NATORI SHUNSEN (名取春仙) 

 1956

                   
Bandô Mitsugorô VII (坂東三津五郎) as
Sambasô (三番叟)

Play:  Mata Kuru Haru Suzuna no Tanemaki (再春菘種蒔)
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 01/1956
Print Date: 01/1957
Medium: Hand-colored keyblock print (版画源画)
Personal Collection
 
Note: January 1956 is the last recorded performance in Tokyo by
Mitsugorô VII in this role.   it is possible that it depicts an earlier
performance in Tokyo, or a later performance on tour.

                   
Onoe Shôroku II (尾上松緑) as
Kumedera Danjô (粂寺弾正)

Play:  Kenuki (毛抜)
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 03/03/56
Print Date: 04/1956
Medium: Hand-colored keyblock print (版画源画)
Personal Collection

                   
Ichikawa Ebizô IX (市川海老蔵) as
Ishinoue no Fumimaro (石ノ上ノ文麻呂)

Play:  Nayotake (なよたけ)
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 03/03/56
Print Date: 01/1957
Medium: Hand-colored keyblock print (版画源画)
Personal Collection

                   
Nakamura Kinnosuke I (中村錦之助) as
Minamoto Yoshitsune (源義経)

Film:  Zoku Minamoto Yoshitsune (続源義経)
Released: 03/15/56
Print Date: 05/1957
Medium: Hand-colored keyblock print (版画源画)
Personal Collection

Note: Zoku Minamoto Yoshitsune was a sequel to
Minamoto Yoshitsune (源義経), which was released
on July 30, 1955.  Kinnosuke I played the same
character in each movie, although he was billed in
Ushiwakamaru (牛若丸) in the first movie.  It is
possible that the print depicts Kinnosuke I in the
first movie and not the sequel.
 
 

                   
Matsumoto Kôshirô VIII (松本幸四郎) as
Sendô Matsuemon (船頭松右門), in reality
Higuchi Kanemitsu (樋口兼光)

Play:  Hirakana Seisuiki (ひらかな盛衰記)
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date:  04/01/56
Print Date: 1956?
Medium: Hand-colored keyblock print (版画源画)

Note:  Although purporting to be hanga genga in
the 2002 and 1991 Shunsen catalogs, it appears
to be a finished painting and I have not found a
hand-colored keyblock print for this design.
 
 

                   
Nakamura Utaemon VI (中村歌右衛門) as
Koshô Yayoi (小姓彌生; 小姓弥生)

Play:  [Shunkyô] Kagami Jishi ([春興]鏡獅子)
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 04/01/56
Print Date: 03/1957
Medium: Hand-colored keyblock print (版画源画)
Personal Collection

                   
Ichikawa Sadanji III (市川左団次 市川左團次) as
Abe no Yasuna (安倍保名)

Play:  Yasuna (保名)
Performance Place: Tôyoko Hall, Tokyo
Performance Date: 09/1956
Print Date: 09/1956 or later
Medium: Hand-colored keyblock print (版画源画)
Personal Collection

Note: A similar but  more detailed version of this
design is shown in the 2002 and 1991 Shunsen
catalogs (and appears to be a painting).  Another
verison of this print exist without the butterflies
hand-painted in the upper left corner.
 

                   
Nakamura Kinnosuke I (中村錦之助) ) as
Akaboshi Jûzaburô (赤星十三郎)

Play:  ?
Performance Place: ?
Performance Date: ?
Print Date: 11/1956
Medium: Hand-colored keyblock print (版画源画)
Personal Collection

Note:  Kinnosuke I was primarily a movie actor in
the mid-to-late 1950s.  It is possible that this print
reflects of one his movie roles of the period.