Jōruri - Ume Kaoru Iroha Tanka

Yoshitoshi Tsukioka

Unusual diptych. The writing in the blue panel at top-right reads, ‘Jōruri - Ume Kaoru Iroha Tanka’ (浄るり - 梅薫いろは田家). This was the title of a satirical kabuki dance performed at the end of the first play on the program. It was staged at the Ichimura-za Theatre from the 22nd of the 2nd month of 1868. The print itself bears the date seal for the 3rd month, 1868, so it was published after the production had begun.

From the left, we have the actors Ichimura Kakitsu IV as Narihira (業平), Ichikawa Sadanji I as ‘Me no ue no kobu’ (目の上の瘤), Onoe Taganojō II as Onoe (おのゑ), Ichikawa Kodanji II as ‘Monzen no kozō’ (門前の小僧), Sawamura Tanosuke III as Komachi (小町), and Ichimura Takematsu III as ‘Hōshōji Nyūdō’ (法性寺入道).

Date: 1868

Condition - This print with very good color. Backed with Edo era paper, cropped as shown.