HIRAKANA SEISUIKI
(ひらがな盛衰記)


OCTOBER 1902








Play: Hirakana Seisuiki
(ひらがな盛衰記)
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 10/11/02
Print Date: 10/09/02
Artist: Utagawa Kunisada III (歌川国貞)
Image courtesy of the Tokyo Central
Metropolitan Library
 
 
 


  Ichikawa Danjûrô IX
  (市川団十郎; 市川團十郎) as
  Sendô Matsuemon
  (船頭松右衛門), in actuality,
  Higuchi Jirô (桶口次郎)

                   
 

                
Plays: Nachi no Taki Chikai no Mongaku (那智滝祈誓文覚); Hirakana Seisuiki (ひらがな盛衰記);
Ninjô Banashi Bunshichi Mottoi (人情噺文七元結); Kokkei Niwaka Ataka (滑稽俄安宅新関)
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 10/11/02
Print Date: 10/12/02
Artist: ?
Medium: Woodblock printed sujigaki cover
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum
 




APRIL 1912


Sugoroku of Portraits of Popular Characters (Atari yaku nigaoe sugoroku)

Print Date: 01/01/13
Artist: Natori Shunsen (名取春仙)
Medium: Sugoroku Lithograph
Personal Collection

Note: Supplement to the magazine Engei Kurabu, Vol. 2, No. 1.
 
 
 

           
           

                       


Kataoka Nizaemon XI (片岡仁左衛門) as
Kajiwara Genta Kagesue (梶原源太景季)
           
Play: Hirakana Seisuiki (ひらかな盛衰記; ひら仮名盛衰記)
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 04/10/12
Artist: Natori Shunsen (名取春仙)

                 
 
Plays: Shirabyôshi Kami-ô (白拍子祇王); Hirakana Seisuiki (ひら仮名盛衰記); Gojôbashi (五条橋);
Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki (双蝶々曲輪日記);  Hanakura Tai Amigasa (花競対編笠)
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 04/10/12
Print Date: 04/10/12A
Artist: ?
Medium: Woodblock printed sujigaki cover
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum
 


 


NOVEMBER 1912

                 
 
Plays:  Horibe Myôkaini  (堀部妙海尼);  Hirakana Seisuiki (ひらがな盛衰記); Renjishi (連獅子);
Katô Saemon (加藤左衞門); Mitsu Uroko (三ツ鱗)
Performance Place: Teikoku Gekijô, Tokyo
Performance Date: 11/16/12
Print Date: 11/1912
Artist: Torii Kiyotada (鳥居清忠)
Medium: Woodblock printed ehon sujigaki cover
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum
 
 


 

JANUARY 1918

                   
Nakamura Karoku III (中村歌六) as
Gonshirô (権四郎)
 
Play: Hirakana Seisuiki (ひらかな盛衰記)
Performance Place: Meiji-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 01/02/18
Print Date: 01/1918?
Artist: Utagawa Kunisada III (歌川国貞)
Series: Chiyo ni Sakaeru Kabuki no Irodori
(千代 栄劇彩)  #5
^Personal Collection

 

                   
Nakamura Karoku III
(中村歌六) as
Gonshirô (権四郎)
 
Play: Hirakana Seisuiki
(ひらかな盛衰記)
Performance Place: Meiji-
za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 01/02/18
Print Date: 01/1918?
Artist: Utagawa Kunisada III
(歌川国貞)
Medium: woodblock printed
senshafuda
Personal Collection
 
 

 


Bandô Shûchô III as Ofude (お筆)

Play: Hirakana Seisuiki (ひらかな盛衰記)
Performance Place: Meiji-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 01/02/18
Print Date: 01/1918?
Artist: Utagawa Kunisada III (歌川国貞)
Series: Chiyo ni Sakaeru Kabuki no Irodori
(千代 栄劇彩) #5
^Personal Collection

               


