EHON TAIKÔKI
(繪本太功記; 絵本大功記)

aka EHÔ TAIKÔKI (恵寶太功記)
aka AMAGASAKI KANKYO (尼ヶ崎閑居)
aka TAIJÛ (太十)

                 
? as ?
 
Sawamura Tosshi VII (沢村訥子; 澤村訥子) as
Takechi Mitsuhide (武智光秀) disguised as the farmer Tajû (太十)

Plays: Hototogisu  (不如帰); Adesugata On'namaiginu (艶姿女舞衣); Ehon Taikôki  (絵本太功記);
Teki Kyôkaku Aizukotetsu (適侠客会津小鉄)
Performance Place: Meiji-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 06/14/06
Print Date: 06/14/06
Artist: ?
Medium: Woodblock printed sujigaki cover
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum
 
 

                 
Ichikawa Danzo VII (市川団蔵; 市川團蔵) as Takechi Mitsuhide (武智光秀)
 
Onoe Kikugorô VI (尾上菊五郎) as Takechi Jûjirô (武智十次郎)
 
Sawamura Sôjûrô VII (沢村宗十郎; 澤村宗十郎) as Hatsugiku (初菊)

Play: Ehon Taikôki  (絵本太功記); On'na Kusunoki (女楠); Yowa Nasake Ukina no Yokogushi
(与話情浮名横櫛); Setsugekka (雪月花)
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 06/03/09
Artist: ?
Print Date: 06/04/09
Medium: Woodblock printed sujigaki cover
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum
 

                 
 
Plays: Tonosama Kanji (殿様勘次); Ehon Taikôki  (絵本太功記); Kaji (借児);
Kumo no Ito Oyozume Banashi (蜘糸宿直噺)
Performance Place: Ichimura-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 07/07/10
Print Date: 07/10/10
Artist: ?
Medium: Woodblock printed sujigaki cover
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum
 

                 
 
Plays: Sukotchi Dansu (スコッチダンス);
Kinno Ushiseki] Shichikiochi
([勤王史蹟]七卿落); Ehon Taikôki (繪本太功記);
Sôma no Furugosho (相馬古御所); Echigo
Jishi (新演劇貞操); Tamamo- no-Mae Asahi no
Tamoto (玉藻前旭袂)
Performance Place: Teikoku Gekijô, Tokyo
Performance Date: 09/21/12
Print Date: 09/21/12
Artist: Torii Kiyotada (鳥居清忠)
Medium: Woodblock printed ehon sujigaki cover
Personal Collection
 
 

                   

Plays: Ehon Taikôki (繪本太閤記); Adesugata
On'namaiginu (艶姿女舞衣); Ninin Bakama (二人袴);
Yowa Nasake Ukina no Yokogushi (與話情浮名横櫛);
Gion no Yo Zakura (祇園の夜櫻)
Performance Place: Teikoku Gekijô, Tokyo
Performance Date: 04/01/15
Print Date: 04/02/15
Artist: ?
Medium: Woodblock printed ehon sujigaki  cover
Personal Collection
 

Nakamura Kichiemon I (中村吉右衛門) as
Takechi Mitsuhide (武智光秀)

Play: Ehon Taikôki (絵本大功記)
Performance Place: Ichimura-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 06/1915
Print Date: 07/01/15
Artist: Terasawa Kôtarô (寺澤孝太郎)
Publication: Yakusha-e (Shin Nigao)
(新似顔), Vol. 2
Personal Collection

Onoe Kikujirô III (尾上菊次郎 ) as
Hatsugiku (初菊)

Play: Ehon Taikôki (絵本大功記)
Performance Place: Ichimura-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 06/1915
Print Date: 07/01/15
Artist: Terasawa Kôtarô (寺澤孝太郎)
Publication: Yakusha-e (Shin Nigao)
(新似顔), Vol. 2
Personal Collection
 
 
 
 

Onoe Kikugorô VI (尾上菊五郎) as
Takechi Jûjirô (武智十次郎)

Play: Ehon Taikôki
(絵本大功記) [Taijû (太十)]
Performance Place: Ichimura-za,Tokyo
Performance Date: 06/1915
Print Date: 08/01/15
Artist: Yamamura Kôka (山村耕花)
Publication: Yakusha-e (Shin Nigao)
(新似顔), Vol. 3
Personal Collection

                 
 
Plays: Inukubô (犬公方); Ehon Taikôki (繪本太功記); Ningyô no Ie (人形の家); Seiyô Butô (西洋舞踏);
Kotobuki Utsu Bozaru (壽靭猿)
Performance Place: Teikoku Gekijô, Tokyo
Performance Date: 09/14/17
Print Date: 09/1917?
Artist: ?
Medium: Woodblock printed ehon sujigaki cover
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum
 
