Onoe Taganojō II as Kidomaru, Ichikawa Danjūrō IX as Hirai Yasumasa, Nakamura Shikan IV as Hakamadare no Yasusuke [in Yanagi Sakura Azuma no Nishiki-e]

Japanese Color Woodblock Print 

Onoe Taganojō II as Kidomaru, Ichikawa Danjūrō IX as Hirai Yasumasa, Nakamura Shikan IV as Hakamadare no Yasusuke

[in Yanagi Sakura Azuma no Nishiki-e]

by Toyohara Kunichika, 1883

A Comparison of Actors' Wages (Tokyo)

IHL Cat. #2176

About This Print

A kabuki retelling of the story of courtier and famous flute player, Hirai Yasumasa (center: played by Ichikawa Danjūrō IX) out on the moors during a full moon unconcernedly playing his flute while the robber Hakamadare Yasusuke (left: Nakamura Shikan IV) prepares to attack and rob him. On the right sheet is Kidomaru, played by Onoe Taganojō II who wears an ox hide as a disguise. (Note: I am confused why Kidomaru appears to be a woman character in this print, as Kidomaru is most often seen an alias tor Hakamadare Yasuke.)

This scene occurs in the last act 大切 (oogiri) of the play Yanagi sakura azuma nishikie 柳桜東錦絵 which played at the Shintomi-za in April 1883. The program for the entire performance is attached.1

1  available for download on the website of University of Tokyo

The Actors Pictured

For profiles of the actors pictured in this print go to The Kabuki Actor.


Print Details

 IHL Catalog #2176
 Title (Description) Onoe Taganojō II as Kidomaru, Ichikawa Danjūrō IX as Hirai Yasumasa, Nakamura Shikan IV as Hakamadare no Yasusuke [in Yanagi Sakura Azuma no Nishiki-e]
鬼童丸　尾上多賀之丞  平井保昌　市川団十郎  袴垂保輔　中村芝翫 [柳桜東錦絵]
 Artist Toyohara Kunichika (1835–1900)
 Signature
Toyohara Kunichika hitsu with toshidama seal
豊原国周筆(年玉印)  
 Seal Toshidama seal beneath signature [see above]
 Publication Date
 April 1883
 Publisher
 秋山武右エ門  Akiyama Bu'emon [Marks: seal not shown; pub. ref. 005]

right cartouche:
馬道七丁目六番チ 画工 荒川八十八
[artist's address, followed by "gakō (artist) and the artist's given name Arakawa Yasohachi0
center cartouche: 
室町三丁目九番チ 板元 秋山武右エ門
[publisher's address followed by name]
left column: 
御届明治二八年四月　日
[date of issuance April 1883]
 Carver
彫工宗岡   carver Muneoka
 Impression excellent
 Colors excellent
 Condition good - three separate sheets; backing paper; trimmed to image; discoloration on face in center sheet; discoloration beneath and to left of moon in left panel
 Genre ukiyo-e; yakusha-e
 Miscellaneous 
 Format vertical oban triptych
 H x W Paper
 right sheet: 13 11/16 x 9 5/16 in. (34.8 x 23.7 cm)
 center sheet: 13 3/4 x 9 1/4 in. (34.9 x 23.5 cm)
 left sheet: 13 3/4 x 9 5/16 in. (34.8 x 23.7 cm)
 Literature
 
 Collections This Print
 Tokyo Metropolitan Library M348-39
Program for performance.pdf
(3265k)
Irwin Lavenberg,
Oct 25, 2019, 5:22 PM
v.1