Ichikawa Yaozô VII as
Sendô Matsuemon (船頭松右衛門), in actuality, 
Higuchi Jirô (桶口次郎)

Play: Hirakana Seisuiki (ひらかな盛衰記)
Performance Place: Meiji-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 01/02/18
Print Date: 01/1918?
Artist: Utagawa Kunisada III (歌川国貞)
Series: Chiyo ni Sakaeru Kabuki no Irodori
(千代 栄劇彩)  #5
^Personal Collection
 
 

JANUARY 1919


Nakamura Kichiemon I
(中村吉右衛門) as
Higuchi Jirô Kanemitsu
(樋口治郎兼光)

Play: Hirakana Seisuiki
(ひらかな盛衰記)
Performance Place: Ichimura-za,
Tokyo
Performance Date: 01/03/19
Print Date: ?
Artist: Fujisawa Tatsuo
(藤澤龍雄; 藤沢竜雄)
Medium: Woodblock printed
envelope [Fujisawa Pochibukuro Set #A]
Courtesy of Artelino.com
 



               


Nakamura Kichiemon I
(中村吉右衛門) as
Higuchi Jirô Kanemitsu
(樋口治郎兼光)

Play: Hirakana Seisuiki
(ひらかな盛衰記)
Performance Place: Ichimura-za,
Tokyo
Performance Date: 01/03/19
Print Date: ?
Artist: Fujisawa Tatsuo
(藤澤龍雄; 藤沢竜雄)
Medium: Woodblock printed
envelope [Fujisawa Pochibukuro Set #1]
Personal Collection


               


Nakamura Kichiemon I
(中村吉右衛門) as
Higuchi Jirô Kanemitsu
(樋口治郎兼光)

Play: Hirakana Seisuiki
(ひらかな盛衰記)
Performance Place: Ichimura-za,
Tokyo
Performance Date: 01/03/19
Print Date: ?
Artist: Fujisawa Tatsuo
(藤澤龍雄; 藤沢竜雄)
Series: Kabuki Odori Sugata
Dainihen Series 2
(歌舞伎踊姿 第二編) #?
Courtesy of FujiArts.com
 
 


               


Nakamura Kichiemon I (中村吉右衛門) as
Higuchi Jirô Kanemitsu (樋口治郎兼光)
 
 

Play: Hirakana Seisuiki (ひらかな盛衰記)
Performance Place: Ichimura-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 01/03/19
Print Date: ?
Artist: Fujisawa Tatsuo
(藤澤龍雄; 藤沢竜雄)
Medium: Woodblock print
[Fujisawa Accordion Album Set #2]
Personal Collection

JUNE 1921


 
Plays: Hirakana Seisuiki (ひらかな盛衰記); Daigo no Haru (醍醐の春);  Shinju (新樹);
Tamamo-no-Mae Asahi no Tamoto (玉藻前曦袂); Ômori Hikoshichi (大森彦七);
Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba (伊勢音頭戀寝刃)
Performance Place: Shintomi-za, Tokyo
Performance Date:  06/03/21
Print Date: 06/1921?
Artist: ?
Medium: Machine lithograph printed? ehon sujigaki cover
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum
 
 
 

                 
 
Plays: Hirakana Seisuiki (ひらかな盛衰記); Daigo no Haru (醍醐の春);  Shinju (新樹);
Tamamo-no-Mae Asahi no Tamoto (玉藻前曦袂); Ômori Hikoshichi (大森彦七);
Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba (伊勢音頭戀寝刃)
Performance Place: Shintomi-za, Tokyo
Performance Date:  06/03/21
Print Date: 06/1921?
Artist: ?
Medium: Machine lithograph printed? ehon sujigaki back cover
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum
 
 



