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Object Type
Museum number: 1906,1220,0.179
Title: Object: Morita Kanya VIII as Sadakuro and Yoichibei 八代目森田勘弥の定九郎と与市兵衛
Description: Colour woodblock print, hosoban. The kabuki actor Morita Kanya VIII performing a ‘quick-change’ of role (‘hayagawari’) inside a large bale of rice, from the character of Yoichibei on the right, to Ono Sadakuro on the left, in the play ‘Ichikawa Danzo machiuke banashi’ (市川団蔵待受噺) by Kimura Enji I (初代木村園次); performed at the Morita-za from the 2nd month of 1798 (Kansei 10).
Producer name: Print artist: Katsukawa Shun'ei (勝川春英); Published by: Tsuruya Kiemon 鶴屋喜右衛門
Cultures/periods
Production date: 1798
Production place: Made in: Edo
Materials
Technique: woodblock; colour
$Inscriptions
Curator's comments: Though this scene was clearly based on Act V of ‘Kanadehon Chushingura’, the play itself was a rewriting of the Chushingura story with elements of ‘Kagamiyama kokyo no nishiki-e’ also included. (P. Griffith, 8/2012)
Bibliographic references: Binyon 1916 / A Catalogue of Japanese & Chinese Woodcuts Preserved in the Sub-Department of Oriental Prints and Drawings in the British Museum (21); Ukiyo-e shuka Vol 11 / Ukiyo-e shuka (106)
Location: Not on display
Subjects: kabuki; literature; actor/actress
Associated names: Portrait of: Morita Kan'ya VIII 八代目森田勘弥; Representation of: Ono Sadakuro (斧定九郎); Representation of: Yoichibei; Associated with: Kimura Enji I (初代木村園次)
Associated places: Associated with: Kiri-za
Associated titles: Associated Title: Ichikawa Danzo machiuke banashi (市川団蔵待受噺) ((play)); Associated Title: Kanadehon Chushingura (仮名手本忠臣蔵) ((related play)); Associated Title: Act V The Yamazaki Highway Scene (五段目山崎街道の場) ((related scene))
Acquisition name
Acquisition date: 1906
Department: Asia
Registration number: 1906,1220,0.179

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