Joruri Collection

The Actor Arashi Sangoro II as Minamoto no Yoritomo in a dance interlude in scene two... c. 1770. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Arashi Sangoro II as Minamoto no Yoritomo in a dance interlude in scene two of the Joruri "Courtesan's Rouge on a Snow White Face (Oyama Beni Yuki no Sugao)

The actors Ichikawa Danjuro V as a skeleton, spirit of the renegade monk Seigen (left), an... 1783. Creator: Shunsho
The actors Ichikawa Danjuro V as a skeleton, spirit of the renegade monk Seigen (left), and Iwai Hanshiro IV as Princess Sakura (right)

The Actor Ichimura Uzaemon IX as Kajiwara Genta no Kagetoki in a dance interlude in sce... c. 1770. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Ichimura Uzaemon IX as Kajiwara Genta no Kagetoki in a dance interlude in scene two of the Joruri "Courtesan's Rouge on a Snow White Face (Oyama Beni Yuki no Sugao)

The Actors Nakamura Nakazo I as Omi no Kotoda (right), and Otani Hiroji III as Bamba no... c. 1774. Creator: Shunsho
The Actors Nakamura Nakazo I as Omi no Kotoda (right), and Otani Hiroji III as Bamba no Chuda (left), in the Joruri "Sono Chidori Yowa no Kamisuki" (The Plovers: Combing Hair at Midnight)

The joruri, Nure tsubame negura no karakasa, from the series Joruri libretti (Joruri... c. 1804/06)
The joruri, Nure tsubame negura no karakasa, from the series Joruri libretti (Joruri-bon) (Nure tsubame negura no karakasa, Osome, Hisamatsu), Japan, c. 1804/06

The Actor Bando Mitsugoro I as Abbot Saimyo-ji Tokiyori, Disguised as a Monk, in the... c. 1773. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Bando Mitsugoro I as Abbot Saimyo-ji Tokiyori, Disguised as a Monk, in the Joruri "Onna Hachi no Ki" (A Female Version of "The Potted Trees")

The Actor Iwai Hanshiro IV in the "Sangai-gasa" (Triple-Umbrella) Dance Interlude of... c. 1771
The Actor Iwai Hanshiro IV in the "Sangai-gasa" (Triple-Umbrella) Dance Interlude of the Joruri "Yukashii wa Miyako no Naredoko"

The Actors Ichikawa Monnosuke II as Miyukinosuke, Segawa Kikunojo III as Hatsune-hime, and... 1785
The Actors Ichikawa Monnosuke II as Miyukinosuke, Segawa Kikunojo III as Hatsune-hime, and Ichikawa Danjuro V as Ninnaji no Saibei, in the joruri "Shitenno Oe no Yamairi

The Actor Ichimura Uzaemon IX as shirabyoshi dancer Makomo no Mae in the joruri "Iru ni Ma... 1767
The Actor Ichimura Uzaemon IX as shirabyoshi dancer Makomo no Mae in the joruri " Iru ni Makase Yumiharizuki, " performed at the Ichimura Theater in the eleventh month, 1767, Japan, 1767

The Actors Segawa Kikunojo III as the ghost of Yatsuhashi, Sawamura Sojuro III as Soga no... 1783
The Actors Segawa Kikunojo III as the ghost of Yatsuhashi, Sawamura Sojuro III as Soga no Juro, and Ichikawa Danjuro V as the ghost of Seigen, in the play "Sono Omokage Matsu ni Sakura

The Actors Ichikawa Yaozo III as Shiragiku, Ichikawa Danjuro V as the puppeteer Dekurokube... 1785
The Actors Ichikawa Yaozo III as Shiragiku, Ichikawa Danjuro V as the puppeteer Dekurokubei, and Sawamura Sojuro III as Soga no Juro, in the joruri "Shinobukoi Yanagi no Katsura Otoko

The Actors Sawamura Sojuro III as Soga no Juro, Osagawa Tsuneyo II as Oiso no Tora, Azuma... 1784
The Actors Sawamura Sojuro III as Soga no Juro, Osagawa Tsuneyo II as Oiso no Tora, Azuma Tozo III as Miura Katagai, and Otani Tokuji I as Danzaburo, in the joruri "Chidorigake Koi no Tamaboko

The Actors Nakamura Riko I as Tanbaya Otsuma and Ichikawa Yaozo III as Furuteya Hachirobei... 1785
The Actors Nakamura Riko I as Tanbaya Otsuma and Ichikawa Yaozo III as Furuteya Hachirobei, in the joruri " Sakamachi Yoi no Yotsutsuji

Courting Komachi (Kayoi Komachi), from the series Famous Scenes from Japanese Puppet... 1705 / 06
Courting Komachi (Kayoi Komachi), from the series Famous Scenes from Japanese Puppet Plays (Yamato irotake), Edo period (1615-1868), 1705/06

The Dressing Room of a Puppet Theater, the table of contents from the series "Famous... c. 1705 / 06
The Dressing Room of a Puppet Theater, the table of contents from the series " Famous Scenes from Japanese Puppet Plays (Yamato irotake)", c. 1705/06

