Miscellaneous series of actor prints

 

Actor prints are known as yakusha-e.  These 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 section.

 

Series: A Collection of Actors as Five True Natives of Edo (Edokko soroi sugao gonin otoko, 江戸子揃 素顔五人男)

Robinson: Not listed

Play:

Description: Segawa Kikunojô V holding an umbrella and wearing a kimono decorated with yuiwata (tied cotton bundles, the primary mon of the Hamamuraya guild) and the actor’s personal kiku mon (chrysanthemum crest)

Date: c. 1830 (one source gives the date as the 9th month of 1830)

Theater:

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Uhei

 

NOTE: The text on the left side of the print reads Hamamuraya Rokô (浜村屋路考).  Hamamuraya was the actors’ guild, which was founded by the first Segawa Kikunojô, and Rokô was the poetry name of Segawa Kikunojô V.  I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image and information. 

Kuniyoshi - Three Flourishing Geniuses of the Present Day (Tôsei Sambukutsui, Iwai Hanshirô VI as Ochiyo in 'Chiyo migu sakoi no takagaki', (9)1854, 101-3277

 

Series: Three Flourishing Geniuses of the Present Day (Tôsei Sambukutsui, 當盛三福対)

Robinson: Not listed

Play: Chiyo migu sakoi no takagaki (千代見草恋中墻)

Description: Iwai Hanshirô VI as Ochiyo (お千代)

Date: 9th month of 1834

Theater: Morita

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Chôzô

 

Kuniyoshi - Three Flourishing Geniuses of the Present Day (Tôsei Sambukutsui, Sawamura Tosshô I as Hanbei in 'Chiyo migu sakoi no takagaki', (9)1854, 101-3278

 

Series: Three Flourishing Geniuses of the Present Day (Tôsei Sambukutsui, 當盛三福対)

Robinson: Not listed

Play: Chiyo migu sakoi no takagaki (千代見草恋中墻)

Description: Sawamura Tosshô I as Hanbei (半兵衛)

Date: 9th month of 1834

Theater: Morita

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Chôzô

Kuniyoshi - Three Flourishing Geniuses of the Present Day (Tôsei Sambukutsui), Bandô Mitsugorô IV as Kajuro, 1835, pub

 

Series: Three Flourishing Geniuses of the Present Day (Tôsei Sambukutsui, 當盛三福対)

Robinson: Not listed

Play: Chiyo migu sakoi no takagaki (千代見草恋中墻)

Description: Bandô Mitsugorô IV as Kajûrô (加十郎)

Date: 9th month of 1834

Theater: Morita

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Chôzô

zKuniyoshi-Fan Pub

 

Series: Untitled

Robinson: Not listed

Play: Futatsu chocho kuruwa nikki (双蝶仝曲輪日記)

Theater: Ichimura

Description: Nakamura Fukusuke I as Hanaregoma Chokichi (放駒長吉), and Nakamura Kantarô I as Myokan

Date: 6th month of 1854

Publisher: Ôta-ya Takichi

 

NOTE: The actors are on a sumô referee’s fan

 

 

zKunisada-Fan

 

Series: Untitled

Robinson: Not listed

Play: Futatsu chocho kuruwa nikki (双蝶仝曲輪日記)

Theater: Ichimura

Description: Ichikawa Kuzô II as Chôkichi's older sister (長吉姉お関) and Arashi Kichisaburo III as Nuregami Chogorô (濡髪長五郎)

Date: 6th month of 1854

Publisher: Ôta-ya Takichi 

 

NOTE: A print from the same series as the above, but by Kunisada (Toyokuni III)

 

Series: Untitled

Robinson: Not listed

Description: Bandô Mitsugorô IV (坂東三津五郎) as Gorô Tokimune (五郎 時宗)

Actor’s mon: Mitsudai

Date: c. 1834-1835

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Chôzô

 

NOTE: The object in the right upper corner is a battledore (hago-ita), a racket used in a game similar to badminton.  It bears actor’s mon (crest).  I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

 

Series: Untitled

Robinson: Not listed

Description: Iwai Hanshirô VI (岩井半四郎) in a female role

Actor’s mon: Kiku (chrysanthemum)

Date: c. 1834-1835

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Chôzô

 

I am grateful to Marc DeVriese for this image.

 

Series:

Actors: Seki Sanjûrô II (standing) and Iwai Hanshirô V or VI in female role

Robinson: Not listed

Play:

Date: c. 1833

Publisher: Yamaguchi-ya Tobei

 

Series: Spring Scenery... (春景…)

Actors: Iwai Shijaku I as a courtesan

Robinson: Not listed

Play:

Date: c. 1841-1842

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Shôzô

 

I am grateful to Lucienne Parkan for this image.

Series: Six Select Jôruri (Jôruri rokkasen no uchi, 浄瑠理六花撰之内)

Actors: Bandô Shûka I as Akitsuki’s daughter Miyuki (秋月娘 深雪, seated) with painting of Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Komazawa Jirozaemon

Robinson: Not listed

Play: Asagao nikki (朝顔日記, Morning Glory Story)

Date: 8th month of 1848 (censors Hama and Kinugasa)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: No seal

 

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image. 

Title on each sheet: Examples of Valor (Bûyû chigaragusa, 武勇千柄草)

Actors: Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Hako-o Maru (箱王丸, left), Nakamura Utaemon IV as Benkei (center), Ichikawa Ebizô V as Shakkyô (石橋, right)

Play: Shikiutsushi tosa-e no futsutsuka

Date: 11th month of 1847 (censors Hama and Kinugasa)

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Iseyo of Owarichô

 

NOTE: These prints may be considered to be a series or arranged as a triptych

Series: People of Edo, a Collection of Merchants (Edoko zoroi shônin zukushi, 江戸子揃商人尽)

Actor: Sawamura Gennosuke II as Denbei, a seller of hair decorations (kanzashi, )  

Play: Iro misao kuruwa bunsho (色操廓文章)

Date: 7th month of 1831

Theater: Kawarasaki

Publisher: Unknown, seal reads Hon, Otsuki (, 尾付) or Hon, Oden (, 尾傳)

 

Series: People of Edo, a Collection of Merchants (Edoko zoroi shônin zukushi, 江戸子揃商人尽)

Actor: Unidentified actor as a fishmonger

Play:

Date: c. 1831

Publisher: Unknown, seal reads Hon, Otsuki (, 尾付)

 

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image

 

 

Series: A Selection of Summer Scenes (Mitate natsu keshiki, 見立夏景色)

Actor:  Nakamura Utaemon IV, whose poetry name is Nakamura Kanjuku (中村翫雀), as a goldfish seller

Play:

Date: c. 1841-1842

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Shôzô

 

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

 

Series: A Selection of Summer Scenes (Mitate natsu keshiki, 見立夏景色)

Actor: Ichimura Uzaemon XII, whose poetry name is Ichimura Kakitsu (市村家橘), as a water seller

Play:

Date: c. 1841-1842

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Shôzô

 

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

 

“Robinson” indicates listing in Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson, 1961, Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

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