TÔKAIDÔ YOTSUYA KAIDAN
(東海道四谷怪談)

aka YOTSUYA KAIDAN (四谷怪談)
aka KATAMIGUSA YOTSUYA KAIDAN (形見草四谷怪談)
aka AMAYO NO KANE YOTSUYA KAIDAN (雨夜鐘四谷怪談)

                
Plays: Amayo no Kane Yotsuya Kaidan (雨夜鐘四谷怪談); Ai Ureshi Yume Mutsugoto (逢嬉夢睦言);
Gosho Zakura Horikawa no Youchi (御所桜堀川夜討)
Performance Place: Engi-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 09/04/03
Print Date: 09/04/03
Artist: Utagawa Kunisada III (歌川国貞)
Medium: Woodblock printed ehon sujigaki cover
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum
 
 

                 
 
Plays: Kanadehon Chûshingura (仮名手本忠臣蔵); Katamigusa Yotsuya Kaidan (形見草四谷怪談);
Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba (伊勢音頭恋寝刃)
Performance Place: Tôkyô-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 10/09/09
Print Date: 10/11/09
Artist: Utagawa Kunisada III (歌川国貞)
Medium: Woodblock printed sujigaki cover
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum
 

                 
 
Plays: Kuroda Sôdô Kuriyama Daizen (黒田騒動栗山大膳);  Tsuri On'na (釣女);
Katamigusa Yotsuya Kaidan (形見草四谷怪談); Kioi Hada Matsuri no Hitotsugi (勢肌祭揃衣)
Performance Place: Teikoku Gekijô, Tokyo
Performance Date: 06/01/18
Print Date: 06/1918?
Artist: ?
Medium: Woodblock printed ehon sujigaki cover
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum
 
 

               
Onoe Baikô VI (尾上梅幸) as Oiwa-sama (お岩様)

Play: Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan (東海道四谷怪談)
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 07/01/25
Print Date: 1926
Artist: Shin'ei (新栄; 新榮)
Series: Nigao-e (似顔絵), No. 4
Personal Collection
 
 
 
 

                 
Oiwa (お岩)

Play: Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan (東海道四谷怪談)
Print Date: 11/15/25
Artist: Hasegawa Sadanobu III (長谷川貞信)
Series:  Kabuki Kumadori Hyakumenshû
 (歌舞伎 隈取百面種), Vol. 2
Personal Collection
 
 

Plays: Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan (東海道四谷怪談)
Performance Place: Hongô-za, Tokyo
Performance Date:  07/01/28
Print Date: 07/1928?
Artist: ?
Medium: Machine lithograph printed? ehon sujigaki cover
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum
 
 
 

                    
Plays: Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan (東海道四谷怪談)
Performance Place: Hongô-za, Tokyo
Performance Date:  07/01/28
Print Date: 07/1928?
Artist: ?
Medium: Machine lithograph printed? ehon sujigaki back cover
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum
 
 
 

Plays: Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan (東海道四谷怪談)
Performance Place: Hongô-za, Tokyo
Performance Date:  07/01/28
Print Date: 07/1928?
Artist: ?
Medium: Machine lithograph printed? flyer art
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum
 
 
 

                    
Plays: Katamigusa Yotsuya Kaidan (形見草四谷怪談); Michiyuki Tabi no Hanamuko (道行旅路の花婿);
Kokoro no Yami no Kawanari (心闇軒蝙蝠)
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date:  07/03/33
Print Date: 07/1933?
Artist: ?
Medium: Machine lithograph printed? ehon sujigaki cover
Image courtesy of the Shôchiku Ôtani Library
 
 
 

                   
From top left to lower right:
 
