One of 30 prints (including 2 cover prints and 2 frontispieces) designed by Natori Shunsen that appeared in the magazine Shin Nigao, whose purpose was to advertise the Kabuki theater and renew interest in actor prints. This image is from issue 4 and depicts the actor Nakamura Kotarō in the role of Yayoi in the play Kagami Jishi. A young lady in waiting at the shogun's palace, Yayoi was chosen to perform the lion dance for New Year's, so she holds a small lion mask in her hand.
For more information on this short-lived magazine whose purpose was to advertise the Kabuki theater and renew interest in actor prints, see the article Shin Nigao Magazine.
The Actor in the Print - Nakamura Kotarō II
Source: Kabuki 21 website http://www.kabuki21.com/fukusuke5.phpThe actor Nakamura Fukusuke V held the name of Nakamura Kotarō II from July 1904 to March 1916. Nakamura Fukusuke V was a talented onnagata actor, who unfortunately died too young. He could have been Nakamura Utaemon VI but he met with a tragic and early end. Existence: 10 May 1900 ~ 1 August 1933.
The Play - Kagami Jishi
Source: Kabuki 21 website http://www.kabuki21.com/kagami_jishi.php
 Yayoi performing the lion dance | KagamiJishi is a fantasy whose story is related through the movements of thedancers. Yayoi, a young lady in waiting in the shogun's palace at Edo,was chosen to perform the lion dance at the New Year celebrations, aceremonial performance originally designed to exorcise evil spirits.The dancer held a wooden lion head with movable jaws which wasdecorated with a flowing silk streamer. Yayoi was shy and hesitant, soshe was locked into a room with the mask and told to practice. At firstshe was overwhelmed by her surroundings and danced rather timidly. Asshe became more engrossed in the task her steps quickened. Fascinatedagainst her will, she took up the lion head and danced a tentativemovement. Gradually the spirit of the lion entered into her and tookcomplete charge of her limbs. Two butterflies appeared and the lionhead pursued them. Finally the dancing maiden disappeared altogether,leaving only the rampaging spirit of a lion, who then rushed into hislair and back again to sport among the peonies, where he finally fellasleep. Two butterflies appeared to tease him, and he tried angrily tocatch them. Finally he worked himself into a mighty rage and stoodshaking his great mane around in a fury of movement. |
Natori Shunsen Catalogue Raisonné Entry
Catalogue Raisonné – Ukiyoe Kabuki Gi Han Ga: Shunsen Natori
(The Skill of Natori Shunsen in Kabuki Prints),
Kushigata Municipal Shunsen Museum
Kushigata, Japan; 1991, p.95, pl. 184.
Kushigata Municipal Shunsen Museum
Kushigata, Japan; 1991, p.95, pl. 184.
Print Details
| IHL Catalog | #241 |
| Title | [Nakamura] Kotarō in the role of Yayoi [in the play Kagami Jishi] 児太郎の彌生 Kotarō as Yayoi |
| Series | Magazine: Shin Nigao (New Portraits) volume four 新似顔 第一年四編 |
| Artist | Natori Shunsen (1886-1960) |
| Signature | Not signed on print; 名取春仙 畫 Natori Shunsen ga printed on bottom of magazine page print was originally tipped to. |
| Seal |  |
| Date | October 1915 |
| Edition | First and only edition printed in magazine Shin Nigao 新似顔 |
| Publisher | Nigaodō 似顔洞 |
| Carver and Printer | Igami Bonkotsu (1875-1933) |
| Impression | excellent |
| Colors | excellent |
| Condition | excellent |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Genre | shin hanga (new prints); nigao-e |
| Format | koban |
| H x W Paper | 7 1/8 x 4 1/2 in. (18.1 x 11.4 cm) |
| Collections This Print | The Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum of Waseda University 201-0454 (Note: the Tsubouchi Theatre Museum lists the actor in this print as Onoe Kikugorō, as opposed to Nakamura Kotarō, as shown in The Skill of Natori Shunsen in Kabuki Prints); The British Museum 1991,1112,0.193.4 (entire magazine, only front cover shown); Art Research Center Ritsumeikan University BM-SJ193-04 (British Museum's copy of entire magazine with all pages shown) |
| Reference Literature | Catalogue Raisonné – Ukiyoe Kabuki Gi Han Ga: Shunsen Natori (TheSkill of Natori Shunsen in Kabuki Prints), Kushigata Municipal ShunsenMuseum, Kushigata, Japan, 1991, p. 95 number 184; Dramatic Impressions: Japanese Theatre Prints from the Gilbert LuberCollection, Chance, Frank L. & Davis, Julie Nelson, University ofPennsylvania Press, 2007; Printed to Perfection: Twentieth-century Japanese Prints from theRobert O. Muller Collection, Merviss, Newland, et. al., HoteiPublishing, 2004 |
7/28/2020
11/18/2018
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