Ukiyoe Kabuki Print Japan Japanese

This print was made by Toyohara Kunichiro in 1884. It is a print of a kabuki actor from a play called Meiboku Sendai Hagi.


The actors are Onoe Kikugoro V (June 1864-February 1903) on the left page, who plays Nikki Danjo (仁木弾正), Onoe Kiku (March 1879-August 1911) on the center page, who plays the role of Senmatsu, Ichikawa Danjûrô IX (1803-September 1903) playing Masaoka and Ichikawa playing Tsuruchiyo. On the right-hand page is Ichikawa Sadanji I (October 1842-August 1904) playing Otokonosuke, a loyal guard with an aragoto style (a very rough warrior's physique).


This play is Meiboku Sendai Hagi, written in 1777 by Nagawa Kamesuke I and performed in five acts. It tells the story of a daimyo who is stripped of his status and replaced by his son Tsuruchiyo. There is a plot to eliminate the young boy, but he is protected by his nurse Masaoka and her son Senmatsu. Nikki Danjo is an evil being with supernatural powers whose goal is to eliminate Tsuruchiyo. He tries to poison him, but it is Senmatsu who dies to protect Tsuruchiyo. Tsuruchiyo is then saved by Otokonosuke in the final act against Nikki Danjo's evil deeds.

This print is not a representation of a specific act, but only of the five main actors in this performance. It is badly damaged and protected on the back by a text about plants.








Toyohara Kunichika was a student of Toyohara Chikanobu. He was a great ukiyo-e artist and was well known for his work in artist prints. He was a man of two intersecting eras and died in Tokyo.
The following epitaph is inscribed on his tomb:
“As I am tired of painting portraits of the people of this world, I will paint portraits of the king of hell and demons.