About This Print
A densely packed conglomeration of six magicians with their favorite conjurings.
Pictured, from left to right are:
The character 児雷也 Jiraiya1 [literally: child-thunder man or young thunder], played by Ichikawa Danjūrō IX 市川 團十郎, has conjured a giant toad allowing him to perform "toad magic." By mastering the toad's magic and with the toad by his side, Jiraiya can overcome his enemies.
The character 綱手 Tsunade [literally: rope-hand; translated as towing line], played by Suketakaya Takasuke IV 助高屋 高助, has conjured a giant snail and has mastered "snail magic."
The character 虎王丸 Tora Ōmaru [literally: tiger king-round], played by Ichikawa Sadanji 市川 左團次, has conjured a tiger.
The character 雲龍九郎 Unryūkurō [literally: cloud-dragon Kurō], played by Nakamura Shikan IV 中村 芝翫, has conjured a storm dragon.
The character 暁星五郎 Akatsuki Hoshigorō [literally: dawn-star Gorō], played by Ichikawa Kuzō III 市川 九蔵, has conjured a bat.
The character 不知火 Shiranui [literally: unknown-fire], played by Onoe Kikugorō V 尾上 菊五郎, holding a scroll of spider spells on which a spider walks.
1 The same character sometimes is named Naruto.
Comments of Lynn Katsumoto
In response to my questions about this print and its amalgamation of characters, Lynn Katsumoto, Research Associate at the Portland Art Museum, commented:| Between 1861-64, Kunisada, using the name Toyokuni III, produced a series of actors in magician's roles called, A Contest of Magic Scenes by Toyokuni [豊国揮亳奇術競 Toyokuni kigō kijutsu kurabe].1 So, perhaps that was the precedent. We also know that kabuki performances in late Edo through mid-Meiji were full of spectacle and special effects, and so the possibility that there were a lot of shows featuring lurid magicians is plausible. Artists also sometimes imagined beloved actors in various roles, so that is also a possibility here. Moreover, the triptych was issued for New Years, which is not typically when plays like this would have been staged. Clearly the public appetite for the macabre was strong; further study will reveal whether the alignment of these stage stars and roles reflect actual performances, or played into a mood for the ultra-dramatic. |
The Actors Pictured
Ichikawa Danjūrō IXIchikawa Kuzō III
Ichikawa Sadanji
Nakamura Shikan IV
Onoe Kikugorō V
Suketakaya Takasuke IV (see Sawamura Tosshō II)
For information about each actor see the article The Kabuki Actor.
Variant Printing
This state of the print appears to be an earlier impression or, perhaps, "deluxe printing," as was occasionally done by the publisher for a print that sold well.
Print Details
| IHL Catalog | #405 |
| Title (Description) | Mirror of Magical Heroes (英優奇術鑑 Eiyū kijutsu kagami) or Mirror of Heroic Magic |
| Artist | Toyohara Kunichika (1835–1900) |
| Signature | Toyohara Kunichika hitsu with toshidama seal |
| Seal | unread rectangular seal lower right corner of left panel  |
| Publication Date |  |
| Publisher |  left column: 出版人 shuppanjin 井沢 菊太郎 Izawa Kikutarō right column: showing address of Asakusa Uma michi 7 chome 1 banchi [Marks: similar to 26-042; pub. ref. 174] Right cartouche - left column: 画工 (picture made by) 荒川八十八 (Arakawa Yasohachi, the artist's given name) right column: artist's address |
| Printer | not shown |
| Carver | not shown |
| Impression | excellent |
| Colors | excellent |
| Condition | fair- full-size; not backed; worm holes mainly left margin of left sheet; minor color offsetting |
| Genre | ukiyo-e; nigao-e; yakusha-e |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Format | vertical oban triptych |
| H x W Paper | 14 1/2 x 9 1/2 in. (36.8 x 24.1 cm) each sheet |
| Literature | |
| Collections This Print | Japan Arts Council 07113 |
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