Utagawa Kuniyoshi
(1797 – 1861)

Honchô Suikoden gôyû happyaku-nin no hitori
本朝水滸伝剛勇八百人一個
Eight Hundred Heroes of Our Country’s Suikoden, One by One

Ôanamuchi-no-mikoto killing the monstrous eagle that had been attacking passing ships.

Publisher: Kaga-ya Kichiyemon
Date: c. 1830 (whole series between c.1830-36)
Lit: B.W. Robinson "Warrior Prints", S4a.10
B. W. Robinson, Kuniyoshi (Victoria and Albert, London, 1961), pl.10

An ehon with so-called kappa-zuri stencil prints. The technique of kappa-zuri was used as a cheap alternative to expensive multi-colour woodblock prints.
The paper stencils were laid over the printed black outlines and painted with colours.
This technique was usual until the 1840's.

I can't tell anything about this ehon, the title page and the last page are lost, so there is neither a signature nor a date to be found.

Funny if you look around in modern western capitals and see thousands of wall-paintings done with that technique, like those of the famous british artist banksy.
Below an example I have made for a friend's booth at some fair.

Kunihiro
(Active c.1813-1831)

Signatures: Kunihiro ga
Actor / role: Arashi Koroku IV as Koshimoto Saeda (Lady's maid Saeda)
Play / performance: Koi no Michinoku Onna Tozoku, 7/1823 at Kado Theater
Publisher: Tenki
Lit.: Ikeda Bunko, Vol.II, no.30

Hirosada
(active 1820 - 1860)

Igagoe buyuden
Tale of Bravery at Iga Pass

subtitle:
Keisei homare no sukedachi
The Courtesan and the Proud Second in Battle

Performed at Naka Theater 1/1850 (Kaei 3)
Standad printing; the deluxe edition was published by Kyoisa.

a. Nakamura Utaemon IV as Karaki Masaemon (r.) on a veranda listening to ? as Rokuhachi.

b. Two swordsmen with blunt swords are locked in combat, and a third has taken a tumble, under the watchful eyes of Nakamura Utaemon IV as Karaki Masaemon (l.) and Mimasu Daigorô IV as Honda Naiki (r.).

Two episodes from a popular story of revenge. The brother of a murdered samurai tracked the killer over all Japan with the aid of Karaki Masaemon and finally confronted him at Iga Pass. The drama, first performed in 1777, was based on a historical incident of 1634.

A detailed summary of the legend Igagoe Dôchû Sugoroku that was the blueprint for this play you can find here.
A short summary of the story in Roger S. Keyes, Hirosada Osaka Printmaker, p. 103.
Hirosada designed at least ten diptychs, a triptych and three singlesheet prints to illustrate different scenes from this performance.

Lit.: Roger S. Keyes, Hirosada Osaka Printmaker, Long Beach, 1984, p. 103
Kitagawa, "Bosuton bijutsukan shozô Kamigata-e mokuroku" (Kansai daigaku, 2007), p. 105; Ikeda bunko, Kamigata yakusha-e shûsei, vol. 4 (2003), #237
Dean J. Schwaab "Osaka Prints", London 1989, fig.218

The first print as deluxe edition:

Sadahiro
(active after 1850)

mameban (approx. 8 x 11 cm) after a diptych by Hirosada showing the actor Nakamura Tomosa II as the boatman Yojibei.
The copied original by Hirosada with Nakamura Utaemon IV as Katô Masakiyo (r.) and Nakamura Tomosa II (l.) in the kabuki play Keisei Kiyome no Funauta, performed 1/1851



Additional picture and info from commons.wikimedia.org

Sadahiro
(active after 1850)

Genkobei is about to kill Kikuno. He suspected her of having an affair with Sangobei, but after killing her he discovered it was untrue.

mameban triptych (each sheet approx 8 x 11 cm) from the play Godairiki Koi no Fujime by the author Namiki Gohei I after a chuban triptych by Hirosda.

