一谷嫩軍記 (いちのたにふたばぐんき) Ichinotani Futaba Gunki, 熊谷陣屋 Kumagai Jinya at 1903 (明治 36) – theatre unknown

豊齋画 Hōsai　堤吉兵衛版 Tsutsumi Yoshi Hyōei Edition

市村家橘（源義経）　尾上梅幸（女房相模）　中村芝翫（熊谷直美）　市川左団次（弥陀六実ハ宗清）380x260x3

Picture signature without seal (left panel) Kōchōrō Hōsai Hitsu 1848-1920 (豊齋画) aka Baidō. He took the name Kōchōrō Kunisada III in 1889, also known as Kunimasa IV, Kochoro, and Toyokuni IV/V. Between 1890 - 1900, he often signed simply as "Kochoro".

There is no record of this performance at the Kadoza in 1903. The performance in the picture should have taken place in the four months between March (after Onoe Eizaburō V took the name Onoe Baikō VI) and October 1903 (before Ichimura Kakitsu VI took the name Ichimura Uzaemon XV). If it was due to take place in August 1903 when Ichimura Kakitsu VI played (as Yosaburō) alongside Nakamura Shikan V (as Otomi) in Yowa Nasaka Ukina no Yokogushi at the Kadoza it may have been cancelled as a conseuqnce of the huge row that blew up over Kakitsu’s shumei (name change). Baikō, Kakitsu and Shikan were all definitely in Ōsaka where they were summoned to see Shikan to discuss the issue. Afterwards Baikō joined up with the troupe managed by Yaozō and went on a regional tour. On about the 8th August Shikan,

Matsusuke, Kakitsu and others were due to appear on stage in performances at Ōsaka’s Kadoza. Whether or not Shikan was prepared to appear Kakitsu’s dignity remained intact and he responded by saying, ‘You, brother, seppuku seppuku’. Shikan was incensed and he and his troupe left the theatre. Isolated over the matter he gave up his actor’s permit giving as his reason ‘cessation of business’ and held local practice events at his home. Although resigned to the situation he left Ōsaka and though he had become exceedingly angry his surprise departure was seen as malign revenge over the issue. Furious at Shikan’s troupe Kakitsu simply returned to Tōkyō. Due to a bout of ill health Shikan’s anger about what Kakitsu had said faded.

From left to right…

Ichikawa Sadanji I (初代市川左団次 ) as the stone cutter Midaroku who is really Taira-no Munekiyo in disguise ( 弥 陀 六 実 ハ 宗 清 ） Sadanji was 61 years old at the time of this performance. He passed away the following year on the 7 August 1904

Nakamura Shikan V (五代目中村芝翫) as Kumagai Jirō （熊谷直美）Nakamura Utaemon V held the name Nakamura Shikan V from May 1901 to October 1911 with the notice board given to the character by Benkei with which the character performs the ‘seisatsu no mie’, sign

Signature with seal used by the artist after 1900

board pose indicating that he has killed his son Kojiro instead of Atsumori. The signboard reads 'One severed branch, one severed finger'. It means that if anyone breaks a branch of the flower tree, he will be punished by having a finger cut off but which has other meanings; 指 is finger, and 子 is child, also 死 death, all pronounced 'shi', meaning that anyone who would kill Atsumori must kill his own son instead

Onoe Baikō VI (六代目尾上梅幸) as Sagami （女房相模）, Kumagai’s lover and maid to one of the Emperor’s ladies in waiting. This performance post dates the March 1903 shumei when Onoe Eizaburō V (尾上英三郎) took the name Onoe Baikō VI which is shown in the picture above Sagami’s head

Ichimura Kakitsu VI (六代目市村家橘 later Ichimura Uzaemon XV, 十五代目市村羽左衛門) as Minamotono Yoshitsune （源義経）The performance in the picture pre dates October 1903 when Ichimura Kakitsu VI took the name of Ichimura Uzaemon XV at the Kabukiza

NotesThere is no recording in Kabuki Nenpyō and Kokuritsu Gekijō Jōen Shiryōshū of the staging of "Kumagai Jinya" at the Kadoza in 1903. Kakitsu, Shikan and Baikô were there in Summer 1903 but not Sadanji. Sadanji was 61 years old at the time of this performance. He passed away the following year on the 7 August 1904.

Ichikawa Sadanji I (初代市川左団次) played at the Meijiza 明治 in April 1903 明治 36 年 4 月in 天保山眺望大塩 Tempozan chōbō Ooshio. The View of Ooshio from Tempozan (Osaka)

Onoe Baikō VI (六代目尾上梅幸) played at the Kabukiza 歌舞伎 in November 1903 明治 36 年11 月 in 壷 坂 霊 験 記 Tsubosaka reigen ki - Account of Miraculous happenings at Tsubosaka, a jōruri play aka Osato Sawaichi

Ichikawa Sadanji I (初代市川左団次)Death print 死絵 shi ni e 版画 by 無款 Unsigned 1904

明治 36 月 11Nov 1903 at the Kabukiza 歌舞伎 , 壷坂霊験記 Tsubosaka Miraculous Story. Left to right - 尾上菊五郎 Onoe Kikugorō V as 観世音化身Kannon, Goddess of Mercy, 尾上梅幸 Onoe Baikō VI as 女房お 里 wife Osato, and 片岡我当 Kataoka Gatō as 沢市 Sawaichi. Print by 豊斎 Hōsai

Ichimura Kakitsu VI (六代目市村家橘) played at the Kabukiza 歌舞伎 in January 1903 明治 36 年 1 月 in 天一坊大岡政談 てんいちぼうおおおかせいだん Ten'ichibō Ōoka seidan -Magistrate Ōoka and the case of Ten'ichibō by Kawatake Mokuami

Picture postcard of the Kadoza

角座 Kadoza (formerly Kadono Shibai)

Perhaps the performance of Kumagai Jin'ya which may have intended to include Sadanji did not go ahead due to his possible illness this may be a later reprint made as an accolade to Sadanji? In any case Baidō’s seal was never applied perhaps indicating that with Sadanji’s death this yakusha e was never authorised for release

Photographic images published before December 31st 1956, or photographed before 1946 and not published for 10 years thereafter, under jurisdiction of the Government of Japan, are considered to be public domain according to

article 23 of old copyright law of Japan and article 2 of supplemental provision of copyright law of Japan

1st section – upper right hand 1st two lines down明治 36 年(1903) no beginning and end date given

no beginning and end day date given

Address (of the publisher?)日本 満区 Nihonmichi ku 吉川 町 Yoshikawa-cho

叀作印刷 sen saku ken insatsu (wholly a work printed item)

再発行者 saihatsu gyōja (recurring tribute)

堤吉兵衛 Tsutsumi Yoshi Hyōei

印刷 insatsu (printing)発行 hakkō (issue)

五 Go (5 )? indecipherableチ Sen (thousand)