Utagawa Toyokuni I (初代歌川豊国) (artist 1769 – 02/24/1825)
Iwai Hanshirō V (岩井半四郎), Iwai Kumesaburō II (岩井粂三郎) and Tokiwazu Komojidayū (常盤津小文字太夫) visiting the Sensōji, a temple at Asakusa - center panel of a triptych
11/1813
10.375 in x 15.375 in (Overall dimensions) Japanese woodblock print
Signed: Toyokuni ga (豊国画)
Publisher: Nishimuraya Yohachi
(Marks 391 - seal 01-008)
Waseda University - center panel only, but they have the entire triptych
Art Gallery of South Australia - full triptych
Hankyu Culture Foundation - the center panel only There must have been two different editions of this triptych. In the copy in the Art Gallery of South Australia in Adelaide, in the upper left corner of the right-hand panel, there appears to be a title cartouche - as yet unreadable - enclosed in a large toshidama motif. However, the copy of this triptych in the collection of Waseda University does not have this cartouche at all.
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Tokiwazu is a form of music used to accompany puppet and kabuki plays. This term also came to identify a whole clan of talented performers. The founder of this group was Tokiwazu Mojodayū I (ca. 1709-81). The name Tokiwazu Komojidayū was the name always held before it was changed to Mojodayū.
Since the musical elements were often an essential part of a theater performance it is not surprising that Toyokuni I would have mixed prominent actors with a prominent musician on a day's outing.
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"...tokiwazu music... is more refined in quality and content and relies rather on the voice than the instruments.
Quoted from: The Kabuki Handbook by Aubrey and Giovanna Halford.
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This is the center panel of a triptych.
Nishimuraya Yohachi (西村屋与八) (publisher)
actor prints (yakusha-e - 役者絵) (genre)
Iwai Hanshirō V (五代目岩井半四郎: 11/1804-11/1832) (actor)
Iwai Kumesaburō II (二代目岩井粂三郎: from 11/1812 to 10/1832) (actor)