Comment - Kabuki scene of a couple watching the samurai 'Kobayshi Asahina' ('小林 朝比奈') flying a kite. Asahina is a one of the main characters of the 'Tale of the Soga Brothers' (Soga Monogatari, 曽我物語). Only the kiteline and the line reel are to be seen. Strongman Asahina looks up with concentration as he lets out the string. A spool lying on the ground beside him. Asahina is instantly recognizable because of his kumadori or "monkey make-up" and black robe patterned with medallions of cranes with outstretched wings and blossoming plum branches. The crane is the traditional crest of Asahina. He also wears dotted socks and sandals with fuzzy red straps. At left, the beauty watches with a smile, while her companion, actor Saemon Suketsune (左衛門祐経) aka Nakamura Shikan (中村芝翫) seems alarmed, his eyes wide open. Young pine trees dot the landscape behind them. Kabuki star Nakamura Fukusuke-I (中村福助) plays the character 'Kobayshi Asahina' ('小林 朝比奈') as written on the red cassette right panel, on the pine tree.

This woodblock is usually known and described as a diptych. Nevertheless this diptych is part of an unusually arranged triptych or may be even a tetraptych. Therefore the triptych/tetraptych is described seperately as "Ordinary Yakko-Kite".


Series - "8 Pieces Collection" or "Hachi Mai-Soroi" (Yuika Ogawa Yukiyuki Omi - Kunihisa-ga Sandai-Toyokuni-ga - Hachi Mai-soroi, 濡衣女鳴神　近江八勇之内　国久画　三代豊国画　八枚揃) 


Artist - see Biography


Signature - Toyokuni-ga (豊国 画), in streched oval brownish-red toshidama cartouche (Otoshidama-in, 年玉印), on all panels


Publisher - Tsujioka-ya Bunsuke (辻岡屋文助), (Kinshōdō publishing, 松堂), white seal next to the Otoshidama


Image Size - 36.2 x 48.9cm (14 1/4" x 19 1/4") + margins as shown


Condition - diptych, two single panels (maybe part of a tryptich); nishiki-e (cloured woodblock); Vertical ôban (ôban tate-e);