Toyohara Kunichika (豊原国周) (artist 1835 – 1900)

Kawarazaki Sanshō (河原崎三升) tweezing before his mirror - preparing for his role as the otokodate Banzui Chōbei [ばんずい長兵へ]

Print

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Date:11/1871
Dimensions:10 in x 14.5 in (Overall dimensions) Medium:Japanese woodblock print
Inscription:Signed: Toyohara Kunichika hitsu
豊原国周筆
Artist's seal: toshidama (in red)
Publisher: Maruya Heijirō
(Marks 293 - seal 25-126)
Carver: Hori Uta (彫卯多)
Links Tokyo Metropolitan Library
Lyon Collection - Toyokuni III triptych with actor wearing the same outfit
Lyon Collection - early 1822 Kunisada of Koshirō V as Chōbei in the same costume
Lyon Collection - Kuniyoshi mitate print of Koshirō V as Chōbei Description:There are at least 8 prints from this series. This actor is already clothed in the under-robe often worn by Banzui Chōbei. (See the links to other prints in the Lyon Collection showing this outfit.)

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In a later play by Mokuami the National Theater of Japan describes Banzui Chōbei as: "...the boss of the Edo (modern-day Tokyo) Machi Yakko (a group of ruffian townspeople who wore flamboyant clothing) and a kyokaku who fights against the strong for the sake of the weak. He objects to a group of samurai being violent in a playhouse, and is called out by the samurai side, who resent this. Knowing that this is a trap, he says goodbye to his family, and goes to be killed with his head held high. The kyokaku upon whom he is modeled actually lived during the Edo period (1603-1868), and is said to have opposed a group of samurai with well over 100 followers."
Related entities actor prints (yakusha-e - 役者絵) (genre)
Meiji era (明治時代: 1868-1912) (genre)
Kawarazaki Sanshō (河原崎三升) (actor)
Maruya Heijirō (丸屋平次郎) (publisher)

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