OTA GAKÔ (太 田雅光)
aka Ota Masamitsu

1953

                 
Nakamura Utaemon VI (中村歌右衛門) as
Yatsuhashi (八ツ橋)

Play: Kagotsurube Sato no Eizame (籠釣瓶花街酔醒)
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 01/1953
Print Date: 1954
Series: Gendai Butai Geika (現代舞台芸花) (#2)
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum
 
                 

                 
Ichikawa Ebizô IX (市川海老蔵) as
Hanakawado Sukeroku  (助六)

Play: Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura
(助六由縁江戸桜; 助六所縁江戸櫻)
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 03/02/53
Print Date: 01/1954
Series: Gendai Butai Geika (現代舞台芸花) (#1)
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum

Note: Ebizô IX first played the role of Sukeroku in this play
in Tokyo at the Tokyo Gekijô in June 1946.  Although
Ebizô IX's final Tokyo appearance in this role was in March
1953, it is possible that Gakô based this print on one of
Ebizô IX's prior performances.  This design was reissued to
commemorate his shumei at the Kabuki-za in April and May 1962.
 
 

 
 

                 
Kitamura Rokurô I (喜多村緑郎) as
Otsuta (お蔦)

Play: On'na Keizu (婦系図)
Performance Place: Shinjuku Gekijô, Tokyo
Performance Date: 04/11/53
Print Date: 1953
Series: Shôwa Butai Sugata (昭和舞台姿 その一) (#10)
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum

Note: Rokurô I first played the role of Otsuta in this play in
Tokyo at the Shintomi-za in September 1908.  If the
publication date of this print precedes Rokurô I's April 1953
performance, then Gakô would have based this print on
Rokurô I's performance at the Shinbashi Enbujô in June
1952 or else on some other prior performance.
 
 
 

 
 

              
Nakamura Kichiemon I (中村吉右衛門) as
Ichijô Ôkurakyô (一條大蔵卿)

Play: Ichijô Ôkurakyô (一條大蔵卿), presumably
Act IV, Scene 3 of Kiichi Hôgen Sanryaku no Maki 
(鬼一法眼三略巻)
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 06/1953
Print Date: 08/1954
Series: Gendai Butai Geika (現代舞台芸花) (#5)
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum

Note: Kichiemon I first played the role of Ichijô Ôkurakyô
in this play in Tokyo at the Asakusa-za in April 1898. 
Although Kichiemon I's final Tokyo appearance in this role
was in June 1953, it is possible that Gakô based this print
on one of Kichiemon I's prior performances.
 
 
 
 
 

                   
Mizutani Yaeko I (水谷八重子丈) as
Ochô (お蝶)

Play: Ochô Fujin (お蝶夫人)
Performance Place: Shinbashi Enbujô, Tokyo
Performance Date: 09/06/53
Print Date: 07/1954
Series: Gendai Butai Geika (現代舞台芸花) (#4)
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum

Note: Yaeko first played the role of Ochô in this play in
Tokyo at the Kabuki-za in August 1952.  Although
Yaeko's final Tokyo appearance in this role before the the
publication of this print was in September 1953, it is 
possible that Gakô based this print on Yaeko's
performance at the Kabuki-za.