Onoe Matsusuke IV (尾上松助) as Ono Kudayû (斧九太夫)
 
Matsumoto Kôshirô VII (松本幸四郎) as Ôboshi Yuranosuke (大星由良之助)
 
Morita Kan’ya XIII (守田勘弥; 守田勘彌) as Ono Sadakurô (斧定九郎)
 
Sawamura Sôjûrô VII (沢村宗十郎; 澤村宗十郎) as Wakasanosuke (若狭之助)
 
Onoe Baikô VI (尾上梅幸) as Okura (おかる)
 
Ichimura Uzaemon XV (市村羽左衛門) as Hayano Kanpei (早野勘平)
 
Play:  Chûshingura (忠臣蔵)
Performance Place: Teikoku Gekijô, Tokyo
Performance Date:  11/01/27
Print Date: 11/1927?
Artist: Torii Kiyotada (鳥居清忠)
Medium: Woodblock printed ehon sujigaki cover
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum
 
 
 

Kataoka Nizaemon XI (片岡仁左衛門) as
Ôboshi Yuranosuke (大星由良之助)
        
Play: Chûshingura Nenjû Gyôji
(忠臣藏年中行事)
Performance Place: Shinbashi Enbujô,
Tokyo   
Performance Date: 10/01/28
Print Date:  1928?
Artist:  Kamishita Chikamine
 (神下周峯)
Medium: Woodblock printed
pochibukuro
Series: [Images of Famous Actors of
Today] Tôsei Meiyû Omokage Zôshi
(當世名優面影双紙) [#D]
Personal Collection
 
 
 

                   
Bandô Shûchô III (坂東秀調) as Okaru (お軽)


Play: Kanadehon Chûshingura 
(仮名手本忠臣蔵; 假名手本忠臣蔵)
Performance Place: Hongô-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 11/01/28
Print Date: 1950 or later
Artist: Ota Gakô (太田雅光)
Series: Meifu Miyage Geki no Omokage
(冥府苞苴劇容彩)  (#16)
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unpublished design.  Shûchô III died on September 22,
1935 at age 56.  He first played the role of Okaru in
Tokyo in April 1912, and his final Tokyo appearance in
this role was in December 1929 at the  Shinjuku
Shinkabuki-za. This print, however, closely resembles
a photograph from the November 1928 production at
the Hongô-za.
 
 
 
 

Sawamura Tosshi VIII (沢村訥子; 澤村訥子)  as Ono no Sadakurô (斧定九郎)
 
Ichikawa Enshô III (市川莚升; 市川莚舛) as Kaoyo (顔世)
 
Ôtani Tomoemon VI (大谷友右衛門) as Takano Moronao (高野師直)
 
Ichikawa Sumizo VI (市川寿美蔵) as Momoi Wakasanosuke (桃井若狭之助)
 
Bandô Shûchô III (坂東秀調) as Okaru (おかる)
 
Ichikawa Sumizô VI (市川寿美蔵; 市川壽美蔵) as Hayano Kanpei (早野勘平)
 
Ôtani Tomoemon VI (大谷友右衛門) as Ôboshi Yuranosuke (大星由良之助)
 
Bandô Shûchô III (坂東秀調)  as En'ya Hangan (塩谷判官)
 
Play: Kanadehon Chûshingura (仮名手本忠臣蔵; 假名手本忠臣蔵)
Performance Place: Hongô-za, Tokyo
Performance Date:  11/01/1928
Print Date: 11/1928?
Artist: ?
Medium: Machine lithograph printed? ehon sujigaki cover
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum
 
 
 

Play: Kanadehon Chûshingura (仮名手本忠臣蔵; 假名手本忠臣蔵)
Performance Place: Hongô-za, Tokyo
Performance Date:  11/01/28
Print Date: 11/1928?
Artist: ?
Medium: Machine lithograph printed? ehon sujigaki back cover
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum
 
 
 

                   
Ôtani Tomoemon VI (大谷友右衛門) as
Teraoka Heiuemon (寺岡平右衛門)

Play: Kanadehon Chûshingura
(仮名手本忠臣蔵; 假名手本忠臣蔵)
Performance Place: Teikoku Gekijô, Tokyo
Performance Date: 04/01/30
Print Date: 1950 or later
Ota Gakô (太田雅光)
Series: Meifu Miyage Geki no Omokage
(冥府苞苴劇容彩)  (#24)
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.  Tomoemon VI died on September
10, 1943 at age 58.
 
