NATORI SHUNSEN (名取春仙) 

 1957






FEBRUARY

                   
Nakamura Tokizô III (中村時蔵) as
Tomoe Gozen (巴御前)

Play: Onna Shibaraku (女暫) 
Performance Place: Meiji-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 02/02/57
Print Date: 1959
Medium: Hand-colored keyblock print (版画源画)
Personal Collection

Note: This was probably conceived as a memorial
print, as Tokizô III died in 1959.  A similar but
more detailed version of this design is shown in
the 2002 and 1991 Shunsen catalogs (and appears
to be a painting, not hanga-genga). 




                   
Ichikawa Ennosuke II (市川猿之助) as ?

Play: Kumagai Jin'ya (熊谷陣屋), Act III, Scene 3
of Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki (一谷嫩軍記)
Performance Place: ?
Performance Date: ?
Print Date: 02/1957
Medium: Hand-colored keyblock print (版画源画)
Personal Collection

Note: It is unclear what character is depicted in the
print, although it is possible that it is Byakugô
Midaroku (白毫弥陀六), in reality Yaheibyôe
Munekiyo (弥平兵衛宗清).  Ennosuke II portrayed
Midaroku in Tokyo on at least five occasions.  His
last appearance in that role prior to the publication
of this print was at the Kabuki-za in January 1956.
A similar but more detailed version of this design is
shown in the 2002 and 1991 Shunsen catalogs (and
appears to be a painting, not hanga-genga).
 
  




                   
Kataoka Nizaemon XIII (片岡仁左衛門) as
Ume no Yoshibê (梅の由兵衛)

Play:  [Ume no Yoshibê (梅の由兵衛)?]
Performance Place: ?
Performance Date: ?
Print Date: 02/1957
Medium: Hand-colored keyblock print (版画源画)
Personal Collection
 
 Note: Waseda University has a photograph from a production of
Koume to Yoshibê (小梅と由兵衛) at the Dotonbori Bunraku-za
(Asahi) in Osaka in January 1958 where Kataoa Nizaemon VIII [sic]
portrayed Ume no Yoshibê.  This was classified as a shinkô geki
(emerging theater, not kabuki theater) production.  Kabukidb.net
confirms the existence of such a production but omits the name
of the actor playing Ume no Yoshibê, although it indicates that
Kataoka Nizaemon XIII appeared in other plays on the same bill.
As this production was performed almost after this print was
made, one wonders if there was an earlier production
somewhere in Tokyo made difficult to locate because it was
not, strictly speaking, a kabuki play?





MARCH

                   
Onoe Shôroku II (尾上松緑) as
Kôchiyama Sôshun (河内山宗俊)

Play:Kumo ni Magou Ueno no Hatsuhana
(天衣紛上野初花)
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 03/02/57
Print Date: 03/1957?
Medium: Hand-colored keyblock print (版画源画)

Note: Shôroku II also performed the role in
January 1956 at the Shinbashi Enbujô.  It is
possible that this print depicts that performance.  
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.
 
 



MAY

                   
Ichikawa Jukai III (市川寿海; 市川壽海) as
Tsukue Ryunosuke? (机竜之助)

Play: [possibly Daibosatsu Tôge (大菩薩峠)]
Performance Place: ?
Performance Date: ?
Print Date: 05/1957
Medium: Hand-colored keyblock print (版画源画)
Personal Collection
 
 
 


JUNE

                   
Ichikawa Arajirô II (市川荒次郎) as ?

Play: ?
Performance Place: ?
Performance Date: ?
Print Date: 11/1957
Medium: Hand-colored keyblock print (版画源画)

Note: This print appears to be a memorial print for
Arajirô II, who died on June 16, 1957.  Arajirô II’s
final performances at Tôyoko Hall in June 1957
were as the Landlord Sakuhei (家主作兵衞) in
Jûgoya Monogatari (十五夜物語) and  Akama
Genzaemon (赤間源左衛門) in Sakura Fubuki
Tsuki no Yokogushi (桜花吹雪月横櫛). 
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.
 




AUGUST

                   
Nakamura Utaemon VI (中村歌右衛門) as
Ama (蜑)

Play: Shiokumi (汐汲)
Performance Place: Shinbashi Enbujô, Tokyo
Performance Date: 08/03/57
Print Date: 08/1957 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, not hanga-
genga).
 
 
 


NO PERFORMANCE DATE

                   
Ichikawa Ebizô IX (市川海老蔵) as
Yamanaya Tokijirô (山名屋時次郎)

Play: [Akegarasu Yume no Awayuki (明烏夢泡雪)]
Performance Place: ?
Performance Date: ?
Print Date: 1957?
Medium: Hand-colored keyblock print (版画源画)
Personal Collection

Note: I can find no record of Ebizô IX playing a
character called Tokijirô in Tokyo.  A similar but
more detailed version of this design is shown in
the 2002 (bearing a 1957 date) and 1991
Shunsen catalogs (and appears to be a painting,
not hanga-genga).  It is possible that the actual
date of this print is earlier than 1957.