About This Print
Ichikawa Danjūrō IX, in the lower left panel, playing the role of the warrior priest Benkei in the kabuki play Kanjinchō 勧進帳 (The Subscription List). Above his likeness is an unidentified actor in the role of Togashi (冨樫, as seen on his blue robe). The Ichikawa family crest (mon) of nested squares is shown to the left of Danjūrō, beneath which appears 九世市川団十郎 (9th Generation, Ichikawa Danjūrō) and the character played 武蔵坊弁慶 (Musashibō Benkei.)While not visible in the above scan of this print, this print, as with others in the series, displays deluxe printing techniques, including embossing covering most of the prints background and the use of a subtle pattern on Benkei's robe, visible only when held up to the light at a certain angle.
The Play Kanjinchō (The Subscription List)
Source: Kabuki Eighteen Traditional Dramas, Kawatake Toshio, Chronicle Books, 1985, p. 14.
"Ichikawa Danjūrō VII created this play which he based on a Nō play called “Ataka.” It was first performed in 1840. Minamoto Yoshitsune is with his followers and his most faithful retainer Benkei, fleeing from the soldier of his nasty and insecure brother, Yoritomo. He has to pass through the Ataka barrier to reach the northern part of Japan. Togashi who was warned by Yoritomo that Yoshitsune and his party would try to get through disguised as mountain priest is immediately suspicious when they arrive. Benkei announces that they are collecting money for the restoration of the Tōdai Temple in Nara but Togashi argues that if they were real priests they would have a subscription list. Benkei immediately produces one and skillfully “reads” it. Admiring his loyalty and presence of mind Togashi decides at this moment to let them pass through. He is by now enjoying their act and even offers to contribute to their fund. They are allowed to leave but then a guard warns Togashi that one of the priests looks like Yoshitsune. Togashi cannot ignore ths and probably hopes that Benkei will save the situation. Benkei initially feebly argues that it is possible for people to look like others but then out of sheer despair strikes Yoshitsune with a wooden stick. In the end Benkei, who was treated to food and drink and performed a dance for Togashi leaves on the hanamichi quietly thanking him since he knows that Togashi will have to commit suicide."
The Kabuki Eighteen
Source: Kabuki Encyclopedia, An English-Language Adaption of Kabuki Jiten, Samuel L. Leiter, Greenwood Press, 1979, p. 152.
"The Kabuki Eighteen," a collection of plays established by Ichikawa Danjūrō VII, stresses the special aragoto acting art of the Danjūrō line. In the Meiji period other acting families began to gather their most successful plays into similar collections. See the Title Page from the series The Kabuki Eighteen (Kabuki Juhachiban) for a list of the plays.
"The Kabuki Eighteen," a collection of plays established by Ichikawa Danjūrō VII, stresses the special aragoto acting art of the Danjūrō line. In the Meiji period other acting families began to gather their most successful plays into similar collections. See the Title Page from the series The Kabuki Eighteen (Kabuki Juhachiban) for a list of the plays.
Print Details
| IHL Catalog | #1255 |
| Title or Description | Ichikawa Danjūrō IX as Musashibō Benkei in the play Kanjinchō 九卋市川団十郎 武蔵坊弁慶 勧進帳 |
| Series | The Kabuki Eighteen (Kabuki Jūhachiban) 歌舞伎十八番 |
| Artist | Torii Kiyosada (1844-1901) and Torii Kiyotada VII (1875-1941) |
| Signature |  left-most signature: Tadakiyo ga 忠清画 followed by tripod-shaped seal |
| Seal | as shown above: 画楽 Chōhō seal right, beneath signature - Tadakiyo tripod-shaped seal left, beneath signature |
| Publication Date | May 20, 1896 (Meiji 29) 明治二十九年五月廿日 |
| Publisher |  address: Tokyo Asakusa Imadochō 59-banchi |
| Engraver |  彫工弥太 Horikō Yata (cartouche appearing at bottom of left margin) |
| Printer | 楷工大亀 Surikō Ōkame (see above cartouche) |
| Impression | excellent |
| Colors | excellent |
| Condition | good - not backed; light toning and soiling; minor handling creases |
| Genre | ukiyo-e; yakusha-e (役者絵) |
| Miscellaneous | embossing throughout |
| Format | vertical oban |
| H x W Paper | 15 1/4 x 10 in. (38.7 x 25.4 cm) |
| Literature | |
| Collections This Print | Museum of Fine Arts, Boston RES.53.12; Tokyo Metropolitan Library 5721-C8-19; Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum of Waseda University 201-0141 and 201-0180 and 201-0199 and 201-0989; Edo Tokyo Museum 94202531 |
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