1. Tanaka Kôka (田中耕花): Motome (求女) in
Imoseyama Onna Teikin (妹背山婦女庭訓)
2.  Machida Shian (町田紫庵): ? in ?
3.  Takarada Nao (宝田直): Sekibê (関兵衛) in
Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To (積戀雪関扉)
4.   *mi Tashushi (*見立志): Sumizome (墨染) in
Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To (積戀雪関扉)
5.  Kitada Haruhiko (北田晴彦): Oiwa (お岩) in
Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan (東海道四谷怪談)
6.  Inoue Matsuyoshi (井上松芳): Goemon (五右工門) in
Sanmon Gosan no Kiri (樓門五山桐)
7.  Uchikawa Eihô (内川英峰): Hanaregoma Chôkichi
(放駒長吉) in Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki (双蝶々曲輪日記)
8.  Tsuda Kôraku (津田行楽):  ? in ?
9.  Higuchi Soyama (樋口蘇山): Urazato Tokijirô
(浦里時次郎) in Akegarasu (明烏)
10. Shirai Kôyuki (白井皎雪): ? in ?
11. Mitamura Kaoru (三田村薫): Tadanobu (忠信) in
Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura (義経千本桜)
12. Minami Kichijirô (南吉次郎): Urazato (浦里) in
Akegarasu (明烏)

Print Date: 10/1933
Artist: Kitada Haruhiko (北田晴彦)
Personal Collection

Note: Most of these artists are known matchbook cover/
adveritsing label artists.  In light of the title cartouche, it
is possible that this is the first panel of a triptych that
cumulatively contains 36 actor portraits.  The seal on
this print is the same as one found on two woodblock
printed postcards that resemble two 1925 prints by
Miyake Hanayama, and is likely a publisher seal.
 
 
 
 

                   
Oiwa (お岩)

Play: Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan
(東海道四谷怪談)
Print Date: 10/1933
Artist: Kitada Haruhiko (北田晴彦)
Personal Collection
 
Note: This is a close up of the
image from the oban sheet.

                   
Oiwa (お岩)

Play: Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan
(東海道四谷怪談)
Date: c. 1933
Artist: Kitada Haruhiko (北田晴彦)
Medium: Woodblock printed
matchbook cover
Personal Collection

? as ?

Play: ?
Performance Place: Mitsukoshi Gekijô,
Tokyo           
Performance Date: 07/1948
Print Date: 07/1948?
Artist: Sasajima Kihei (笹島喜平)
Series: Shichigatsu Kyôgen Mitsukoshi
Gekijô
Hanga Ko-Shû (七月狂言 三越劇場
板画小集)
Medium: Woodblock print with hand-
applied color on verso
Personal Collection

Note: This the design on the wrapper for
the prints in this series.  It is possible
that the print depicts a generic Jôruri
reciter, and not a specific performer in
any particular play at the Mitsukoshi
Gekijô.  The plays on the bill at the
Mitsukoshi Gekijô in July 1948 were
Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan (東海道四谷怪談);
Shinobi Yoru Koi no Kusemono
(忍夜戀曲者); Sato Moyô Azami no Ironui
(花街模様薊色縫); and Koreha Hyôban
Ukina no Yomiuri (是評判浮名讀賣).
 
 

           
            Ichikawa Danzô VIII (市川団蔵; 市川團蔵) in
            the dual roles of Naosuke (直助) and
            Naosuke disguised as Gonbê (直助権兵衛)
           
            Play: Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan (東海道四谷怪談)
            Performance Place: Mitsukoshi Gekijô, Tokyo
            Performance Date: 07/1948
            Print Date: 07/1948?
            Artist: Sasajima Kihei (笹島喜平)
            Series: Shichigatsu Kyôgen Mitsukoshi Gekijô
            Hanga Ko-Shû (七月狂言 三越劇場 板画小集))
            Personal Collection

            
            Ichikawa Danzô VIII (市川団蔵; 市川團蔵) as
            Naosuke (直助)
 
            Sawamura Tosshô IV (沢村訥升; 澤村訥舛) as
            Osode  (お袖) (seen from behind only)
           
            Play: Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan (東海道四谷怪談)
            Performance Place: Mitsukoshi Gekijô, Tokyo
            Performance Date: 07/1948
            Print Date: 07/1948?
            Artist: Sasajima Kihei (笹島喜平)
            Series: Shichigatsu Kyôgen Mitsukoshi Gekijô
            Hanga Ko-Shû (七月狂言 三越劇場 板画小集))
            Personal Collection

