Onoe Kikugorô VI (尾上菊五郎) as
Hayano Kanpei (早野勘平)
Play: Act V of Kanadehon Chûshingura
(假名手本忠臣蔵; 仮名手本忠臣蔵)
Performance Place: Tokyo Gekijô, Tokyo
Performance Date: 10/28/47
Print Date: ?
Medium: Hand-colored keyblock print (版画源画)
Personal Collection
Note: This was Kikugorô VI's last appearance in
this role in Tokyo. Kikugorô VI died on July 10,
1949, so depending on the publication date of
this print, it is possible that it was intended as a
memorial print. Like most of Shunsen's hanga-
genga, it was likely made in the late 1950s.
However, this was a signature role for Kikugorô
VI, who first performed the role Ichimura-za in
June 1905, and reprised the role in Tokyo on at
least 9 subsequent occasions. It cannot be ruled
out that the print was made prior to the end of
WWII and/or that it may actually depict some
pre-War performance. The design is extremely
similar to the print released by Watanabe in 1929.