Kawarasaki Chôjûrô IV (河原崎長十郎) as
Musashibô Benkei (武藏坊辨慶; 武蔵坊弁慶)
Play: Kanjinchô (勧進帳)
Performance Place: Shinbashi Enbujô, Tokyo,
Performance Date: 03/1939
Print Date: 03/1939?
Artist: Torii Kotondo (鳥居言人)
Personal Collection
Note: Chôjûrô IV first portrayed Benkei in this play in Tokyo at the
Shinbashi Enbujô in November 1933. He also performed this role
in Tokyo with Kanemon III and Kunitarô V at the Shinbashi Enbujô
in November 1936 and June 1965, the Kokusai Gekijô in November
1939, and the Kyôritsu Kôdô in May 1950. While I cannot rule out
the possibility that Kiyokata based this print on one of these
performances, the print closely resembles a photograph from the
1939 production.