About This Print
page updated 10/25/2017
The actors (R to L) Onoe Kikugorō (V) in the role of the romantic gangster Kataoka Naojirō, Sawamura Gennosuke (IV) in the role of his lover the courtesan Michitose, and Onoe Kikusaburō (V) in the role of the maid Chiyoharu in the scenes Shin Yoshiwara Ōguchi rō and Negishi bessō no ba (Shin Yoshiwara the Ōguchi Brothel and The Villa at Negishi) from the play Sanpuku Tsui Ueno no Fūkei staged at the Kabuki-za in October 1890 .Source: The below is based upon an exchange of emails with Samuel L. Leiter, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Theatre Brooklyn College, CUNY, and The Graduate Center, CUNY on 10/25/2017 and Professor Leiter's blog Kabuki Woogie at https://kabukiwoogie.blogspot.com/2016/09/entry-4-1890.html?showComment=1508800851525#c4965485718352921292. As always, any misinterpretation of what was conveyed to me is my own.
The play Sanpuku Tsui Ueno no Fūkei, is a title sometimes given in the 19th century to the play better known as Kumo ni Mago Ueno no Hatsuhana. This title was a cover for the part of the original Mokuami play that is generally called Kochiyama which is often considered in two parts, Kochiyama and Naozamurai.
Interestingly, while the print portrays Onoe Kikugorō (V) in the role of the romantic gangster Kataoka Naojirō (Naozamurai), Kikugorō took ill before the performance and was replaced by Ichikawa Sadanji, as indicated by the following paragraph from Professor Leiter's blog "THE FIRST KABUKI-ZA: Chapter 4: 1890 (Meiji 23)"
With Kanya at the helm, the Kabuki-za’s October [1890] program offered a lineup headed by the three top stars, Danjūrō, Kikugorō, and Sadanji (Dan-Kiku-Sa). The show was set to open with Sanpuku Tsui Ueno no Fūkei (a.k.a. Kochiyama) followed by the dance play Modori Bashi (Modori Bridge), and concluding with Yamanba, which received an excellent pre-opening appraisal; unfortunately, before opening day Danjūrō suddenly took ill and Sadanji replaced him as Kochiyama. Also, Ōshū Adachigahara (Adachi Field in Ōshū) was substituted for Yamanba (The Mountain Hag), with Kikugorō garnering acclaim for it. It ran 23 days.
The Actors Pictured
For background on the actors pictured see their respective entries in the article The Kabuki Actor on this site.Entry from Waseda University Theatre Museum Ukiyo-e Viewing System
Search page for Ukiyo-e Viewing System http://enpaku.waseda.ac.jp/db_en/enpakunishik/search-e.php
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| Group number:101-4554 Material number:101-4556 Artist: 国周 落款印章: 豊原国周筆(年玉印) Title etc.: 新造千代春 尾上菊三郎 Performance date: 明治２３(-1890)・10・ 上演場所: 江戸・ 歌舞伎 Play's title: 三幅対上野風景 さんぶくついうえののふうけい Cast: 新造千代春 <5> 尾上 菊三郎 系統分類: 役者絵、明治劇、世話物、二 | Group number:101-4555 Material number:101-4556 Artist: 国周 落款印章: 豊原国周筆(年玉印) Title etc.: 三千歳 沢村源之助 Performance date: 明治２３ (-1890)・10・ 上演場所: 江戸・ 歌舞伎 Play's title: 三幅対上野風景 さんぶくついうえののふうけい Cast: 三千歳 <4> 沢村 源之助 系統分類: 役者絵、明治劇、世話物、二 | Group number:101-4554 Material number:101-4554 Artist: 国周 落款印章: 豊原国周筆(年玉印) Aratamein (inspection seal): 明治廿三年十月 日印刷、仝年十月 日出版 Title etc.: 新吉原大口楼 根岸別荘の場」「片岡直次郎 尾上菊五郎 Performance date: 明治２３ (-1890)・10・ 上演場所: 江戸・ 歌舞伎 Play's title: 三幅対上野風景 さんぶくついうえののふうけい Cast: 片岡直次郎 <5> 尾上菊五郎 系統分類: 役者絵、明治劇、世話物、二 |
Print Details
| IHL Catalog | #345 |
| Title (Description) | Onoe Kikugorō (V), Sawamura Gennosuke (IV) and Onoe Kikusaborō (V) in Shin Yoshiwara Ōguchi rō and Negishi Bessō no ba (from the play Sanpuku Tsui Ueno no Fūkei) 尾上菊五郎, 沢村源之助, 尾上菊三郎 新吉原大口楼 根岸別荘の場 三幅対上野風景 |
| Artist | Toyohara Kunichika (1835–1900) |
| Signature | Toyohara Kunichika hitsu with toshidama seal |
| Seal | none |
| Publication Date | 1890, 10th month |
| Publisher |  |
| Carver |  |
| Impression | excellent |
| Colors | excellent |
| Condition | good- full-size, unbacked, light wrinkling and minor soiling |
| Genre | ukiyo-e; nigao-e; yakusha-e |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Format | vertical oban triptych |
| H x W Paper | 14 3/4 x 9 7/8 in. (37.5 x 25.1 cm) each sheet |
| Literature | |
| Collections This Print | Waseda University Theatre Museum Ukiyo-e Viewing System 101-4554, 4555, 4556; Kyoto University of Art and Design Art and Culture Information Center Database 667-1,-2,-3 |
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