 

Matsumoto Kôshirô VII
(松本幸四郎) as   
Takechi Jubei Mitsuhide
(武智十兵衛光秀)

Play:  Ehon Taikoki (絵本太功記)
Performance Place:  Yokohama-za,
Yokohama
Performance Date:  09/1918
Print Date: ?
Artist: Fujisawa Tatsuo
(藤澤龍雄; 藤沢竜雄)
Medium: Woodblock printed
pochibukuro
Personal Collection

Matsumoto Kôshirô VII
(松本幸四郎) as    
Takechi Jubei Mitsuhide 
(武智十兵衛光秀)

Play:  Ehon Taikoki (絵本太功記)
Performance Place:  Yokohama-za,
Yokohama
Performance Date:  09/1918
Print Date: ?
Artist: Fujisawa Tatsuo (藤澤龍雄;
藤沢竜雄)
Courtesy of FujiArts.com

Matsumoto Kôshirô VII (松本幸四郎) as   
Takechi Jubei Mitsuhide (武智十兵衛光秀)


 
Play:  Ehon Taikoki (絵本太功記)
Performance Place:  Yokohama-za, Yokohama
Performance Date:  09/1918
Print Date: ?
Artist: Fujisawa Tatsuo (藤澤龍雄;
藤沢竜雄)
Medium: Woodblock print
[Fujisawa Accordion Album Set #1]
Personal Collection
 
 
 

Ichikawa Chûsha VII (市川中車) as
Mitsuhide (光秀)
         
Play: Ehon Taikôki
(繪本太功記; 絵本大功記)
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 05/03/19
Print Date: 05/1919?
Artist: Utagawa Kunisada III (歌川国貞)
Series: Chiyo ni Sakaeru Kabuki no Irodori
(千代 栄劇彩)
Personal Collection

Note: This design was posthumously
reissued in a slightly different color
scheme when Chûsha VII reprised this
role at the Meiji-za in September 1922.
 
 
 
 

            
            Ichikawa Sadanji II (市川左団次; 市川左團次)
            as Hisayoshi (久吉)
 
            Play: Ehon Taikôki
            (繪本太功記; 絵本大功記)
            Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
            Performance Date: 05/03/19
            Print Date: 05/1919?
            Artist: Utagawa Kunisada III (歌川国貞)
            Series: Chiyo ni Sakaeru Kabuki no Irodori
            (千代 栄劇彩)
            Personal Collection

            
            Sawamura Sojuro VII (:沢村宗十郎) as
            Hatsugiku (初菊)
 
            Play: Ehon Taikôki
            (繪本太功記; 絵本大功記)
            Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
            Performance Date: 05/03/19
            Print Date: 05/1919?
            Artist: Utagawa Kunisada III (歌川国貞)
            Series: Chiyo ni Sakaeru Kabuki no Irodori
            (千代 栄劇彩)
            Personal Collection

            
            Ichimura Uzaemon XV (市村羽左衛門) as
            Takechi Jûjirô (武智十次郎)
 
            Play: Ehon Taikôki
            (繪本太功記; 絵本大功記)
            Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
            Performance Date: 05/03/19
            Print Date: 05/1919?
            Artist: Utagawa Kunisada III (歌川国貞)
            Series: Chiyo ni Sakaeru Kabuki no Irodori
            (千代 栄劇彩)
            Personal Collection

                 
Plays: Kaikai no Jyokotoba (開會の序詞); Kiichi Hôgen Sanryaku no Maki  (鬼一法眼三略絵巻);
Go Taiheiki Shiraishi Banashi (碁太平記白石噺); Takatoki (高時); Yowa Nasake Ukina no Yokogushi
(與話情浮名横櫛); Ehon Taikôki  (繪本太閤記); Modoribashi (戻橋); Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki
(双蝶々曲輪日記)
Performance Place: Yuraku-za, Tokyo
Performance Date:  12/28-30/21
Print Date: 12/1921?
Medium: Machine lithograph printed? ehon sujigaki cover
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum
 
 
 

              
Sawamura Sôjûrô VII (沢村宗十郎;  澤村宗十郎) as
Takechi Jûjirô Mitsuyoshi (武智十次郎 光義)

Play: Ehon Taikôki (繪本太功記) 
Performance Place: Teikoku Gekijô, Tokyo
Performance Date: 01/01/22
Print Date: 1950 or later
Artist: Ota Gatô (太田雅光)
Series: Meifu Miyage Geki no Omokage
(冥府苞苴劇容彩)  (#5)
Medium: ?
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum

Note: It is unclear if this is a woodblock print, a watercolor
drawing, or a hand-colored keyblock print for an
unpublished design. 

