A New Year's dance performance titled Fuku no kami staged in January 1897 at the Meiji-za. Fuku no kami is better known as a Noh play in which the God of Happiness, Fuku no kami, appears to worshipers at a shrine and asks them if they know how to find happiness. When they reply, "With money," he tells them it is not money, but the way of life upon which happiness depends. He asks for wine and then dances and sings a song which tells them that the way to find happiness is to make a happy home with one's wife, get up early, and welcome guests with good wine.1
In this print we see several gods and a devil along with other unread characters. 市川 ??? Ichikawa ??? in an unread role.
市川 壽美蔵 Ichikawa Sumizô V in an unread role.
坂東 秀調 Bandō Shūchō II in an unread role.
Center Panel (right to left):
市川 小団治 Ichikawa Kodanji V in the role of 大黒天 Daikoku (god of wealth)
市川 米蔵 Ichikawa Yonezō 4.5 in an unread role
市川 権十郎 Ichikawa Gonjūrō in an unread role
坂東 秀調 Bandō Shūchō II in an unread role.
Center Panel (right to left):
市川 小団治 Ichikawa Kodanji V in the role of 大黒天 Daikoku (god of wealth)
市川 米蔵 Ichikawa Yonezō 4.5 in an unread role
市川 権十郎 Ichikawa Gonjūrō in an unread role
Left Panel (right to left):
市川 莚女 Ichikawa Enjō in an unread role.
市川 莚女 Ichikawa Enjō in an unread role.
市川 左団次 Ichikawa Sadanji in the role of 毘沙門天, Bishamonten (the most powerful of the 4 guardian kings, god of war)
市川 ??? Ichikawa ??? in the role of 魔神, a demon.
1 A Guide to Kyogen, Don Kenny, Hinoki Shoten, 1968, p. 61-62.
市川 ??? Ichikawa ??? in the role of 魔神, a demon.
1 A Guide to Kyogen, Don Kenny, Hinoki Shoten, 1968, p. 61-62.
The Actors Pictured
For background on the actors pictured see their respective entries in the article The Kabuki Actor on this site.Print Details
| IHL Catalog | #863 |
| Title (Description) | Fuku no kami jōruri at the Meiji-za 明治座 上るり [浄瑠璃] 福の神 |
| Artist | Utagawa Kunimasa IV (1848-1920) |
| Signature |  |
| Seal | none |
| Publication Date | January 18, 1897 (Meiji 30) |
| Publisher |  |
| Carver |  |
| Impression | excellent |
| Colors | excellent |
| Condition | good- full-size; minor soiling; mounting remnants top corners verso of each sheet |
| Genre | ukiyo-e; yakusha-e |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Format | vertical oban triptych |
| H x W Paper | 14 5/8 x 9 7/8 in. (37.1 x 25.1 cm) each sheet |
| Literature | |
| Collections This Print |
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