OTA GAKÔ (太 田雅光)
aka Ota Masamitsu

1929

 


JANUARY


                 
Sawada Shôjirô (澤田正二郎; 沢田正二郎) as
Kunisada Chûji (国定忠治)

Play: Kunisada Chûji (国定忠治)
Performance Place: Yamate Gekijô, Tokyo
Performance Date: 01/01/29
Print Date: 1950 or later
Series: Meifu Miyage Geki no Omokage
(冥府苞苴劇容彩)  (#9)
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unpublished design.  Shôjirô died on March 4, 1929 at age
34.  He first played the role of Kunisada Chûji in Tokyo at
the Meiji-za in June 1921.  Although Shôjirô's last Tokyo
appearance in this role was in January 1929, it is possible
that Gakô based this print on one of Shôjirô's prior
performances in that play.
 
 
 







MAY

 

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
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unpublished design.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.