This is a curious work.  Although the cartouche identifies
the actor as Sawamura Sônosuke I (沢村宗之助;
澤村宗之助), I can find no evidence that  Sônosuke I,
who was primarily a onnagata, ever played the role of
Takechi Jûjirô Mitsuyoshi.   Sôjûrô VII, however, did,
starting with a production at the Teikoku Gekijô in
September 1912.  In both the September 1912 and
January 1922 productions, Sônosuke I played 
opposite Sôjûrô VII as Takechi Jûjirô Mitsuyoshi's
betrothed, Jûjirô Hatsukiku (十次郎妻初菊).  Gakô
was likely working from a photograph which he
misread and inadvertently reversed the two actors
in the two roles.  That Gakô thought the actor was
Sônosuke I is unmistakable given how the cartouche
is written and by the fact that he noted that Sônosuke
I died on April 7, 1924 at age 39.
 

 
 

                 
Plays: Urami no Omote (怨恨の面); Ehon Taikôki (繪本太功記); Ayatsuri Sanbasô (操り三番叟);
Shichiya no Kura Kokoro no Irekae (質屋土蔵魂入替)
Performance Place: Teikoku Gekijô, Tokyo
Performance Date:  01/01/22
Print Date: 01/1922?
Artist: ?
Medium: Woodblock printed ehon sujigaki cover
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum
 
 

Ichikawa Chùsha VII (市川中車) as
Mitsuhide (光秀)
          
Play: Ehon Taikòki (絵本太功記)
Performance Place: Meiji-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 09/05/22
Print Date: 09/1922?
Artist: Utagawa Kunisada III (歌川国貞)
Series: Chiyo ni Sakaeru Kabuki no Irodori
(千代 栄劇彩)
Image courtesy of Artelino.com

Note: This design (lacking Kunisada's
signature and seal, no doubt because
Kunisada had died in 1920) was originally
issued in a slightly different color scheme
circa May 1919 when Chùsha VII played
this role at the Kabuki-za.
 
 
 
 

                   
Ichikawa Chûsha VII (市川中車) as Takechi Mitsuhide
(武智光秀) disguised as the farmer Tajû (太十)

Play:  Ehon Taikôki (絵本大功記; 絵本大功記)
Performance Place: Asakusa Shochiku-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 01/01/25
Print Date: 1926
Artist: Natori Shunsen (名取春仙)
Series: Sôsaku Hanga: Shunsen Nigao-e Shû
(創作版画 春仙似顔集) (#17)
Personal Collection

Note: Chûsha VII first played Mitsuhide in this play in Tokyo
at the Kabuki-za in May 1919.  Prior to his 1925 perform-
ance, he also played this role at the Meiji-za in September
1922, and at the Hongô-za in April 1924.  It is possible that
Shunsen based this print on one of those earlier performances.
 
 
 

Plays: Maimôsu Iro no Tanemaki (舞奏いろの蒔種); Ehon Taikôki  (本太功記);
Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura (義経千本櫻); Rakuhoku no Aki (洛北の秋);
Sono Kouta Yume mo Yoshiwara (権八小紫其小唄夢廓)
Performance Place: Teikoku Gekijô, Tokyo
Performance Date:  11/01/25
Print Date: 11/1925?
Artist: ?
Medium: Woodblock printed ehon sujigaki cover
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum
 
 
 

                    
Plays: Ehon Taikôki (絵本太功記); Meihitsudomo no Matahei (名筆吃又平);
Katsuragawa Renri no Shigarami (桂川連理柵);  Imoseyama Onna Teikin (妹背山婦女庭訓)
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date:  07/31/26
Print Date: 07/1926?
Artist: ?
Medium: Machine lithograph printed? sujigaki cover
Image courtesy of the Shôchiku Ôtani Library
 
 
 

Ichikawa Chûsha VII (市川中車) as
Takechi Mitsuhide (武智光秀)

Play: Ehon Taikôki (繪本太功記) (Act X)
Performance Place: Meiji-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 05/01/29
Print Date: 1950 or later
Artist: Ota Gatô (太田雅光)
Series: Meifu Miyage Geki no Omokage
(冥府苞苴劇容彩)  (#18)
Medium: ?
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum

Note: It is unclear if this is a woodblock print, a watercolor
drawing, or a hand-colored keyblock print for an
unpublished design.  Chûsha VII died on July 12, 1936 at
age 77.  He first played the role of Takechi Mitsuhide in
Tokyo at the Kabuki-za in May 1919.  Although Chûsha
II's final Tokyo appearance in this role was at the Kabuki-
za in November 1931, it is possible that Gakô based
this print on one of Chûsha VII's prior performances.
 
 
 

Play: Ehon Taikoki (絵本大功記)
Print Date: c. 1932-1933
Artist: Kojima Gyokuhô (児嶋玉鳳)
Series: [One Hundred Songs Illustrated]
Uta-e Hyakuban (歌絵百)
Music Style: Gidayû Bushi (義太夫節)
Image courtesy of Artelino.com
 
 

                   
Cover for Taijû (太十) [? and ?]