Actors / roles (r.t.l.): Nakamura Utaemon IV as Gengobei, Mimasu Daigorô IV as Sangobei and Nakayama Nanshi II as Kikuno
Play performed: 8/1851 (Kaei 4)
First staged May 1794 in Kyôto at the Nishi no Shibai Theater.

Lit.: Kitagawa, "Bosuton bijutsukan shozô Kamigata-e mokuroku" (Kansai daigaku, 2007), p. 105; Ikeda bunko, Kamigata yakusha-e shûsei, vol. 4 (2003), #387
Lubor Hajek "Hirosada", Artia, Prague 1959, p.89 & pic.33

Hirosada's version from Hajek's book:



An earlier oban sized version by Shigeharu with Nakamura Utaemon III as Katsuma Genkobei and Sawamura Kunitaro II in the role of Kikuno, published 7/1826 by Honsei (Hon-ya Seishichi) found at auctionukiyoe.com .

Sadahiro
(active after 1850)

Jitsukawa Enzaburô I in different roles.

Publisher: Kinkadō
mameban, each approx. 8 x 11 cm

Sadahiro

Nakayama Nanshi II in different roles.

eiban, each approx. 8 x 11 cm

Hirosada
(active 1820 - 1860)

Nakamura Utaemon IV as Danshichi Mohei and Nakayama Nanshi II as Tomi

Play: Yadonashi Danshichi shigure no karakasa (Homeless Danshichi: An Umbrella in the Rain) performed at the Naka Theater 5/1851

Signature and seal: Hirosada / Konishi Gocho
Publisher: Kinkado
Foramt: chuban
Lit.: Roger S. Keyes, Hirosada Osaka Pritmaker, Long Beach, 1984, p. 117 plate 49


Sadahiro

mameban deluxe triptych after a chuban triptych by Hirosada.
each approx. 8 x 11 cm, cut from one sheet and glued together in an album.

Actors / roles (from right to left): Mimasu Daigoro IV as the playwriter Namiki Shozo, Nakamura Utaemon IV as Danshichi Mohei, Nakamura Nanshi II (= Nakayama Nanshi II) as Tomi.
Play: Yadonashi Danshichi shigure no karakasa (Homeless Danshichi: An Umbrella in the Rain) performed at the Naka Theater 5/1851
Lit.: Lubor Hajek "Hirosada", Artia, Prague 1959, p.91 pic.33, Roger S. Keyes, Hirosada Osaka Pritmaker, Long Beach, 1984, p. 117


Hirosada's version from 1851 (morra-japaneseart.com):




From Hajek's book:

Hirosada
(active 1820 - 1860)

Actors / roles (left to right): Jitsukawa Enzaburô I as Nagoya Sanza, Nakamura Utaemon IV as Fuwa Banzaemon and Mimasu Daigorô IV as Sasaki Kurando
Play: Act 4 of Inazuma Sôshi / Satomoyô Kabuki no Inazuma performed 9/1850 (Kaei 3) at the Naka Theater
Publisher: Kawaoto
Dimension: vertical chuban triptych
Lit.: Kitagawa, "Bosuton bijutsukan shozô Kamigata-e mokuroku" (Kansai daigaku, 2007), p. 106; Ikeda bunko, Kamigata yakusha-e shûsei, vol. 4 (2003), #313

Sadayoshi
Active circa 1837-1853

Actor / role: Kataoka Ichizo I as Akechi Mitsuhide
Role name used in the play: Takechi Mitsuhide
Because of strict censorship the names of the main characters had to be changed.

Play: Badarai no Mitsuhide / Toki-ha Ima Kikyô no Hataage performed 1/1841 Wakadayu Theater
Author of the play: Tsuruya Namboku IV

Publisher: Tenki
Dimension: oban tate-e
Date: 1841
ref. Sadamasu: Ikeda Bunka II,no 132

Hirosada
(active 1820 - 1860)

Signature: Hirosada
Publisher: Konishi
Date: c.1850
Actors / roles: l. Jitsukawa Enzaburo I as Sakumaru, r. Kataoka Gado II as Umeomaru
Play: Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami
Titel: Chuko-den / A Tale of Loyalty and Filial Piety
Dimension: chuban triptyych, far right sheet missing
Ikeda Bunko IV, no. 227
You can find a summary of the play here:
http://www.kabuki21.com/sdtk.php

The complete triptych. Thanks to G.J. for the better picture.





