Onnagata Collection (#9)

The Actor Onoe Matsusuke I, c. 1763. Creator: Torii Kiyomitsu
The Actor Onoe Matsusuke I, c. 1763

The Actor Segawa Kikunojo II, c. 1771. Creator: Torii Kiyomitsu
The Actor Segawa Kikunojo II, c. 1771

The Actor Segawa Kikunojo II, c. 1770. Creator: Torii Kiyomitsu
The Actor Segawa Kikunojo II, c. 1770

The Actor Segawa Kikunojo II, c. 1758. Creator: Torii Kiyomitsu
The Actor Segawa Kikunojo II, c. 1758

The Actors Ichikawa Komazo I (L) and Nakamura Matsue I (R), c. 1770. Creator: Torii Kiyomitsu
The Actors Ichikawa Komazo I (L) and Nakamura Matsue I (R), c. 1770

The Actor Ichikawa Komazo I in his rice cracker shop, c. 1771. Creator: Torii Kiyomitsu
The Actor Ichikawa Komazo I in his rice cracker shop, c. 1771

The Actor Segawa Kikunojo II as Shizuka Gozen (?), c. 1767. Creator: Torii Kiyonaga
The Actor Segawa Kikunojo II as Shizuka Gozen (?), c. 1767

The Actors Onoe Matsusuke I and Ichikawa Omezo I at a Teahouse, c. 1780/1801. Creator: Katsukawa Shuncho
The Actors Onoe Matsusuke I and Ichikawa Omezo I at a Teahouse, c. 1780/1801

The Actors Nakamura Nakazo I as Matsukaze (right), and Ichikawa Komazo I as... c. 1771
The Actors Nakamura Nakazo I as Matsukaze (right), and Ichikawa Komazo I as Yukihira (left), in the Play Kuni no Hana Ono no Itsumoji, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1771

The Actor Iwai Hanshiro IV as Tonase (?) in the Play Kanadehon Chushingura (?)... c
The Actor Iwai Hanshiro IV as Tonase (?) in the Play Kanadehon Chushingura (?), Performed at the Kiri Theater (?) in the Eighth Month, 1787 (?), c. 1787

Act Ten: The Amakawaya House from the play Chushingura (Treausry of the... early 1790s)
Act Ten: The Amakawaya House from the play Chushingura (Treausry of the Forty-seven Loyal Retainers), early 1790s

Act Nine: Yuranosukes House in Yamashina from the play Chushingura (Treasury)
Act Nine: Yuranosukes House in Yamashina from the play Chushingura (Treasury of the Forty-seven Loyal Retainers), early 1790s

The Actor Arashi Ryuzo II as Hachijo, Wet Nurse of Taira no Kiyomori, in Act Three of the Play Gempei Hashira-goyomi (Pillar Calendar of the Genji and Heike Clans)

The Actor Segawa Kikunojo III as Okaru in the Play Kanadehon Chushingura, Performed at the Morita Theater in the Eighth Month, 1787, c. 1787

The Actor Yamashita Kinsaku II as Okaya in the Play Yomogi Fuku Noki no Tamamizu... c. 1795
The Actor Yamashita Kinsaku II as Okaya in the Play Yomogi Fuku Noki no Tamamizu, Performed at the Kiri Theater in the Fifth Month, 1795, c. 1795

The Actor Segawa Kikunojo III as Osaku in the Play Sayo no Nakayama Hiiki no... c. 1790
The Actor Segawa Kikunojo III as Osaku in the Play Sayo no Nakayama Hiiki no Tsurigane, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1790, c. 1790

The Actor Iwai Hanshiro IV as Yae (?), in the Play Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami (?), Performed at the Kiri Theater (?) in the Seventh Month, 1788 (?), c. 1788

The Actor Yamashita Kinsaku II as the maid Tsumagi in the play "Otokyama O-Edo no... c. 1794
The Actor Yamashita Kinsaku II as the maid Tsumagi in the play "Otokyama O-Edo no Ishizue, " performed at the Kiri Theater in the eleventh month, 1794, c. 1794

The Actor Ichikawa Komazo II as the Spirit of Lady Shiragiku in the Play Hatsu Midori Saiwai Soga, Performed at the Kawarazaki Theater in the Third Month, 1791, c. 1791

The Actor Iwai Hanshiro IV as Yaegushi no Oroku (?) in the Play Keisei Kogane no Hakarime (?), Performed at the Kawarazaki Theater (?) in the Third Month, 1792 (?), c. 1792