 

Ichikawa Sanshô V (市川三升; 市川三舛) as Ashikaga Tadayoshi (足利直義)
 
Morita Kan'ya XIII (守田勘弥; 守田勘彌) as Ono no Sadakurô (斧定九郎)
 
Kataoka Nizaemon XII (片岡仁左衛門) as Kaoyo (顔世)
 
Jitsukawa Enjaku II (実川延若) as Takano Moronao (高野師直)
 
Matsumoto Koshiro VII (松本幸四郎) as Momoi Wakasanosuke (桃井若狭之助)
 
Matsumoto Koshiro VII (松本幸四郎) as Ôboshi Yuranosuke (大星由良之助)
 
? as ?
 
Jitsukawa Enjaku II (実川延若)  as Teraoka Heiemon (寺岡平右衛門)
 
Ichimura Uzaemon XV (市村羽左衛門) as En'ya Hangan (塩谷判官)
 
Kataoka Nizaemon XII (片岡仁左衛門) as Okaru (おかる)Play: Kanadehon Chûshingura (仮名手本忠臣蔵; 假名手本忠臣蔵)
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date:  03/10/36
Print Date: 03/1936?
Artist: Torii Kotondo (鳥居言人)
Medium: Machine lithograph printed? ehon sujigaki cover
Image courtesy of the Shôchiku Ôtani Library
 
 
 

Ôtani Tomoemon VI (大谷友右衛門) as Ono no Sadakurô (斧定九郎)
 
Ichimura Uzaemon XV (市村羽左衛門)  as Ôboshi Yuranosuke (大星由良之助)
 
Onoe Kikugorô VI (尾上菊五郎) as Okaru (おかる)
 
Onoe Kikugorô VI (尾上菊五郎) as En'ya Hangan (塩谷判官)
 
Plays:  Kanadehon Chûshingura (仮名手本忠臣蔵; 假名手本忠臣蔵)
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date:  10/01/38
Print Date: 10/1938?
Medium: Machine lithograph printed? ehon sujigaki cover
Image courtesy of the Shôchiku Ôtani Library
 
 
 

                 
? as [Ôboshi Yuranosuke (大星由良之助)]?

Play: Act VII, Juni Toki Chûshingura (十二時忠臣蔵) 
Performance Place: ?
Performance Date: ?
Print Date: 1941
Artist: Hasegawa Sadanobu III
(長谷川貞信)
Series: Chûkô Kabuki Jûhachiban  (忠孝歌舞伎十八番);
also reissued as part of the series Kabuki Jûni Dai
(歌舞伎十二第) in 1952
*Courtesy of Artelino.com
 
 

Kobikichō Kabuki-za Gekigain Gassaku (こびき町歌舞伎座 劇画院合作)
Print Date: 12/1950
Artist: Tomita Chiaki (富田千秋)
Medium: Sugoroku Lithograph
Personal Collection

Note: This was a collaboration with Torii Tadamasa, Kamoshita Chôko,
Takane Kôji, Natori Shunsen, Kubota Kinsen, Miyao Shigeo, Jinbo Tomoyo,
Shimizu Miezô, and Mori Shunchô.  The panels by Chiaki follow.
 
 
 

                   
Teraoka Heiuemon (寺岡平右衛門) and Okaru (お軽)
 
Play: [Chûshingura (忠臣蔵)?], Panel 17 of
Kobikichō Kabuki-za Gekigain Gassaku
(こびき町歌舞伎座 劇画院合作)

Print Date: 12/1950
Artist: Tomita Chiaki (富田千秋)
Medium: Sugoroku Lithograph
Personal Collection

                   
Yûjo Okaru (三番叟)

Play:   Kanadehon Chûshingura
(仮名手本忠臣蔵; 假名手本忠臣蔵)
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), #5
Personal Collection 
 
 

                 
Bando Tamasaburô V (板東玉三郎) as
Yûjo Okaru (遊女おかる)

