yuranosuke

Sawamura Chôjûrô V

Momonoi Wakanosuke

Sawamura Chôjûrô V

Hayano Kanpei

Onoe Baikô IV

Okaru

Bandô Mitsugorô IV

Takano Moronaô

Onoe Shinshichi III

Enya Hangan

Ichikawa Kuzô II

Kakogawa Honzo

Ichikawa Kuzô II

Ono Sadakurô

Nakamura Tsuruzô

Sagisaka Bannai

Arashi Kangorô I

Owashi Bungo

The series is not listed in Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson (Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1961).  The prints are each about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as ôban.  I am grateful to Ward Pieters for assisting with this series.

 

 

Act: 1 (prologue, 序幕)

Description: Governor Ko Moronao (高師直, in black) and Enya Hangan (桃之井若狭之助, in yellow)

Publisher: Ôta-ya Takichi

 

 

Act: 2

Description: Rikiya and Konami (daughter of Honzô, fiancée of Rikiya)

Publisher: Ebisu-ya Shôshichi

 

 

Act: 3

Description: Kakogawa Honzô (right, 加古川  本蔵) and Enya Takasada (left, 塩冶 判官)

Publisher: No seal

 

 

 

Act: 4

Description: Ôboshi Yuranosuke and his son Rikiya

Publisher: Ôta-ya Takichi

 

 

Act: 5

Description: Ono no Sadakurô robbing Yoichibei

Publisher: Ôta-ya Takichi

 

 

Another state of the above print

 

Yet another state without a publisher’s seal

 

Act: 7

Description: Teraoka Heiemon (寺岡平右衛門) and O-karu (おかる)

Publisher: Ôta-ya Takichi

 

 

Act: 9

Description: Konami and her mother Tonase

Publisher: Ôta-ya Takichi

 

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