Utagawa Toyokuni I (初代歌川豊国) (artist 1769 – 02/24/1825)
Bandō Mitsugorō III (坂東三津五郎) as Nuregami Chōgorō (濡髪長五郎) in the play Futatsu-chōchō Kuruwa Nikki - the right-hand panel of a three panel composition
06/1814
9.69 in x 14.17 in (Overall dimensions) Japanese color woodblock print
Signed: Toyokuni ga (豊国画)
Publisher: Tsuruya Kinsuke (Marks 554 - seal 06-002)
Censor's seal: kiwame
Waseda University According to Waseda University this print commemorates a performance on the 18th day of the 6th month of 1814. Many other Japanese web sites pair this print to with two other similar prints in something resembling a triptych.
This play has been identified as Futatsu chōchō kuruwa nikki (双蝶仝曲輪日記). There is a summary of this play at http://www.kabuki21.com/fckn.php.
Use the zooming tool to look at the light colored field behind the actor. The whole area is filled with an embossed, interlocking manji or swastika forms. A positive symbol the way it is used here. There are other areas to look at carefully. For example, the delicacy of the printing of the charcoal colored parts of Chōgorō's robes is amazing. It has the sense and feel of an ink rubbing of an ancient Chinese stele. The subtle, but beautiful floral patterning of the metallic parts of his pipe are echoed by the brightly colored garment which appears near his waist. Clearly this was a master workshop at its best.
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Nuregami (濡髪) can be translated as 'wet hair' or 'freshly washed hair' Chōgorō.
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This image appeared on the front of a catalogue published by Waseda University in 2008. It was 96 pages long, with 126 illustrations of Bandō Mitsugorō III.
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One of the actor's crests or mon, the hanakatsumi (花勝見) or four petaled flower, is subtly included in a part of the pattern of his obi. Even more subtle is where it appears on the lighter part of the pipe he is holding, but only part of that motif shows there. There are a number of other prints in the Lyon Collection where that crest is included in the obi designs. Some are more obvious, some less so, and some are so difficult to find one would hardly notice them at all.
actor prints (yakusha-e - 役者絵) (genre)
Tsuruya Kinsuke (鶴屋金助) (publisher)
sumō (相撲) (genre)
Bandō Mitsugorō III (三代目坂東三津五郎: 11/1799 to 12/1831) (actor)