The Actor Segawa Kikunojo III as Otoma (?) in the Play Sayo no Nakayama Hiiki no Tsurigane (?), Performed at the Nakamura Theater (?) in the Eleventh Month, 1790 (?), c. 1790

The Actor Osagawa Tsuneyo II as Oiso no Tora in the Play Gohiiki no Hana Aikyo Soga... c
The Actor Osagawa Tsuneyo II as Oiso no Tora in the Play Gohiiki no Hana Aikyo Soga, Performed at the Kawarazaki Theater in the First Month, 1794, c. 1794

Act Ten: Amakawaya House from the play Kanadehon Chushingura, 1807

Act One: Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine from the play Chushingura (Treasury of the Forty)
Act One: Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine from the play Chushingura (Treasury of the Forty-seven Loyal Retainers), c. 1795

Act Three: The Quarrel Scene from the play Chushingura (Treasury of the Forty-seven... c)
Act Three: The Quarrel Scene from the play Chushingura (Treasury of the Forty-seven Loyal Retainers), c. 1795

Act Seven: The Ichiriki Teahouse from the Play Chushingura (Treasury of the Forty-seven)
Act Seven: The Ichiriki Teahouse from the Play Chushingura (Treasury of the Forty-seven Loyal Retainers), c. 1795

Act Eight: The Bridal Journey (Michiyuki) from the play Chushingura (Treasury of)
Act Eight: The Bridal Journey (Michiyuki) from the play Chushingura (Treasury of the Forty-seven Loyal Retainers), late 1780s

The Actor Sawamura Tamagashira as a Strolling Musician in the Play Dai Danna... c. 1790
The Actor Sawamura Tamagashira as a Strolling Musician in the Play Dai Danna Kanjincho, Performed at the Kawarazaki Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1790, c. 1790

The Actor Iwai Hanshiro IV as Okumi of the Mieido Fan Shop (?) in the Play Sanjuk-koku Yobune no Hajimari (?), Performed at the Ichimura Theater (?) in the Fifth Month, 1789 (?), c. 1789

The Actor Sawamura Tamagashira in an Unidentified Role, c. 1790

The Actor Iwai Kiyotaro II as Lady Itohagi (?) in the Play Genji Saiko Kogane... c. 1788
The Actor Iwai Kiyotaro II as Lady Itohagi (?) in the Play Genji Saiko Kogane Tachibana (?), Performed at the Ichimura Theater (?) in the Eleventh Month, 1788 (?), c. 1788

The Actor Ichikawa Komazo III in Three Roles: Nyosan no Miya (The Third Princess)... c
The Actor Ichikawa Komazo III in Three Roles: Nyosan no Miya (The Third Princess), Ukare Zato (A Blind Street Performer), and Sakata no Kaido-maru

The Actor Iwai Kiyotaro as Kewaizaka no Shosho in the Play Gohiiki no Hana Aikyo... c
The Actor Iwai Kiyotaro as Kewaizaka no Shosho in the Play Gohiiki no Hana Aikyo Soga, Performed at the Kawarazaki Theater in the First Month, 1794, c. 1794

The Actor Nakayama Tomisaburo I as Lady Tokiwa (Tokiwa Gozen) (?) in the Play... c. 1791
The Actor Nakayama Tomisaburo I as Lady Tokiwa (Tokiwa Gozen) (?) in the Play Kimmenuki Genke no Kakutsuba (?), Performed at the Ichimura Theater (?) in the Eleventh Month, 1791 (?), c. 1791

The Actor Segawa Kikunojo III as the Dragon Maiden Disguised as Osaku in the Play... c
The Actor Segawa Kikunojo III as the Dragon Maiden Disguised as Osaku in the Play Sayo no Nakayama Hiiki no Tsurigane, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1790, c. 1790

The Actor Segawa Kikunojo III as Kojoro-gitsune (Female Fox) Disguised as Omiki in the Play Komachi-mura Shibai no Shogatsu, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1789, c. 1789

The Actor Iwai Kiyotaro II, c. 1790s. Creator: Katsukawa Shun ei
The Actor Iwai Kiyotaro II, c. 1790s

