Miscellaneous prints of acrobats, top spinners, magicians, and puppeteers,

Part II

 

Kuniyoshi - Acrobatics by Naniwa Kamekichi & Unosuke, 1842, oban

 

Text: 太夫元 蘭杭わたり 浪花亀佶 上のり 卯之助

Description: Acrobatics by Naniwa Kamekichi Unosuke Performing Uwanori

Date: 1842

Publisher:

 

 

Text: Performance at the West Ryogoku Hirokoji (西両国広小路において興行仕候) On top 7-year-old Naniwa Kamekichi, ashigei (foot juggler) 9-year-old Naniwa Matsunosuke, and kyokumochi (foot acrobat) 12-year-old Naniwa Mayoshi (七歳上乗浪花亀吉 九歳曲持浪花松之助 十二歳足芸浪花馬吉)

Date: c. 1832

Publisher:

 

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image. 

 

Title: Song of Immense Physical Strength (Dairiki kyokumochi, 大力曲持)

Text: Power balancing acrobatics at Asakusa, Okuyama (浅草奥山)

Date: 1847-1848 (censors Hama and Kinugasa)

Publisher: Kazusa-ya Iwazô

 

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image. 

 

,

Kuniyoshi - 201-1721

 

Description: 7-year-old Naniwa Kamekichi (七歳上乗浪花亀吉), 9-year-old Naniwa Matsunosuke (九歳曲持浪花松之助), and 12-year-old Naniwa Mayoshi (十二歳足芸浪花馬吉) performing acrobatics

Date: c. 1832

Publisher: Mori-ya Jihei

 

Text: Yanagawa Bungo no Daijo, Asakusa Okuyama ni oite kôgyô tsukawashi-sôrô. Kohada Koheji seiro nuke, Kokon murui Ooatari (柳川豊後大掾 浅草奥山ニ於テ興行仕候, 小はだ小平次せいろうぬけ, 古今無類大當り〳〵)

Description: 

Date:

Publisher:

 

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

 

Text: Kokon murui oorii ooatari, Nidaime Yanagawa Ichosai, Asakusa Okuyama nioite kôgyô tsukawashi-sôrô (古今無類大入大当り, 二代目柳川一蝶斎, 浅草奥山ニテ興行仕候)

Description: 

Date: 1846-1852

Publisher: Murata-ya Ichibei

 

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

 

 

 

Kuniyoshi - Acrobatics by Naniwa Kamekichi, Unosuke & Kotsuru, 1842, oban

 

Text: Acrobat Naniwa Kamekichi Doing a Ladder Trick on Poles (Rangui no ue hashigo no kyokumochi), with Unosuke Performing Uwanori and the Little Girl (Shôjo) Ko-tsuru Performing the Cloth-Bleaching Act (Nunosarashiwake, 蘭杭の上はしごの曲持 太夫元 浪花亀佶 上のり 卯之助, ぬのさらしわけ 少女 小つる

Description: Acrobatics by Naniwa Kamekichi, Unosuke, and the little girl

Date: 1842

Publisher:

Hayashi-ya%20Shôgorô,%20c

 

Title: The Ken Game of the Three Spinning Tops of Takezawa Baishô and Takezawa Tôji (Takezawa Baishô Tôji sankyoku ken, 竹沢 梅升 藤治 三曲拳)

Description:

Date: 1849 (censors Kinugasa and Yoshimura)

Publisher: Hayashi-ya Shôgorô

Linhart: Not listed

 

NOTE: Takezawa Baishô and Takezawa Tôji were entertainers who performed with spinning tops.

Kuniyoshi - R208  [acrobat with top]

 

Text: The Best Spinning Top Tricks by Takezawa Toji (一流曲独楽 竹沢藤次)   

Description: Takezawa Toji (竹澤 藤次) with spinning tops

Date: c. 1843

Publisher: Yamaguchi-ya Tôbei

 

 

Kuniyoshi - Spinning-top Juggling by Hakata Kochô

 

Title: Hakata Kochô (博多小蝶)

Description: Hakata Kochô spinning tops on a maple branch

Date: 1846-1852

Publisher: Wakasa-ya Yoichi

Text: 姿貌嬋娟 として玉をあざむき 笑顔をつくる愛嬌にハ衆人の 魂をひさぐ もつとも美麗 なる已 ならず 曲の獨楽に妙を得て 其名一時に高く 初日より引もきらず 看人 は大入の山をなす 近世 るいなき一流の祖にして このぬしのいさほ莫大といふべし 東都作者立亭京楽戯題

 

Text: 御なじみ竹澤藤治改梅升 御みやけ今昔新工風仕候/両国広小路ニ於相勤申候

Description: Takezawa Toji performing with spinning tops

Date:

Publisher: Yamaguchi-ya Tôbei

 

NOTE: Kuniyoshi’s signature appears in the right upper corner, but it is written atypically as國よし.  I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image. 