MARCH 1922

                 
Plays: Hirakana Seisuiki (ひらがな盛衰記); Matsuri no Yogatari (祭りの夜がたり); Tsuchigumo (土蜘);
Shimizu Ikkaku (清水一角); Makari Koshiji Azuma no Hitofushi (罷越路東諷)
Performance Place: Teikoku Gekijô, Tokyo
Performance Date:  03/01/22
Print Date: 03/1922?
Artist: ?
Medium: Woodblock printed ehon sujigaki cover
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum
 
 
 



APRIL 1923

                    
Plays: Hirakana Seisuiki (ひらがな盛衰記); Tsuchigumo (蜘蛛); Saki Kisô Yuki no Ume ga Ka
(咲競雪梅香); Hideyoshi to Sorori (秀吉と曾呂利)
Performance Place: Teikoku Gekijô, Tokyo
Performance Date:  04/01/23
Print Date: 04/1923?
Artist: ?
Medium: Woodbock printed ehon sujigaki cover
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum
 
 
 



SEPTEMBER 1924

               
Ichikawa Chûsha VII (市川中車) as
Higuchi Jirô (樋口次郎),  posing as
Matsuemon (松右衛門)

Play: Hirakana Seisuiki (ひらかな盛衰記)
Performance Place:  Hongô-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 09/04/24
Print Date:  091924?
Artist: Miyake Hanayama (三宅花山)
Medium: Lithograph
Personal Collection




MARCH 1926

                   
Morita Kan’ya XIII (守田勘弥; 守田勘彌) as
Kajiwara Genta Kagesue (梶原源太景季)

Play: Hirakana  Seisuiki (ひらかな盛衰記; ひらがな盛衰記 )
Performance Place: Ichimura-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 03/03/26
Print Date: 1928
Artist: Natori Shunsen (名取春仙)
Series: Sôsaku Hanga: Shunsen Nigao-e Shû
(創作版画 春仙似顔集) (#28)
*Personal Collection
 
 
 

AUGUST 1926


Plays: Ikiutsushi Asagao Nikki (生写朝顔日記); Hirakana Seisuiki (ひら仮名盛衰記);
Igagoe Dôchû Sugoroku (伊賀越道中双六); Gosho Zakura Horikawa no Youchi (御所桜堀川夜討)
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date:  08/06/26
Print Date: 08/1926?
Artist: ?
Medium: Machine lithograph printed? sujigaki cover
Image courtesy of the Shôchiku Ôtani Library
 
 
 



APRIL 1928


Plays: Shinmon Tatsugorô  (新門辰五郎); Hirakana Seisuiki (ひらがな盛衰記); Suô Otoshi (素襖落);
Hakata Kojorô Nami Makura (博多小女郎浪枕);  Hidari Kogatana (左小刀)
Performance Place: Teikoku Gekijô, Tokyo
Performance Date:  04/01/28
Print Date: 04/1928?
Artist: ?
Medium: Woodblock printed ehon sujigaki cover
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum
 
 
 



MAY 1929


Plays: Jyûsan Sai no Yoritomo (十三歳の頼朝); Hirakana Seisuiki (ひらがな盛衰記);
Kongen Kusazuribiki (根元草摺引); Hitozame (人鮫); Genroku Hanami Odori (元禄花見踊)
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date:  05/01/29
Print Date: 05/1929?
Artist: ?
Medium: Machine lithograph printed? ehon sujigaki cover
Image courtesy of the Shôchiku Ôtani Library
 
 
 


Plays: Jyûsan Sai no Yoritomo (十三歳の頼朝); Hirakana Seisuiki (ひらがな盛衰記);
Kongen Kusazuribiki (根元草摺引); Hitozame (人鮫); Genroku Hanami Odori (元禄花見踊)
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date:  05/01/29
Print Date: 05/1929?
Artist: ?
Medium: Machine lithograph printed? ehon sujigaki back cover
Image courtesy of the Shôchiku Ôtani Library
 
 
 



SEPTEMBER 1929

                 
Higuchi Jiro Kanemitsu (古代樋口の隈)

