Iwai Hanshirō VIII, Ichikawa Monnosuke V, Ichikawa Danjūrō and Nakamura Nakazō III in Ura Omote Yanagi no Uchiwae

Japanese Color Woodblock Print 

Iwai Hanshirō VIII, Ichikawa Monnosuke V, Ichikawa Danjūrō  and Nakamura Nakazō III

in  Omote Yanagi no Uchiwae

by Toyohara Kunichika, 1875

Bandō Hikōsaburō V, Sawamura Tosshō II, Ichikawa Sadanji and Onoe Kikurguro V in Hototogisu Date no kikigaki

IHL Cat. #711

About This Print

A night scene from the play Ura Omote Yanagi no Uchiwae by Kawatake Mokuami (1816–1893), performed at the Nakamuraza theater in Tokyo on August 15, 1875, this print features the following actors (from right to left):

From right to left:
Iwai Hanshirō VIII 岩井半四郎 as Mitsuma no Oshidu 三ツ間腰元おしず
Ichikawa Monnosuke V 市川門之助 playing the role of Mitsuma no haha Osetsu 三ツ間ノ母おせつ 
Ichikawa Danjūrō IX 市川団十郎 playing the role of Mitsuma Ukon 三ツ間右近 
Nakamura Nakazō III 中村　仲蔵 in the role of Osumi Kano Mamoru 加納大隅守 

For background on the actors see their respective entries in the article The Kabuki Actor on this site.

The Play

I have not been able to find any English language plot summary for this play.  However, a playbill for the performance can be found on the website of the Art Research Center, Ritsumeikan University and the cover and two pages from the bill are shown below.

 
明治０８(1875)
08・15 中村 nakamura
江戸 絵本 edo ehon
裏表柳団画
click on image to enlarge
 
明治０８(1875)
08・15 中村 nakamura
江戸 絵本 edo ehon
裏表柳団画
click on image to enlarge


Print Details

 IHL Catalog #711
 Title (Description) Iwai Hanshirō VIII, Ichikawa Monnosuke V, Ichikawa Danjūrō and Nakamura Nakazō III in Ura Omote Yanagi no Uchiwae 裏表柳団画 (うらおもてやなぎのうちわえ)
 Artist  Toyohara Kunichika (1835–1900)
 Signature Toyohara Kunichika hitsu
 Seal  toshidama seal below signature
 Publication Date
1875 date seal
 Publisher
seal reading Kawaramachi 瓦町, Morimoto 森本
seal of Morimoto Junzaburō 森本 順三郎 [Marks 25-116, publisher ref. 349]
  Carver
彫工平 Horikō Hei (also read as Horikō Hira)
 Impression excellent
 Colors excellent
 Condition good- trimmed to image; ink offsetting in white image areas
 Genre ukiyo-e; yakusha-e
 Miscellaneous 
 Format vertical oban triptych
 H x W Paper
 13 5/8 x 9 1/2 in. (34.6 x 24.1 cm) each sheet
 Literature
 
 Collections This Print
 The Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum of Waseda University 100-7293, 7294, 7295; Japan Arts Council 05061