Comment - Kabuki scene of the samurai "Minamoto no Tametomo" drawing his sword as he frowns unhappily at the elderly Oniyasha at left. The elder leans forward with a worried expression, holding his hand out in a stopping motion. He has a white beard and mustache, with curly hair at the sides of his head and longer hair pulled back into a thick ponytail. A large Edo kite ("Edo-tako", "江戸凧") can be seen behind him. The lavender Edo kite contains a white kanji character ("Kanji kite", "ji tako", "字凧"). At right, the beauty Sasarako throws her hands out in alarm, looking up with a pleading expression. Two young boys exchange glances, the kneeling child in the center smiling sadly. A large pine tree frames a view of the ocean beyond and a dramatic red sky.

The left panel shows actor Ichikawa Sadanji I (市川左團次) as Oniyasha (鬼夜叉). The central panel shows actor Ichikawa Danjuro (pink cassette, 市川団十郎) as Tametomo (adjoining lavender cassette, 為朝), and in the small blue cassette the young 'Ichikawa' Botan ('市川' ぼたん) as Tomomasa (朝雅). The right panel portrays Nakamura Fukusuke (中村福助) as Sasarako. Nearly the same kabuki scene is to be found at Kunisada-III's 'Women with Kite'.

"Minamoto no Tametomo" (源 為朝, 1139 – 1170) (also known as Chinzei Hachirō Tametomo (鎮西 八郎 為朝) was a samurai who fought in the Hōgen Rebellion of 1156. After the Hōgen Rebellion, Tametomo was banished to the island of Ōshima in the Izu Islands. In Ryūkyū, it has long been believed that he made his way down to Okinawa during his exile, and founded their kingdom by siring the first king of Chūzan, Shunten. Tametomo is known in the epic chronicles as a powerful archer and it is said that he once sunk an entire Taira ship with a single arrow by puncturing its hull below the waterline. It is also added in many legends that his left arm was about 4 in. longer than his right, enabling a longer draw of the arrow, and more powerful shots. After the Hōgen Rebellion, the sinews of his left arm were cut as a punishment, thus the use of his bow was limited. He is quite possibly the first warrior to commit seppuku in the chronicles.


Series ~


Artist - see Biography


Signature - drawn by Yōshū Chikanobu (Yōshū Chikanobu-hitzu, 楊洲周延筆), right panel upper right in pink cassette


Publisher - Itō Gingetsu (伊藤銀月)


Image Size - 70.5 X 35.6cm  (14" x 27 3/4") + margins as shown


Condition - Triptych, three single panels with seems on upper rim; nishiki-e (cloured woodblock); each panel vertical ôban (ôban tate-e); expressive figures and vibrant color, detailed with embossing in the white hair.