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.

 

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.

Kuniyoshi - Examples of Valor (Bûyû chigaragusa), Ichikawa Danjuro VIII as Hakoômaru (L)

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

 

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

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