Play: Act 7 [Gion Ichiriki Jaya] of
Kanadehon Chûshingura (仮名手本忠臣蔵)
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 02/01/86
Print Date: 10/1986
Artist: Tsuruya Kokei (弦屋光溪)
Series: [Bust Portraits V, Six Acts from Kanadehon Chûshingura]
Daigo-ki Ôkubi-e Shirîzu Kanadehon Chûshingura Roku-maku
(第五期大首絵シリーズ・女形大首六姿)
Personal Collection (#50/54)
 
 

                 
Suketakaya Kodenji II (助高屋小伝次)  as
Ono Kudayû (斧九太夫)

Play: [Gion Ichiriki Jaya (祇園一力茶屋)], Act 7 of
Kanadehon Chûshingura (仮名手本忠臣蔵)
Performance Place: Kokuritsu Gekijô, Tokyo
Performance Date: 11/01/86
Print Date: 01/1987
Artist: Tsuruya Kokei (弦屋光溪)
Series: [Bust Portraits V, Six Acts from Kanadehon Chûshingura]
Daigo-ki Ôkubi-e Shirîzu Kanadehon Chûshingura Roku-maku
(第五期大首絵シリーズ・女形大首六姿)
*Image courtesy of Tsuruya-koukei.com
 
 
 

                 
Bandô Tamasaburô V (坂東玉三郎) as
Yûjo Okaru (遊女おかる)

Play: Gion Ichiriki Jaya (祇園一力茶屋), Act 7 of
Kanadehon Chûshingura (仮名手本忠臣蔵)
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 03/02/1988
Print Date: 09/1988
Artist: Tsuruya Kokei (弦屋光溪)
Personal Collection (#18/72)

Note: A larger version of the actor's face was used for
Reminiscences II (01/2000).
 
 
 
 

                 
Kataoka Takao I (片岡孝夫) as
Teraoka Heiemon (寺岡平右衛門)

Play: Gion Ichiriki Jaya (祇園一力茶屋), Act 7 of
Kanadehon Chûshingura (仮名手本忠臣蔵)
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 03/02/1988
Print Date: 09/1988
Artist: Tsuruya Kokei (弦屋光溪)
Personal Collection (#57/72)

Note: A smaller, simplified version of the actor's face was
also used on a 1998 holiday card.

                 
1998 Holiday Card with portraits of
Kataoka Takao I (片岡孝夫)

Print Date: c. 01/01/98
Image courtesy of Tsuruya-koukei.com
 
Note: The holiday card uses reduced,
simplified images of Kataoka Takao
(left to right starting at the top row)
from the following prints:
 
Hanakawado Sukeroku (花川戸助六) in
Sukeroku (助六), Kabuki-za, Tokyo (03/02/83);
Fujiya Izaemon (藤屋伊左衛門) in
Yoshidaya (吉田屋), Kabuki-za, Tokyo (03/02/96);
Tobizu Matsukichi (鳶頭松吉) in
Omatsuri (お祭り), Kabuki-za, Tokyo (01/02/94);
Tamiya lemon (民谷伊右衛門) in
Yotsuya Kaidan (四谷怪談), Kabuki-za, Tokyo (06/02/83);
Tsurigane Gonsuke (釣鐘権助) in
Sakurahime Azuma Bunshô (桜姫東文章), Kabuki-za, Tokyo (03/81);
Teraoka Heiemon (寺岡平右衛門) in
Gion Ichiriki Jaya (祇園一力茶屋), Act VII of
Kanadehon Chûshingura (仮名手本忠臣蔵; 假名手本忠臣蔵),
Kabuki-za, Tokyo (03/02/88).

                 
Nakamura Tokizô V (中村時蔵)
Okaru (お軽)
 
Matsumoto Kôshirô IX  as
Ôboshi Yuranosuke (大星由良之助)

Play: Gion Ichiriki Jaya (Act VII of
Kanadehon Chûshingura (假名手本忠臣蔵)
Performance Place: Kanamaru-za, Kotohira
Performance Dates: April 11-24, 1992
Print Date: 1992
Artist: ?
Medium: Machine printed poster
Personal Collection

Note: The programs were made up of Koi Nyôbô
Somewake Tazuna (戀女房染分手綱), Meisaku Hidari
Kogatana  (銘作左小刀), Gion Ichiriki Jaya (Act VII of
Kanadehon Chûshingura (假名手本忠臣蔵), and Tachi
Nusubito (太刀盗人).  It starred Matsumoto Kôshirô IX
(松本幸四郎), Nakamura Tokizô V (中村時蔵), 
Nakamura Matsue VI (中村松江), Ichikawa Somegorô
VII (市川染五郎), Ichikawa Shinsha II (市川新車),
Matsumoto Kingo (松本錦吾), and Onoe Matsuya II.
 

