Fashionable Choices in Sake Cups

(Ryûkô okonomi no sakazuki, 流行御好乃盃)

Publisher: Ôta-ya Takichi

1849

This series illustrates portraits of actors in character in sake cups. The series title may be read as either Ryûkô okonomi no sakazuki or as Hayari okonomi no sakazuki. It 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 Robert Pryor for his contributions to this section.

	Top: Iwai Kumesaburô III as princess Yûkon (姫君ゆうこん) Bottom: Sawamura Chôjûrô V as Tomoe no Jo jitsuwa (actually) Kyo no from Kyoto (巴の烝実ハ京の二郎祐重) Play: Sono omokage Asama gadake (其侭浅間嶽) Date: 9^th month of 1849 Theater: Nakamura
	Top: Onoe Baiko IV as Yûgiri (夕霧) Bottom: Sawamura Chôjûrô V as Izaemon (伊左衛門) Play: Kuruwa bunshô (廓文章) Date: 7^th month of 1850 Theater: Ichimura This is an altered version of the above design printed from partially recarved woodblocks and published by Tanba-ya Hanjirô.
	Top: Bandô Shûka I as Hosaku’s wife Shiryu (しらゆふ) Bottom: Nakamura Utaemon IV as Hosaku (法作) Play: Kotoba no hana momiji no yozakari (詞花紅成盛) Date: 8^th month of 1849 Theater: Ichimura
	Top: Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Ashimaru (阿沙丸) Bottom: Seki Sanjuro III as Dainichibô (大日坊) Play: Kotoba no hana momiji no yozakari (詞花紅成盛) Date: 8^th month of 1849 Theater: Ichimura
	Top: Unidentified actor as Tora (とら) Bottom: Unidentified actor as Shôshô (少〻) Play: Unidentified Date: Probably late 1849 Theater:
	I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this preparatory drawing for the above print.

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