Vengeance at Denka Tea House

(Denka chaya adauchi, 殿下茶屋仇討七)

Publisher: Yamamoto-ya Heikichi (山本屋平吉)

1854

 

This series shows scenes from the kabuki play on the theme of revenge, Katakiuchi Tengajaya-mura (敵討天下茶屋聚).  Like most successful kabuki plays written in an era without copyright laws, the play was performed in different theaters with various titles.  These prints depict the play as it was staged at the Kawarasaki Theater in the 5th month of 1854.  The actors and roles are:

 

Actor

Role(s)

Arashi Rikan III

Hangyoku Koemon (斑鳩幸右衛門)

Hayase Iori (早瀬伊織) Ningyô-ya Koemon (人形屋幸右衛門)

Asao Kunigorô VI

Wansuke (奴腕助)

Asao Okuyama IV

Okafune Kishinoto (岡船岸之頭)

Bandô Shuka I

Somonoi (染の井)

Bandô Takesaburô I

Hayase Genjirô (Iori’s younger brother, 早瀬源次郎)

Ichikawa Dannosuke V

Genban’s wife Misao (玄蕃妻操)

Ichikawa Gonjûrô

Hasue (葉末)

Ichikawa Kodanji IV

Tôma Saburôemon (東間三郎右衛門)

Adachi Yasuk (安達弥助)

Ôtani Tomoemon IV 

Adachi Motoemon (安達元右衛門)

Hayase Genban (早瀬玄蕃)

Kyôya Mansuke (京屋万助)

Ôtani Tomomatsu I

Kataoka Mikinokami (片岡造酒頭)

 

This series is not listed in Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson (Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1961).  The prints are each about 10 by 14 inches (25 by 36 centimeters), a size known as ôban.

 

Act: 1

Actors from left to right: Tôma Saburôemon and Asao Okuyama IV as Okafune Kishinoto bowing to Kataoka Mikinokami

Act: 2

Description: Tôma Saburôemon (right) waits in the dark for Hayase Genban (center) on his way home 

Act: 3

Actors from left to right: Adachi Motoemon, Hayase Iori, Hayase Genjirô, Ichikawa Dannosuke V as Genban’s wife Misao玄蕃妻操, Adachi Yasuk, and Somonoi

Act: 4

Actors from left to right: From left to right: Adachi Yasuke being held back by Hayase Iori; the helmeted figure of Tôma Saburôemon; Adachi Motoemon being beaten by Hayase Genjiro, all are watched by the wife of Iori

Act: 5

Actors from left to right: Iori’s younger brother Hayase Genjirô, Adachi Yasuk, Adachi Motoemon, and Hayase Iori

Act: 6

Actors from left to right: Adachi Motoemon, Hayase Iori, and Tôma Saburôemon

Act: 7

Actors from left to right: Kyo-ya Mansuke, Hayase Genirô in the water, the servant Wansuke being pitched into the river from a bridge by Hangyoko Koemon

Act: 8

Description: Ningyô-ya Koemon standing behind Kyôya Mansuke

Act: 9

Actors from left to right: Hayase Genjirô watching Hangyoku Koemon tying up Adachi Motoemon, who is attacked with swords by Somonoi and her younger sister Hasue 

Act: 10

Actors from left to right: Hangyoku Koemon defending himself against spear attacks, and Hayase Genjirô attacking Tôma Saburôemon in a sword fight

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