Role: Higuchi (樋口)
Play: Sakaro (逆櫓) act of Hirakana Seisuiki
(ひらかな盛衰記)
Print Date: 09/13/29
Artist: Ota Gatô (太田雅光)
Series: Kabuki Kumadori (歌舞伎隈取), Vol. 9, No. 28
Personal Collection
 
 


NOVEMBER 1934

                   
Hirakana Seisuiki Senjin Mondo, Shôwa Kyûnen Jûgatsu Kabuki-za (ひらかな盛衰記の先陣問答, 昭和九年十一月歌舞伎座)

Play: Senjin Mondo (先陣問答), Act 2 of Hirakana Seisuiki (ひらかな盛衰記)
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 11/01/34
Print Date: 11/1934
Artist: Kawase Hasui (川瀬巴水)
Image courtesy of Mike Peters

Note: Although Hasui may not have known the actors when he designed the set, the cast in this production included Onoe Kikugorô VI (尾上菊五郎)
as Chidori (千鳥), Onoe Baikô VI (尾上梅幸) as Enju (延寿), and Ichimura Uzaemon XV (市村羽左衛門) as Kajiwara Genta Kagesue  (梶原源太景季).
 
 
 
 

APRIL 1956

                   
Matsumoto Kôshirô VIII (松本幸四郎) as
Sendô Matsuemon (船頭松右門), in reality
Higuchi Kanemitsu (樋口兼光)

Play:  Hirakana Seisuiki (ひらかな盛衰記)
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date:  04/01/56
Print Date: 1956?
Artist: Natori Shunsen (名取春仙)
Medium: Hand-colored keyblock print (版画源画)

Note:  Although purporting to be hanga genga in
the 2002 and 1991 Shunsen catalogs, it appears
to be a finished painting and I have not found a
hand-colored keyblock print for this design.
 
 
 

1963

                   
Higuchi (樋口)

Play: Hirakana Seisuiki (ひらかな盛衰記)
Performance Place:  [Bunraku-za, Osaka?]
Performance Date: ?
Print Date: 1963
Artist: Hasegawa Sadanobu IV (長谷川貞信) (
Series: Bunraku-za Ningyô Hanga-shû
(文楽座人形版画集), #?
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum 
 
 
 
 

1972

                   
[Heroine of Kiso Area] Kiso no Joketsu (木曽の女傑)
Tomoe Gozen (巴御前)

Play: Hirakana Seisuiki (ひらかな盛衰記)
Print Date: 1972
Artist: Mori Yoshitoshi (森義利)
Medium: Stencil print (ed. 50)
Image courtesy of The Ren Brown Collection  
 
 
 
 




                   
[Heroine of Kiso Area] Kiso no Joketsu (木曽の女傑)
Tomoe Gozen (巴御前)

Play: Hirakana Seisuiki (ひらかな盛衰記)
Print Date: 1972
Artist: Mori Yoshitoshi (森義利)
Medium: Stencil print (ed. 50)

MAY 1986

                 
Nakamura Jakuemon IV (中村雀右衛門) as
Koshimoto Chidori (腰元千鳥)

Play: Genta Kandô (源太勘当), Act II, Scene 3 of
Hirakana Seisuiki (ひらかな盛衰記)
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 05/03/86
Print Date: 06/1986
Artist: Tsuruya Kokei (弦屋光溪)
Series: [Bust Portraits V, Six Busts of Female Role Specialists]
Daigo-ki Ôkubi-e Shirîzu Onnagata Ôkubi Roku Sugata
(第五期大首絵シリーズ・女形大首六姿)
Personal Collection (#11/54)
 
 
 

UNKNOWN DATE

                 
[The Upside Down Oar] Sakasa-Yagura (逆さ***)
 
Play: Hirakana Seisuiki (ひらかな盛衰記)
Print Date: ?
Artist: Takahashi Hiromitsu (髙橋宏光)
Medium: Kappazuri (ed. 10)
Image courtesy of the Ren Brown Collection