            
            Ichikawa Dannosuke VI (市川團之助) as
            Takuetsu ( 按摩宅悦)
 
            Nakamura Moshio IV (中村もしほ) as Oiwa (お岩)
           
            Play: Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan (東海道四谷怪談)
            Performance Place: Mitsukoshi Gekijô, Tokyo
            Performance Date: 07/1948
            Print Date: 07/1948?
            Artist: Sasajima Kihei (笹島喜平)
            Series: Shichigatsu Kyôgen Mitsukoshi Gekijô
            Hanga Ko-Shû (七月狂言 三越劇場 板画小集))
            Personal Collection

            
            Nakamura Moshio IV (中村もしほ) in the dual
            roles of Oiwa (お岩) and Kobotoke Kohei
            (小佛小平)
           
            Play: Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan (東海道四谷怪談)
            Performance Place: Mitsukoshi Gekijô, Tokyo
            Performance Date: 07/1948
            Print Date: 07/1948?
            Artist: Sasajima Kihei (笹島喜平)
            Series: Shichigatsu Kyôgen Mitsukoshi Gekijô
            Hanga Ko-Shû (七月狂言 三越劇場 板画小集))
            Medium: Woodblock print with hand-applied color
            on verso
            Personal Collection

Ichikawa Somegorô V (市川染五郎) as
Tamiya Iemon (民谷伊右衛門)
 
Play: Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan (東海道四谷怪談)
Performance Place: Mitsukoshi Gekijô, Tokyo
Performance Date: 07/1948
Print Date: 07/1948?
Artist: Sasajima Kihei (笹島喜平)
Series: Shichigatsu Kyôgen Mitsukoshi Gekijô
Hanga Ko-Shû (七月狂言 三越劇場 板画小集))
Personal Collection
 
 
 

                 
Nakamura Tokizô V (中村時蔵) as
Imôto Osode (妹お袖)

Bandô Tamasaburô V (坂東玉三郎) as
Tamiya Nyôbô Oiwa (民谷女房お岩)

Play: Yotsuya Kaidan (四谷怪談)
[Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan(東海道四谷怪談)]
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 06/02/83
Print Date: 06/1983
Artist: Tsuruya Kokei (弦屋光溪)
Series: [Bust Portraits III (Design 21)]
Daisan-ki Ôkubi-e Shirîzu no 21
(第三期大首絵シリーズの21)
Personal Collection (#9/36)

Note: 9 copies from the edition of 36 were destroyed by the artist.

                 
Onoe Tatsunosuke I (尾上辰之助) as
Naosuke Gonbê (直助権兵衛)

Kataoka Takao I (片岡孝夫) as
Tamiya lemon (民谷伊右衛門)

Play: Yotsuya Kaidan (四谷怪談)
[Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan(東海道四谷怪談)]
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 06/02/83
Print Date: 06/1983
Artist: Tsuruya Kokei (弦屋光溪)
Series: [Bust Portraits III (Design 22)]
Daisan-ki Ôkubi-e Shirîzu no 22
(第三期大首絵シリーズの22)
Personal Collection (#9/36)

Note: A larger version of Onoe Tatsunosuke I's face was used for
Reminiscences I (01/1999).  A smaller, simplified version of
Kataoka Takao I's face was also used on a 1998 holiday card.
2 copies from the edition of 36 were destroyed by the artist.
 
 
 

                 
Reminiscences I (思い出 I)

Print Date:  01/1999
Artist: Tsuruya Kokei (弦屋光溪)
Personal Collection (#15/72)

Note: 35 copies from the edition of 72 were never printed.  Given
the difficulty in photographing this print in view of its large size, I
have used the image on the Kôkei website in lieu of one of my
own numbered copy.  This print contains larger versions of the
following actors' faces (left to right starting at the top row):