The Actors Sanogawa Ichimatsu I as Senjiro disguised as Kichisaburo and Nakamura Tomijuro... 1742
The Actors Sanogawa Ichimatsu I as Senjiro disguised as Kichisaburo and Nakamura Tomijuro I as Oshichi in the joruri " Midaregami Yoru no Amigasa

The Demon Shutendoji of Mount Oe (Oeyama Shutendoji), from the series "Famous... c. 1705 / 06
The Demon Shutendoji of Mount Oe (Oeyama Shutendoji), from the series " Famous Scenes from Japanese Puppet Plays (Yamato irotake)", c. 1705/06

Narihira: The Mirror Scene (Narihira kagami no dan), from the series "Famous Scenes... c. 1705 / 06
Narihira: The Mirror Scene (Narihira kagami no dan), from the series " Famous Scenes from Japanaese Puppet Plays (Yamato irotake)", c. 1705/06

The Actor Onoe Matsusuke I as a Mendicant Monk in the Joruri "Midarezaki Hana no
The Actor Onoe Matsusuke I as a Mendicant Monk in the Joruri " Midarezaki Hana no Irogoromo" (Colorful Cloth Profusely Flowered)

The Actor Ichikawa Danjuro V as Sukeroku in the Joruri "Sukeroku Kuruwa no Natori... c. 1782
The Actor Ichikawa Danjuro V as Sukeroku in the Joruri "Sukeroku Kuruwa no Natori-gusa" (Sukeroku: Peony of the Pleasure Quarters)

The Actors Iwai Hanshiro IV (right), Ichikawa Monnosuke II (center), and Sakata... c. 1786. Creator: Katsukawa Shunko
The Actors Iwai Hanshiro IV (right), Ichikawa Monnosuke II (center), and Sakata Hangoro III (left), Possibly as Manazuru the Wife of Tametomo, Hojo Saburo Munetoki, and Kawanaya Tashiro

Bust Portrait of the Actor Onoe Matsusuke I, Perhaps as Yodohachi the Cowherd in the Joruri " Shitenno Oeyama Iri" (The Four Great Retainers of Yorimitsu Go to Mt)

Igagoe dAcchA sugoroku, The Joruri and Kabuki play, Igagoe dAcchA Sugoroku. Katsukawa, Shuntei, 1770-1820, artist, [between 1811 and 1815], 1 print (3 sheets) : woodcut

Arashi hinaji no jAcrurigozen, The actor Arashi Hinaji in the role of JAcruri Gozen. Torii, Kiyotsune, artist, [between 1764 and 1772], 1 print : woodcut, color; 29.2 x 13.7 cm

Tomimoto bushi, Tomimoto School of Joruri. Torii, Kiyonaga, 1752-1815, artist, [1784 or 1785], 1 print : woodcut, color; 31.2 x 21.3 cm

The Joruri characters, Oume and Kumenosuke. Print shows actors in the traditional puppet theater portraying the tragic roles of Oume and Kumenosuke. Date between 1799 and 1801

The Joruri and Kabuki play, Igagoe dochUSugoroku The Joruri
The Joruri and Kabuki play, Igagoe dochUSugoroku. Print shows a fight scene from the play Igagoe DochUSugoroku, with Watanabe Shizuma and Araki Mataemon fighting with Kawai Matagoro

The actor Arashi Hinaji in the role of Joruri Gozen. Print shows actor Arashi Hinaji in an onnagata role as the princess Joruri Gozen, standing on a veranda, holding a lantern

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"Joruri: A Glimpse into the World of Traditional Japanese Theater" Step back in time and immerse yourself in the captivating world of joruri, a form of traditional Japanese theater that has enthralled audiences for centuries. This art form combines elements of puppetry, music, dance, and storytelling to create a mesmerizing experience like no other. In one scene, we witness the incredible talent of actors Ichikawa Monnosuke II as Miyukinosuke and Segawa Kikunojo III as Hatsune-hime. Their performances transport us to 1785, where Torii Kiyonaga's masterful creation comes alive before our eyes. Another striking image features actor Ichimura Uzaemon IX as shirabyoshi dancer Makomo no Mae in the joruri "Iru ni Ma, " beautifully captured by Kitao Shigemasa in 1767. The delicate movements and graceful gestures evoke a sense of elegance and poise. Torii Kiyonaga once again showcases his artistic prowess with an enchanting depiction of actors Segawa Kikunojo III as the ghost of Yatsuhashi and Sawamura Sojuro III as Soga no. . in 1783. The haunting atmosphere created by their performances is truly spine-chilling. The collaboration between Torii Kiyonaga and actors Ichikawa Yaozo III as Shiragiku and Ichikawa Danjuro V as Dekurokube takes center stage in another exquisite piece from 1785. Their dynamic energy brings life to every corner of the stage. Witnessing Sawamura Sojuro III's portrayal of Soga no Juro alongside Osagawa Tsuneyo II's Oiso no Tora is nothing short of breathtaking. Azuma captures this powerful moment on canvas in 1784 under Torii Kiyonaga's watchful eye.