Japanese woodprints

Mukashi-banashi Homare Soga昔噺誉曽我 played at the Nakamura in 1864-4

Iwai Shijaku II as Kamegane/Kamekin no Oshio
岩井紫若亀金のおしほ Kawarazaki Gonjuro as Banzaemon no Goro
河原崎権十郎伴左門 Bando Hikosaburo V as Juro Sanza
坂東彦三郎十郎山三

Signed : Kunichika ga (with toshidama seal) Kunichika ga (with toshidama seal)

Publisher : Ota-ya Takichi Ota-ya Takichi

Censor : aratame aratame

Carver : 彫多七 Hori Tashichi (Ôta Komakichi)

Date : rat 4 (1864 april) rat 4 (1864 april)

The leftmost and rightmost actors play the roles of Soga Goro Tokimune and Soga Juro Sukenari respectively. Several actors in the middle panel are not identified. The placement of the cartouches on the panels is somewhat confusing : the leftmost and middle cartouche should be inverted.

Soga Goro Tokimune (曽我五郎時宗) is played by an Aragoto actor wearing the type of Kumadori makeup called "Mukimi." In contrast, the elder brother Soga Juro Sukenari (曽我十郎祐成) is played by a Wagoto actor with soft carriage of body and speech. Other possible roles are those of Oiso no Tora (Goro's love), Kudo Saemon Suketsune (工藤左衛門祐経), Kobayashi Asahina, Ishikawa Goemon (石川五右衛門), Ashikaga yoshimitsu (足利義光) Kinoshita Tokichi (木下当吉), Ayano (あやの).

Another triptych of the same play with the same actors playing the same role
(from Waseda University Theatre Museum, IDs 403-0129, 403-0130, 403-0131)


Mukashi-banashi Homare Soga昔噺誉曽我 played at the Nakamura in 1864-4
Iwai Shijaku II as Kamegane/Kamekin no Oshio 岩井紫若亀金のおしほ	Kawarazaki Gonjuro as Banzaemon no Goro 河原崎権十郎伴左門	Bando Hikosaburo V as Juro Sanza 坂東彦三郎十郎山三
Signed : Kunichika ga (with toshidama seal)		Kunichika ga (with toshidama seal)
Publisher : Ota-ya Takichi		Ota-ya Takichi
Censor : aratame		aratame
		Carver : 彫多七 Hori Tashichi (Ôta Komakichi)
Date : rat 4 (1864 april)		rat 4 (1864 april)