NATORI SHUNSEN (名取春仙) 

 1926

                   
Kataoka Ichizô IV (片岡市蔵) as
Musashibō Benkei (武蔵坊弁慶)

Play: Benkei Jôshi (弁慶上使), Act IV of
Gosho Zakura Horikawa Youchi
(御所桜堀川夜討; 御所櫻堀川夜討)
Performance Place: Asakusa Shôchiku-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 01/01/26
Print Date: 1927
Series: Sôsaku Hanga: Shunsen Nigao-e Shû
(創作版画 春仙似顔集) (#19)
*Personal Collection

Note:  Ichizô IV first played this role in Tokyo at the Engi-za
 in December 1910.  He would again play this role at the
Teikoku Gekijô in July 1921 and at the Meiji-za in February
1924.  It is possible that Shunsen based this print on his 1921
or 1924 performances.
 
 
 

                   
Ichikawa Ennosuke II (市川猿之助) as
Ikuta Kakudayû (生田角太夫)

Play: Tôyama Seidan Uwasa Shiranami (遠山政談噂白浪),
a version of Tôyama Zakura Tenpô Nikki (遠山桜天保日記)
Performance Place: Asakusa Shokaku-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 01/01/26
Print Date: 1927
Series: Sôsaku Hanga: Shunsen Nigao-e Shû
(創作版画 春仙似顔集) (#21)
*Personal Collection

                   
Ichikawa Sadanji II (市川左団次; 市川左團次) as
Narukami Jônin (鳴神上人)

Play: Narukami (鳴神)
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 01/02/26
Print Date: 1926
Series: Sôsaku Hanga: Shunsen Nigao-e Shû
(創作版画 春仙似顔集) (#9)
*Personal Collection

Note:  Sadanji II first played this role in Tokyo at the Meiji-za
in May 1910.  He would again play this role at the Teikoku
Gekijô in December 1919.  Depending on the precise
publication date of this print, it is possible that Shunsen
modeled this print after Sadanji II's 1919 performance.

d

                   
Onoe Eizaburô VII (尾上栄三郎; 尾上榮三郎) as
Okaru (お軽; おかる)

Play: Kanpei Harakiri (勘平腹切), Act 6 of
Kanadehon Chûshingura
(仮名手本忠臣蔵; 假名手本忠臣蔵)
Performance Place: Shinbashi Enbujô, Tokyo
Performance Date: 02/01/26
Print Date: 1926
Series: Sôsaku Hanga: Shunsen Nigao-e Shû
(創作版画 春仙似顔集) (#11)
Personal Collection
 
Note: Some authorities date this print to 1925, but I have found
no record of Eizaburô VII performing this role prior to February
1926.
 
 
 

                   
Morita Kan’ya XIII (守田勘弥; 守田勘彌) as
Kajiwara Genta Kagesue (梶原源太景季)

Play: Hirakana  Seisuiki (ひらかな盛衰記; ひらがな盛衰記 )
Performance Place: Ichimura-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 03/03/26
Print Date: 1928
Series: Sôsaku Hanga: Shunsen Nigao-e Shû
(創作版画 春仙似顔集) (#28)
*Personal Collection
 
 
 
 
 

                   
Nakamura Kaisha I (中村魁車) as
Okaru (お軽; おかる)

Play:  Shinjû Yoi Gôshin (心中宵庚申)
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 03/03/26
Print Date: 1928
Series: Sôsaku Hanga: Shunsen Nigao-e Shû
(創作版画 春仙似顔集) (#35)
*Personal Collection

                   
Nakamura Utaemon V (中村歌右衛門) as
Yodogimi (淀君)

Play:  Yodogimi Odawarajin (淀君小田原陣)
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 04/01/26
Print Date: 1926
Series: Sôsaku Hanga: Shunsen Nigao-e Shû
(創作版画 春仙似顔集) (#13)
Personal Collection

Note: Utaemon V first played the role of Yodo no Kata
(淀の方) in Hototogisu Kojô no Rakugetsu (沓手鳥孤城落月)
at the Hongo-za in Tokyo in November 1913, at the Kabuki-za
in October 1916, April 1919, and June 1925; at the Shintomi-
za in May 1921, and at the Meiji-za in February 1924.  He
also played the character in a play called Yodogimi (淀君) at
the Kabuki-za in November 1918, January 1921, and October
1925; in a play called Kiri Hitoha (桐一葉) at the Kabuki-za
in October 1919 and at the Hongo-za in October 1924; in a
play called Ôsakajô (大阪城) at the Kabuki-za in January
1921; and in a play called Seki-ga-Hara (関ヶ原) at the
Kabuki-za in April 1925.   It is possible that this print
depicts any of these performance, especially the one at the
Kabuki-za in October 1925 if the print was published
before April 1926.