Utagawa Kunisada (歌川国貞) / Toyokuni III (三代豊国) (artist 1786 – 01/12/1865)
Onoe Kikugorō III (尾上菊五郎) as Izutsuya Denbei (井筒屋伝兵衛) on the left, Ichikawa Danjūrō VII (市川團十郎) as the sumō wrestler Shirafuji (角力取白藤) in the center and Iwai Hanshirō V (岩井粂三郎) the geisha Oshun (芸者おしゆん) in the play Okuni Iri Soga Nakamura (御国入曽我中村)
03/09/1825
30.75 in x 15.5 in (Overall dimensions) color woodblock print
Signed: Gototei Kunisada ga (五渡亭国貞画)
Publishers: Maruya Bun'emon on the left panel
(Marks 292 - seal 08-131);
Matsumura Tatsuemon on the center and right panels
(Marks 311 - seal 03-009)
Censor's seal: kiwame
Waseda University - center panel only
Waseda University - right panel only
Waseda University - left panel only
Mead Art Museum at Amherst College - right-hand panel only The Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum at Waseda University gives the date of 3/1825 for this play represented in this triptych, even though the premier had been in 1/1825. The date might have to be adjusted later.
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Behind the figure of Oshun is a two-panel sliding screen with an inscription and round seal (in red) on the left. It reads as 'Tsuruya' (つるや). The inscription above it on the screen reads: 十童亀岳写. This may indicate that the painting was created by Nanboku IV's grandson who was ten years old at the time. The same cast performed this play at the Nakamuraza in March 1825 and at the Kawarazakiza in July 1827. We know that the grandson was 10 in 1825.
This is the only case that we recall that directly shows a reference to a living playwright in any traditional, early Japanese woodblock print. We aren't saying that there aren't other examples, but rather we don't know of any. If any reader of this page does know of another example or examples please contact us, so we can correct the record. Until then this triptych will stand alone as unique and very special.
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According to the curatorial files at the Mead Art Museum the actor's crest for Iwai Kumeisaburō (aka Hanshirō V) can be seen at the end of the hairpin, "...perhaps in parallel to the male actor's transformation into a female role."
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Kabuki21 tells us that "Tsuruya Nanboku IV's new year sogamono drama "Okuni-iri Soga Nakamura" was premiered in the 1st lunar month of 1825 at the Nakamuraza.... This drama, which fell into oblivion, was revived under the title "Kiku Ichiza Reiwa no Adauchi" at the National Theatre in January 2020."
Maruya Bun'emon (丸屋文右衛門) (publisher)
Onoe Kikugorō III (三代目尾上菊五郎: 11/1815-3/1848) (actor)
actor prints (yakusha-e - 役者絵) (genre)
Iwai Hanshirō V (五代目岩井半四郎: 11/1804-11/1832) (actor)
Matsumura Tatsuemon (松村辰右衛門) (publisher)
Yojirō (与次郎) the monkey trainer (role)
sumō (相撲) (genre)
Ichikawa Danjūrō VII (七代目市川團十郎: 11/1800 to 2/1832) (actor)
Tsuruya Nanboku IV (四代目鶴屋南北) (author)