1. Kataoka Takao I (片岡孝夫) as Tsurigane Gonsuke (釣鐘権助) in
Sakurahime Azuma Bunshô (桜姫東文章), Kabuki-za, Tokyo (03/1981).
2. Sawamura Sôjûrô IX (澤村宗十郎) as Miuraya Agemaki (三浦屋揚巻)
in Kurotegumi Kuruwa no Tatehiki (黒手組曲輪達引), Kabuki-za, Tokyo
(07/02/1982).
3. Nakamura Ganjirô II (中村鴈治郎) as Kamiya Jihê (紙屋治兵衛) in
Kawashô, Act I of  Shinjû Ten no Amijima (心中天網島), Kabuki-za,
Tokyo (01/1979).
4. Onoe Tatsunosuke I (尾上辰之助) as Naosuke Gonbê (直助権兵衛)
in Yotsuya Kaidan (四谷怪談), Kabuki-za, Tokyo (06/02/1983).
5. Ichikawa Ebizô X (市川海老蔵) as Akushichibyôe Kagekiyo (
悪七兵衛景情) in Kagekiyo (景清), Kabuki-za, Tokyo (05/02/1984).
6. Onoe Baikô VII (尾上梅幸) as Ôgiya Yûgiri (扇屋夕霧) in
Yoshidaya (吉田屋), Kabuki-za, Tokyo (01/02/1983).
7. Nakamura Shikan VII (中村芝翫) as Kuzu no Ha (葛の葉)/Byakko
(白狐) in Kuzu no Ha (葛の葉), Kabuki-za, Tokyo (06/01/1986).
8. Kawarazaki Gonjurô III (河原崎権十郎) as Sashichi (佐七) in
Omatsuri Sashichi (お祭佐七), Kabuki-za, Tokyo (05/03/1987).
9. Nakamura Tomijûrô V (中村富十郎) as Kô no Moronô (高師直) in
Kanadehon Chûshingura (仮名手本忠臣蔵), Kabuki-za, Tokyo
(02/01/1986).
10. Nakamura Kichiemon II (中村吉右衛門) as Keyamura Rokusuke
(毛谷村六助) in Keya-mura (毛谷村), Act IX of Hikosan Gongen Chikai
no Sukedachi (彦山権現誓助剣; 彦山権現誓助剱), Kabuki-za, Tokyo
(01/02/1997).
11. Nakamura Jakuemon IV (中村雀右衛門) as Sakuraya Koman
(桜屋小万) in Godairiki Koi no Fujime (五大力恋緘), Kabuki-za, Tokyo
(09/01/1989).
12. Ichikawa Danshirô IV ( 市川段四郎) as Yasha Gorô (夜叉五郎) in
Jiraiya (児雷也), Shinbashi Enbujô, Tokyo (11/01/1992).
 
 
 
 

                 
1998 Holiday Card with portraits of
Kataoka Takao I (片岡孝夫)

Print Date: c. 01/01/98
Artist: Tsuruya Kokei (弦屋光溪)
Image courtesy of Tsuruya-koukei.com
 
Note: The holiday card uses reduced,
simplified images of Kataoka Takao
(left to right starting at the top row)
from the following prints:
 
Hanakawado Sukeroku (花川戸助六)
in Sukeroku (助六), Kabuki-za, Tokyo
(03/02/83);
Fujiya Izaemon (藤屋伊左衛門) in
Yoshidaya (吉田屋), Kabuki-za, Tokyo
(03/02/96);
Tobizu Matsukichi (鳶頭松吉) in
Omatsuri (お祭り), Kabuki-za, Tokyo
(01/02/94);
Tamiya lemon (民谷伊右衛門) in
Yotsuya Kaidan (四谷怪談), Kabuki-za,
Tokyo (06/02/83);
Tsurigane Gonsuke (釣鐘権助) in
Sakurahime Azuma Bunshô (桜姫東文章),
Kabuki-za, Tokyo (03/81);
Teraoka Heiemon (寺岡平右衛門) in
Gion Ichiriki Jaya (祇園一力茶屋), Act VII
of Kanadehon Chûshingura (仮名手本忠臣蔵;
假名手本忠臣蔵), Kabuki-za, Tokyo (03/02/88).