The Actor Segawa Tomisaburo II in an Unidentified Role, c. 1793

Half-Length Portrait of the Actor Nakayama Tomisaburo as a hirabyoshi Dancer in the... c
Half-Length Portrait of the Actor Nakayama Tomisaburo as a hirabyoshi Dancer in the Dojo-ji Scene in the play Hikeya Hike Hana no Kaneiri, Performed at the Kiri Theater in the Third Month, 1794, c

The Actor Segawa Kikunojo III as the Female Fox-Fairy Otatsu-gitsune Disguised as... c
The Actor Segawa Kikunojo III as the Female Fox-Fairy Otatsu-gitsune Disguised as Shizuka Gozen in the Play Kogane Saku Date no Okida, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1792

The Actor Iwai Hanshiro IV in Street Attire (by Shun ei) Conversing with Two Women... c
The Actor Iwai Hanshiro IV in Street Attire (by Shun ei) Conversing with Two Women (by Shuncho), c. 1788

The Actor Nakamura Noshio II as Tonase, in the Bridal Journey Scene, Act Eight of the Play Kanadehon Chushingura (Model for Kana Calligraphy: Treasury of the Forty-seven Royal Retainers)

The Actor Segawa Kikunojo III as Onatsu in the Play Kabuki no Hana Bandai Soga... c
The Actor Segawa Kikunojo III as Onatsu in the Play Kabuki no Hana Bandai Soga, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Third Month, 1781, c. 1781

The Actor Segawa Kikunojo III as Lady Tomoe (Tomoe Gozen) in the Play Onna Musha... c
The Actor Segawa Kikunojo III as Lady Tomoe (Tomoe Gozen) in the Play Onna Musha Kiku no Sen yoki, Performed at the Morita Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1786, c. 1786

The Actor Nakamura Riko I as Lady Manko (Manko Gozen) (?) in the Play Soga Musume... c
The Actor Nakamura Riko I as Lady Manko (Manko Gozen) (?) in the Play Soga Musume Choja (?), Performed at the Nakamura Theater (?) in the First Month, 1784 (?), c. 1784

The Actor Segawa Kikunojo III as Shinanoya Ohan in the Play Kabuki no Hana Bandai... c
The Actor Segawa Kikunojo III as Shinanoya Ohan in the Play Kabuki no Hana Bandai Soga, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Third Month, 1781, c. 1781

The Actor Yamashita Mangiku I as Kewaizaka no Shosho in the Play Nanakusa Yosooi... c
The Actor Yamashita Mangiku I as Kewaizaka no Shosho in the Play Nanakusa Yosooi Soga, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the First Month, 1782, c. 1782

The Actor Nakamura Riko I as Osen of the Komatsuya House (?) in the Play Nanakusa... c
The Actor Nakamura Riko I as Osen of the Komatsuya House (?) in the Play Nanakusa Yosooi Soga (?), Performed at the Nakamura Theater (?) in the Second Month, 1782 (?), c. 1782

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"Unveiling the Artistry of Onnagata: A Glimpse into the World of Kabuki Theatre" Step back in time to witness the mesmerizing performances of onnagata, male actors who specialized in portraying female roles in traditional Japanese kabuki theatre. This captivating art form comes alive through vibrant woodcut prints from the early 19th century. In one print, we see a group of talented actors gracefully dancing on stage, embodying the essence of four distinct onnagatas. Their elegant movements and exquisite costumes transport us to a world where gender boundaries blur and storytelling takes center stage. Ichikawa Danjuro VII captivates as Konoshita Tokichi, while Nakamura Daikichi embodies his wife with remarkable poise. Iwai Han enchants audiences with her portrayal, leaving them spellbound by her grace and beauty. Another print introduces us to Onoe Matsusuke I as the ghostly wet-nurse Iohata and Matsumoto Kojiro as they bring haunting emotions to life. Utagawa Toyokuni I's masterful artwork captures their ethereal presence, evoking both fear and fascination. Yamatoya Iwai Hanshiro IV shines brightly as Kikusui in "Matsuwa Misao Onna Kusunoki, " showcasing not only his acting prowess but also his ability to captivate hearts with every movement. The play unfolds before our eyes through Utagawa Toyokuni I's intricate details that breathe life into this historical moment. A whimsical scene reveals six actors dreaming about their upcoming roles for spring plays in 1804. Utagawa Toyokuni I's vivid imagination transports us into their mindscape filled with anticipation and excitement for what lies ahead. Hamamuraya presents Segawa Kikunojo III as Shirabyoshi Hisakata—a courtesan whose allure is captured effortlessly by the artist's brushstrokes.