OTA GAKÔ (太 田雅光)
aka Ota Masamitsu

1928

               
Nakamura Utaemon V (中村歌右衛門) as
Masaoka (政岡)

Play: Meiboku Sendai Hagi (伽羅先代萩)
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 10/01/28
Print Date: 1952
Series: Shôwa Butai Sugata (昭和舞台姿 その一) (#7)
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum

Note: Utaemon V first played the role of Masaoka in this
play in Tokyo at the Kabuki-za in March 1914.  Although
Utaemon V's final Tokyo appearance in this role was in
October 1928, it is possible that Gakô based this print on
one of Utaemon V's prior performances.  However, the
print is similar to a photo from the October 1928
production.
 
 
 

 

                   
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
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unpublished design.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 November 1928 at the  Shinjuku
Shinkabuki-za. This print, however, closely resembles
a photograph from the November 1928 production at
the Hongô-za.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

                 
Nakamura Utaemon V (中村歌右衛門) as
Fujiwara Tokihira (藤原時平)

Play: Shihei Kochi Nana Warai (時平公七笑)
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date:  11/01/28
Print Date: 1950 or later
Series: Meifu Miyage Geki no Omokage
(冥府苞苴劇容彩)  (#22)
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unpublished design.   Utaemon V died on September 12,
1940 at age 76.