About This Print
The actors Iwai Hanshirō VIII 岩井半四郎 in the role of the princess Tagoto hime 田毎姫;Ichikawa Danjūrō IX 市川団十郎 in the role of Jiraiya 田毎姫 and Bandō Kakitsu 坂東 家橘 in the role of Takasago Yūminosuke 高砂勇美之助 ine play Jiraiya gōketsu mongatari 児雷也豪傑物語, performed at the Shintomi-za 新富 theater, Tokyo, in August 1881 (Meiji 14).The Play Jiraiya gōketsu monogatari by Kawatake Mokuami
Source: website of the Japan Arts Council http://www2.ntj.jac.go.jp/unesco/kabuki/en/5/5_04_10.html
The play Jiraiya gōketsu monogatari is drawn from an episodic illustrated novel published in multiple volumes from 1839 to 1868. The play, written by Kawatake Mokuami (1816-1893), was first performed in July 1852 at the Kawarazaki-za in Edo.
As an infant, Jiraiya’s noble family is slain by Tsukikage,lord of Echigo province and regent of the Shogun who has been led astray by hisadopted son Orochimaru. Tsukikageadopted Orochimaru after being saved by him from an attack by a giant snake. However, Orochimaru is possessed with theevil snake spirit and eventually kills Tsukikage and comesto rule Echigo. Jiraiya, who along withTsunate-hime princess of another noble family killed by Tsukikage, has beensaved from death by a mountain hermit who teaches them both magic – toad magicin the case of Jiraiya and slug magic in the case of Tsunate-hime. They both vow to take revenge uponOrochimaru. Capturing a magical swordthey attack Orochimaru, who attempts suicide but is saved by Takasago Yūminosuke,a high ranking officer for the Shogun. Yūminosukewants to visit a harsh punishment on Orochimaru for his evil deeds, but Jiraiyaand Tsunate-hima tell him that Orochimaru’s evil spirit has now been exorcisedby the sword. Orochimaru departs inpeace.
The character princess Tagoto is the unwilling object ofOrochimaru’s affection, who wants her for his wife.
The Actors Pictured and Their Roles
For background on the actors see their respective entries in the article The Kabuki Actor on this site.
Print Details
| IHL Catalog | #1225 | ||
| Title (Description) | The actors Iwai Hanshirō VIII, Ichikawa Danjūrō IX and Bandō Kakitsu in the play Jiraiya gōketsu monogatari (The Heroic Tales of Jiraiya) | ||
| Artist | Morikawa Chikashige (active 1869 - January 1882) | ||
| Signature |
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| Seal | Toshidama seal below signature | ||
| Publication Date |  august 1881 | ||
| Publisher |  | ||
| Impression | excellent | ||
| Colors | excellent | ||
| Condition | good - trimmed to image; 3 separate panels; rubbing; soiling, particularly in the right panel; minor ink offsetting; some remnants of previous backing paper | ||
| Genre | ukiyo-e; yakusha-e | ||
| Miscellaneous | |||
| Format | vertical oban triptych | ||
| H x W Paper | left: 14 1/4 x 9 5/8 (36.2 x 24.4 cm); center 14 3/8 x 9 5/8 (36.5 x 24.4 cm); right:14 1/4 x 9 11/16 (36.2 x 24.6 cm) | ||
| H x W Image | left: 14 1/16 x 9 3/8 (35.7 x 23.8 cm); center: 14 1/16 x 9 7/16 (35.7 x 24 cm); right 14 1/8 x 9 1/2 (35.9 x 24.1 cm) | ||
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