                   
 Rikiya (力弥)

Play:  Gion Ichiriki Jaya (祇園一力茶屋),
Act VII of Kanadehon Chûshingura (假名手本忠臣蔵)
Performance Place:  ?
Performance Date: ?
Print Date: ?
Artist: Hasegawa Sadanobu III (長谷川貞信)
Series: Kanadehon Chûshingura (假名手本忠臣蔵)
Image courtesy of the Ritsumeikan ARC Collection

       
        Teraoka Heiuemon (寺岡平右衛門)
 
        Tonase (戸名瀬)
     
        Play: Kanadehon Chûshingura
        (仮名手本忠臣蔵; 假名手本忠臣蔵)
        Print Date: ?
        Artist: ?
        Medium: Woodblock printed postcard
        Personal Collection
        

        
        Jitsukawa Enjaku II
        (実川延若; 實川延若) as
        Heiemon (平右ェ門)

        Play: Kanadehon Chûshingura
        (假名手本忠臣蔵;
        仮名手本忠臣蔵) 
        Artist: ?
        Medium: Woodblock printed
        matchbook cover
                      
        Note: Enjaku II performed this
        role at the Hongô-za in
        December 1924, at the Tokyo
        Gekijô in October 1934, and
        at the Kabuki-za in March 1936.

           
            Nakamura Ganjirô I
            (中村鴈治郎) as
            Ôboshi Yuranosuke
            (大星由良之助)
     
            Play: Kanadehon
            Chûshingura
            (假名手本忠臣蔵;
            仮名手本忠臣蔵)
            Performance Place: ?
            Performance Date: ?
            Print Date: ?
            Artist: Hasegawa Sadanobu
            III (長谷川貞信)
            Medium: Woodblock printed
            pochibukuro
            Series: Ganjirô Tôri Kyogen
            Nigaoe Jû-shu Part 1
            (玩辞楼当利狂言
            似顔絵十種 其一)
            Image courtesy of Serge
            Astieres
 
 
.
 

       
        Onoe Baikô VI (尾上梅幸) as
        Okaru (お軽)
     
        Play: Kanadehon Chûshingura
        (假名手本忠臣蔵)
        Print Date: ?
        Artist: Furuya Shin (古家新)
        Medium: Woodblock printed postcard
        Series: Kabuki Sobyô-shû
        (歌舞伎 素描集)
        Personal Collection

        Note: Although the role is not specifically
        identified and Baikô VI played several
        female roles in this play over the course
        of his career, it is mostly likely Okaru. 
        Baikô VI performed this role in Tokyo
        at least eight times between November
        1904 and November 1930.
 
 
 

                 
Ichikawa Danjurô XII (市川団十郎) as
Yuranosuke (由良之助)
           
Play: Kanadehon Chûshingura
(仮名手本忠臣蔵; 假名手本忠臣蔵)
Performance Place: ?
Performance Date: ?
Print Date: ?
Artist: Yamamoto Hisashi (山本ひさし)
Medium: Woodblock printed senshafuda
Personal Collection
 
Note: Danjuro XII performed this role at the
Kabukize in February 1986, April 1988, and
February 1991, as well as at the Shinbashi
Enbujô in November 1989.

 
 
 
 

                   
? as ?
 
Ichikawa Yaozô VII (市川八百蔵) as
Hayano Kanpei (早野勘平)
 
Ichikawa Danshirô II (市川段四郎) as
Moronô (師直)
 
Nakamura Ganjirô I (中村鴈治郎) as
Ôboshi Yuranosuke (大星由良之助)
 
Nakamura Baigyoku II (中村梅玉) as
Okaru (お軽; おかる)
 
Nakamura Fukusuke IV (中村福助) as ?
 
? as ?
 
Play: Kanadehon Chûshingura
(假名手本忠臣蔵; 仮名手本忠臣蔵)
Performance Place: Shintomi-za Shigezo
Performance Date:  ?
Print Date: ?
Artist: Torii Kiyotada (鳥居清忠)
Medium: Woodblock printed ehon sujigaki cover
Image courtesy of Artelino.com