Inoue Masao (井上止夫) as Morita Shinzō (森田愼藏)
Play: Taî no Musume (大尉の娘)
Performance Place: Tokyo Gekijô, Tokyo
Performance Date: 04/02/48
Print Date: 1950 or later
Series: Meifu Miyage Geki no Omokage
(冥府苞苴劇容彩) (#33)
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unpublished design. Inoue Masao died on February 7,
1950 at age 68.
Masao originated the role in a production at the
Hongo-za in September 1926. There was also a
production in Tokyo at the Tokyo Gekijô in September
1932. While I have not yet been able to confirm that
Masao was part of that production, the fact that he
performed the role at the Osaka Kabuki-za in
November of that same year makes a Tokyo
appearance very probable. It is possible that Gakô
based this print on one of these prior performances.