 

Text:

Description: Takezawa Toji (竹澤藤治) performing with spinning tops

Date: 1844-1845 (censor Tanaka)

Publisher: Daikoku-ya Heikichi

 

NOTE: This print is about 10 by 7 inches (25 by 18 centimeters), a size known as chûban.  I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

 

 

Text:

Description: Takezawa Toji (竹澤藤治) performing with spinning tops

Date: 1843-1846 (censor Yoshimura Gentarô)

Publisher: Murata-ya Ichibei (seal name Muraichi, 村市)

 

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

 

 

Title: Masukagami Katsuyo (増鏡勝代)

Description: Masukagami Katsuyo and two children performing a balancing act

Date: 2nd month of 1855

Publisher: Ki-ya Sôjirô

 

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

 

XKuniyoshi - Fuji Takezawa performing spinning tricks  005-0929

 

Title: 流曲独楽 竹沢藤次

Description: Fuji Takezawa performing spinning tricks

Date: 1842-1846 (censor Murata Sahei)

Publisher:

 

Takezawa Toji at the Inari Shrine creating visins of the head of Kasane, ghost of Oiwa & Okiku with tops, pub

Series: Untitled

Robinson: Not listed

Title: None

Description: Takezawa Toji at the Inari Shrine creating visions of the head of Kasane, ghost of Oiwa, and Okiku with tops

Date: c. 1843 (censor Muramatsu Genroku)

Publisher: Gusoko-ya Kahei

Image1

Series: Untitled

Robinson: Not listed

Title: None

Description: A spinning-top performance by Takezawa Baisho

Date: c. 1843

Publisher: Gusoko-ya Kahei

A magical spinning-top performance

Series: Untitled

Robinson: Not listed

Title: None

Description: A magical spinning-top performance with nine-tailed fox crossing three countries

Date: c. 1843 (censor Muramatsu Genroku)

Publisher: Gusoko-ya Kahei

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

Children-b

Series: Children Playing (Kodomo asobi no uchi, 子供あそびの内)

Robinson: 114

Title: Logrolling (Kakunori)

Size: About 10 by 14 inches (25 by 36 centimeters), a size known as ôban

Description: Children performing various balancing stunts

Date: c. 1839

Publisher: Ise-ya Rihei

Kuniyoshi%20-%20(diptych)%20Spinning%20Top%20Performances%20at%20Famous%20Places%20in%20Various%20Provinces%20for%20the%2012%20Months%20

Title: Spinning Top Performances at Famous Places in Various Provinces for the 12 Months (諸国名所十二ヶ月独楽)

Other text: Takezawa Tôji succeeding to the name of Takezawa Baishô

Date: 1849 (censors Kinugasa and Yoshimura)

Publisher:

Kuniyoshi - (triptych) [acrobats ballancing fans]

Title:

Description: Acrobats balancing fans

Date: c. 1847-1848

Publisher: Ebisu-ya Shôshichi

Kuniyoshi - (triptych) The Street Performers Assembled to Wish a Happy New Year, c

Title: The Street Performers Assembled to Wish a Happy New Year

Description:

Date: c. 1839

Publisher: Sano-ya Kihei

Title: None

Description: Theater of the juggler Yanagawa Icchôsai at Okuyama in Asakusa

Date: 1847-1850 (censors Mera and Murata)

Publisher: Ebi-ya Rinnosuke

Kuniyoshi - Crowds at the Horse Riding Stunts at Ryogoku (Ryogoku daikyokuba no nigiwai), 1851-3, Pub

Title: Crowds at the Horse Riding Stunts at Ryogôku (Ryôgoku daikyokuba no nigiwai, 両ごく大 馬の)

Description:

Date: c. 1850-1852

Publisher: Sumiyoshi-ya Masagorô

Kuniyoshi - (fan) A spinning-top performance by Takezawa Toji, c

Description: A spinning-top performance by Takezawa Toji (竹澤 藤次)

Date: c. 1944

Publisher: Ise-ya Soemon

Description: Dog and monkey acrobatics at Asakusa Okuyama

Date: 1848 (censors Muramatsu and Yoshimura)

Publisher: Nishimura-ya Yohachi

 

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

Title: 浪花模様花曲持 太夫瀧川鯉之助・瀧川宇の助・瀧川鯉吉 西両国広小路に於て興行仕候

Description: Banzuke (program) for an exhibition of acrobatics at Hirokoji, Nishi Ryôgoku

Date: 1846

Publisher:

 

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

 

“Robinson” refers to listing of the series in Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson (Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1961). 

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