Play: Taijû (太十) [Ehon Taikôki (繪本太功記)]
Print Date: 1936
Artist: Miyake Kôhaku (三宅凰白)
Series: Kohaku Kabuki-e (凰白歌舞伎絵)
Medium: Machine printed
Personal Collection

                   
Jûjirô (重次郎)

Play: Taijû (太十) [Ehon Taikôki (繪本太功記)]
Print Date: 1936
Artist: Miyake Kôhaku (三宅凰白)
Series: Kohaku Kabuki-e (凰白歌舞伎絵)
Personal Collection

Note:  The official title for this print is "Dôgyô Taijû no Jûjirô
(童形太十の重次郎)."
 
 
 

Takechi Mitsuhide (武智光秀) disguised as the farmer Tajû (太十)

Play: Amagasaki Kankyo (尼ヶ崎閑居),
Act X of Ehon Taikôki (絵本大功記)
Date: 1954
Artist: Ohashi Gekkô (大橋月皎)
Series: [Woodblock Prings of Famous Stories of Kabuki]
Meikyôgen; Kabuki Mokuhangashu (名狂言  歌舞伎木版画集)  Series 2
Personal Collection
 
Note: A process set for this print is in the Karl Collection.
 
 
 

                 
Hatsugiku-D (初菊)

Play: Ehon Taikôki (繪本太功記)
Print Date: 1978 (ed. 30)
Artist: Nishizawa Shizuo (西澤静男)
Medium: Screen print with aquatint
*Image courtesy of the National Museum of Asian Art

 
 
 

                 
[Awa Jûruri Puppet] Awa Jûruri Deku
(阿技浄瑠璃木偶)
Taikôki no Mitsuhide (太功記の光秀)

Play: Ehon Taikôki (繪本太功記)
Performance Place: ?
Performance Date: ?
Print Date: ?
Artist: Hayashi Korô (林鼓浪)
Medium: Woodblock printed postcard
Series: Meibutsu Hanga; Awa Odori to Deko
(名物版画; 阿波おどりとでこ)
Personal Collection

Nakamura Ganjirô I (中村鴈治郎) as
Takechi Jûjirô (武智十次郎)

Play: Ehon Taikôki (繪本太功記)
Performance Place: ?
Performance Date: ?
Print Date: c. 1913-1919
Artist: Natori Shunsen (名取春仙)
Medium: Woodblock printed postcard
Image courtesy of FujiArts.com

Note: The only record I could find of
Ganjirô I performing in Tokyo when
Shunsen was active making prints was
at the Shintomi-za in May 1926.
Stylistically, however, the print looks
like it was made a decade earlier.

                   
Jujirô (十次郎)

Play:  Ehon Taikôki (繪本太功記), Act 10
Performance Place: [Bunraku Theatre]?
Performance Date: ?
Print Date: ?
Artist: Natori Shunsen (名取春仙)
Medium: Hand-colored keyblock print (版画源画)
Personal Collection
 

           
Takechi Mitsuhide (武智光秀)
         
Play: Ehon Taikôki (絵本大功記)
Performance Place: Bunraku-za (文楽座)
Performance Date: ?
Print Date: ?
Artist: Saito Seijurô (斎藤清二郎)
Medium: Woodblock printed postcard
Image courtesy of Artelino.com
 
 

                           
        [May]
   
        Play: Ehon Taikoki
        ((繪本太功記; 絵本大功記)
        Print Date: ?
        Artist: Torii Kiyotada (鳥居清忠)
        Series: Shibai Mitate
        Jūni-Kagetsu
        (芝居見立十二ヶ月)
        Medium: Woodblock printed
        pochibukuro
        Personal Collection
 

                 
Hatsugiku-A (初菊)

Play: Ehon Taikôki (繪本太功記)
Print Date: ? (pre-October 1983)
Artist: Nishizawa Shizuo (西澤静男)
Medium: Etching (ed. 30)
 
Note:  In lieu of actual image of the print, I have used a lithographic
reproduction of the print included in the 1983 Nishizawa portfolio
"Bunraku: Gensō-teki jōnen no sekai (文楽: 幻想的情念の世界)."
 
 
 

                 
Misao (操)

Play: Ehon Taikôki (繪本太功記)
Print Date: ? (pre-October 1983)
Artist: Nishizawa Shizuo (西澤静男)
Medium: ?
 
Note:  In lieu of actual image of the print, I have used a lithographic
reproduction of the print included in the 1983 Nishizawa portfolio
"Bunraku: Gensō-teki jōnen no sekai (文楽: 幻想的情念の世界)."