OTA GAKÔ (太 田雅光)
aka Ota Masamitsu

1940

               
Kawai Takeo (河合武雄) as Koume (小梅)

Play: Koume to Kazue (小梅と一重), a version of 
Kanaya Koume (仮名屋小梅)
Performance Place: Meiji-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 01/01/40
Print Date: 1950 or later
Series: Meifu Miyage Geki no Omokage
(冥府苞苴劇容彩)  (#23)
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unpublished design.  Takeo died on March 21, 1942 at age
68.  He first played the role of Koume in Kanaya Koume
in Tokyo at the Shintomi-za in November 1919.  Although
Takeo's final Tokyo appearance was at the Meiji-za in
January 1940, it is possible that Gakô based this print on
one of Takeo's prior performances.
 
 

                   
Ichikawa Sadanji II (市川左団次; 市川左團次) as
Yashaô (夜叉王)

Play: Shuzenji Monogatari (修禅寺物語)
Performance Place: Shinbashi Enbujô, Tokyo
Performance Date: 02/1940
Print Date:  1950 or later
Series: Meifu Miyage Geki no Omokage
(冥府苞苴劇容彩)  (#20)
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unpublished design.  Sadanji II died on February 23, 1940
at age 61.  He first played the role of Yashaô in Tokyo at
the Meiji-za in May 1911.  Although Sadanji's final Tokyo
appearance in this role was at the Shinbashi Enbujô in
February 1940, it is possible that Gakô based this print on
one of Sadanji II's prior performances.