Signature: Hirosada
Publisher: Kinkodo
Date: c.1850
Actor: Jitsukawa Enzaburo I as Inanoya Hambe
Play: Sakura Butai Omi Hakkai performed at Naka Theatre 3/1849
Titel: untitled Kabuki print
Dimension: chuban
Ikeda Bunko IV, no. 163

Konobu I / Sadanobu II
Son of Sadanobu I, active late 19th's century

Soga Monogatari / The Soga Brothers

Five eiban prints from a series of twelve.

Prints: 7 / 8 / 9 / missing / 11 / 12
eiban, each approx w 11 x h 8 cm

"The Soga Monogatari, or Tale of Soga, is a warrior tale based on the story of Kudo Saemon Suketsune who, on order to get the inheritance of his uncle Ito Sukechika, had his cousin Kozu Saburo Sukemichi murdered in 1175. Eighteen years later, on the 18th day of the Fifth month of 1193, Sukemichi's two sons, Juro Sukenari (1172-93) and Goro Tokimune (1174-93), killed Suketsune during a hunting party on Mt. Fuji. Juro was killed in the ambush but Goro was captured. Although Shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147-99), applauding the brothers' bravery and loyalty, wanted to pardon Goro, Suketsune's son demanded and got his execution.

The tale focus on the conflict between the shogunal authority and the brothers loyalty to their father, highlighting the clash between the brothers' heroic vendetta and the feudal system which condemns them. The story was extremely popular in the Edo era and it was adapted for Nô, Bunraku and Kabuki, where several hundreds plays based on the Soga world were written and performed in Edo for centuries. It is still a custom in Kabuki to perform at least one sogamono every New Year."

source: http://www.man-pai.com/Notas/soga_monagatari_e.htm

Hirosada
(active 1820 - 1860)

Signature: Hirosada
Publisher: Kawaoto
Date: 1853
Actor: Mimasu Daigoro IV as Kanki
Play: Kokusenya Kassen
Dimension: chuban
Waseda VI, no. 317

from this triptych:



left sheet, found on the net:




* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *





Signature: Hirosada
Publisher: Kawaoto
Date: 1849
Actor: Nakamura Gizaemon I as Tarakubo
Play: Keisei Hanabusazoshi performed at the Chikugo (Onishi) Theater in 01/1849
Titel: Chuko Buyuden / Bravery and Filial Devotion
Dimension: chuban
Right panel of a polyptych.
Roger S. Keyes / Keiko Mizushima "The Theatrical World of Osaka Prints", p.213, no. 59

Utagawa Kunikazu
(active c.1850-60)

Dai Nihon Rokuju Yo shu
60-Odd Provinces of Japan


a.) The Province of Shimotsuke
right: Bandô Hikosaburô V as Hisamatsu, left: Bandô Kamezô I as Kimon Kihei



b.) The Province of Totomi
right: Kataoka Ichizô I as Kuwanayo Tokuzo, left: Nakayama Nanshi II as the courtesan Keisei Higaki



c.) The Province of Oki
right: Nakamura Nakasuke II as Rokuzo, left: Nakamura Kanjaku II as Ofune


d.) The Province of Tamba
right: Bando Hikosaburô V as Lord Asanobuko, left: Kataoka Ichizô I as Sadamitsu
Right panel of the triptych below.


right: Bando Hikosaburô V as Lord Asanobu and Kataoka Ichizô I as Sadamitsu
centre: Arashi Rikan III as Watanabe Tsuna and Arashi Kichisaburô III as kid Maru
left: Onoe Tamizô II as Kintoki and Nakamura Shikan IV as Suetake


Signature: Kunikazu
Publisher: Ishikawaya Wasuke (Ishiwa)
Dated : c.1861
chuban yoko-e, 24,4 x 18,4 cm
Ikeda Bunko IV

