Series of Popular Songs on Children’s Games

(Kodomo asobi nagauta zukushi, 子供遊長唄尽)

Publisher: Wakasa-ya Yoichi

c. 1840

The title of this series may also be translated as A Collection of Children Playing Roles (nagauta). It shows children in roles from kabuki plays with song lyrics inscribed above. Prints showing actors were frowned upon by the authorities and intermittently banned. This series may have been a way of circumventing the restrictions by showing children, rather than actors, in roles from kabuki plays. The series is listed as number 109 in Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson (Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1961). The prints in this series 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 series.

	Title: Shiokumi (brine carrier, 汐くみ) Role: The brine carrier Matsukaze Description: Girl carrying two buckets of salt water
	Another state of the above design
	Title: Wankyû (わん久) Role: Wan’ya Kyûbê Description: Dancing boy
	Title: Kashima odori (加しまおどり) Role: The itinerant Kashima priest Kashima no kotofure Description: Two dancing boys
	Title: Harugoma (Spring Colt, 春駒) Role: Description: Two girls performing the harugoma dance NOTE: The harukoma dance is usually performed with hobbyhorses or horse masks.
	An alternate state of the above design.
	Title: Dôjôji (道成寺) Role: Description: Dancing girl
	Title: Shirozake (sweet white sake, しろざけ売) Role: The sweet white sake seller Shirozake Uri Description: Child as sake seller with two buckets
	Another state of the above design without purple
	Title: Tenaraiko (手ならい子) Role: The calligraphy student Tenaraiko Description: Child with open umbrella holding calligraphy book
	A simplified state of the above design
	Title: Role: Description: Child dancing with fan and butterflies
	Title: Role: Description: Two boys, one with a sword and the other carrying two bundles on his shoulder
	Title: Sanbaso Dance (さんば) Role: Description:

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

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