The Five Festivals

(Go sekku no uchi, 五節句のうち)

Publisher: Minato-ya Kohei

1849

In this print series, the five festivals are likened to scenes from the kabuki play Onnagori goshiki no Hanakago (余波五色花魁香), which was performed in the Ichimura Theater in the 9^th month of 1849. The five festivals are Jinjitsu (January 7) Feast of the Seven Herbs or Mankind’s Day; Johshi (March 3) Doll Festival or Girls’ Day; Tango (May 5) Boys’ Day; Tanabata (July 7) Star Festival or Seventh Night; and Choyo (September 9) the Chrysanthemum Festival. The series is listed as number 125 in Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson (Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1961), and the prints are each about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as ôban. I am grateful to Ward Pieters and Robert Pryor for information about this series.

	Festival: Jinjitsu (January 7) Feast of the Seven Herbs or Mankind’s Day Actors: Nakamura Fukusuke I as a junior courtesan, Nakamura Utaemon IV as a courtesan of the highest rank (tayû), and the child actor Seki Hanasuke as a young girl NOTE: Nenohi no komatsubiki (子の日の小松引) was an activity on the first Rat Day of January when small pine seedlings were pulled for good fortune and omens were read in the patterns left by the pulled roots.
	Festival: Johshi (March 3) Doll Festival or Girls’ Day Actors: Fujikawa Kayu III as the geisha Osen (芸者おせん), Nakamura Utaemon IV as the trick rider (kyokuba nori, 曲馬乗り), and Seki Sanjûrô III as Daimoku Shichiji (題目七次) NOTE: The banner reads kaichô (開帳), a festival involving the unveiling of a usually hidden Buddhist image or relic.
	Festival: Tango (May 5) Boys’ Day Actors: Bandô Shûka I as Empress Jingû (神功皇后, standing) and Nakamura Utaemon IV as Takeshiuchi Sukune (武内宿祢) NOTE: Samurai dolls were displayed on Tango, and dolls depicting Empress Jingû and her marshal Takeshiuchi Sukune were among the most popular.
	Another state of the above print
	Festival: Tanabata (July 7) Star Festival or Seventh Night Actors: Bandô Shûka I in female role as the waitress Okaji (仲居おかぢ), actor Nakamura Utaemon IV as Hoshu daijin (宝珠大尽, standing left), and Nakamura Fukusuke I as a young man (standing right) NOTE: This print depicts a popular drinking game that uses a looped rope, “bait”, and a fox mask.
	Another state of the above print
	Festival: Choyo (September 9) the Chrysanthemum Festival Actors: Nakamura Utaemon IV as a female demon (鬼女, standing) and Seki Sanjuro III as Taira no Koremochi (平惟茂)
	Festival: Actors: Nakamura Utaemon IV, Bandô Shûka I, and Ichimura Uzaemon XII I am grateful to Lucienne Parkan for this image.

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