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 9^th 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.
	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: 9^th month of 1834 Theater: Morita Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Chôzô
	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: 9^th month of 1834 Theater: Morita Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Chôzô
	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: 9^th month of 1834 Theater: Morita Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Chôzô
	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: 6^th month of 1854 Publisher: Ôta-ya Takichi NOTE: The actors are on a sumô referee’s 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: 6^th 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: 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: 8^th 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: 11^th 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, 簪) Play: Iro misao kuruwa bunsho (色操廓文章) Date: 7^th month of 1831 Theater: Kawarasaki Publisher: Unknown, seal reads Hon, Otsuki (本, 尾付) or Hon, Oden (本, 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 (本, 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.

CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO MAIN PAGE