Utagawa Kunikazu
(active c.1850-60)

Dai Nihon Rokuju Yo shu
60-Odd Provinces of Japan


a.) The Province of Dewa
right: Ichikawa Ebizô V as Benkei, left: Asao Daikichi I as Yoshitsune



b.) The Province of Iyo.
right. Arashi Kichisaburô III as Benkei, left: Onoe Kikujirô II as Owasa



c.) The Province of Iga
The Samurai Masaemon is blocking the spear of Honda Naiki with one arm.
right: Nakamura Komanosuke V as Honda Naiki, left: Arashi Kichisaburô III as Masaemon
Scene from the legend Igagoe Dôchû Sugoroku.


d.) The Province of Buzen
right: Arashi Kishisaburo III Sasahara Samonnosuke, left: Jitsukawa Enzaburo I as Sasahara Hayato, Play: Koi Momiji Ogura no Shikishi


Signature: Kunikazu
Publisher: Ishikawaya Wasuke (Ishiwa)
Dated : c. 1861
chuban yoko-e, 24,4 x 18,4 cm
Ikeda Bunko IV

Yoshitaki
(1841-99)

Actors: right, Arashi Kishisaburo III as Oda Harunaga, left: Onoe Tamizô II as ?
Play: Hana Makuhisago no Kaharake performed at the Naka Theatre 03/1863
Signature: Yoshitaki ga
Date: 1863

Arashi Rikan II as Yakko Tsumakei


Two prints by different artists showing the same scene from the kabuki play

Shin Usuyuki Monogatari

performed 1/1829 at the Naka Theatre.


1.) Ashiyuki
(active c.1813-1831)

Signature: Gigado Ashi-yu-ki ga
Publisher: Shohonya Seishichi (Honsei)
oban tate-e
Lit.: Kitagawa, "Bosuton bijutsukan shozo Kamigata-e mokuroku", 2007, p.97

A better, full size version from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston showing the publisher's seal.





2.)
Shigeharu
(1803-1853)

Signature: Ryusai Shigeharu ga
Publisher: Tenki
right sheet of an oban tate-e diptych.


The left sheet shows Bando Intaro as Koshimoto Magaki.

The complete scene is described in "The Kabuki Handbook",1956, by Halford p. 288.

Shunkyô
(Active circa 1813-14)

Arashi Kichisaburo II as Miyagi Asojiro

Play: Keisei Tsukushi no Tsumakoto
Performed: 1/1814
Signature: Shunkyo ga with a seal showing a tortoise
Publisher: Shiocho
Date: 1814

Lower part of a vertical oban diptychon. The upper part shows Sawamura Tanosuke II as Musume (=girl) Miyuki.

All informations about this print from:
"Helden Schurken Kurtisanen" by Hendrick Lühl p.17 no.19

Shigenobu
(1787-1832)

Osaka Shinmachi Nerimono
Costumes of the Shinmachi District of Osaka

Signature: Toto (from the eastern capital=Edo) Yanagawa Shigenobu.
Seal: Yanagawa
Date: 1822
oban tate-e

Kiyonaga
(1752-1815)

Title: Hinagata Wakana no Hatsu-moyo / New designs fresh as spring leaves
or Women in New-Year Fashion Dresses
Oiran: Segawa
House: Matsuba-ya / House of the Pinetree
Kamuro: r. Sasano, l. Takeno
Publisher: Nishimura Eijudo
Date: ca. 1780's

Lit.: Tokio National Museum Catalogue Vol.II, No. 1436
Other images from this series: Ukiyo-e Taisei Vol.III, No. 73
and Ukiyo-e Taikei Vol.IV, No. 116
Julia Meech, Jane Oliver "Designed for Pleasure: The World of Edo Japan in Prints and Paintings, 1680-1860", Asia Society and Japanese Arts Society of America, 2008, p.119 fig. 83

A re-carved edition from the 20th centurry showing how the colors may have looked like found at ARTELINO.