Comment - Kabuki scene from a New Years screenplay 'Koi Zumo Yawaragi Soga' (恋相撲和合曽我(こいずもうやわらぎ曽我) which was staged at the Kawarazaki Theatre (河原崎) in the first lunar month of 1841. The plot is a variation of the multi favoured  "Tale of the Soga Brothers" ("Soga monogatari", "曽我物語"). Plays related to the revenge story of the Soga Brothers were traditionally produced at the time of the New Year. The prominent pine decoration or kadomatsu on the right and center panel of the woodblock print gives this impression.

There were numerous variations on the Soga Monogatari theme, but certain characters were expected to take part. In this version, which appears to have been staged only this one time in 1841, the above depicted kabuki performance shows Ichikawa Ebizo-V (Ichikawa Ebizō-go-daime, 市川海老蔵-五代目) aka Danjuro-VII (1791-1859) as Asahina Tobei (朝比奈藤兵衛). Asahina is variously Soga no Goro's friend and a friend of the villain, Lord Kudo.Iwai Shijaku-I (Iwai Shijaku-shodai, 岩井紫若-初代) aka Hanshiro-VII (1804-1845) performes the female character Tajimaya Onatsu (Tajima-ya o natsu, 但馬屋お夏). Sawamura Tossho-I (Sawamura totsushō-shodai, 沢村訥升--初代), aka Suketakaya Takasuke-III (1802-1853) plays Omatsuya Seijuro (Ōmatsuya Seijūrō, 清十郎 大松家). Name and role of the adjacent actor can be found in the respective yellowish cassette.

Kite flying is also a popular pastime for boys during the New Year celebrations. The left panel shows Sawamura Tossho (Suketakaya Takasuke III, 1802-1853) in the role of Omatsuya Seijuro with a small Edo kite, decorated with the kanji character "koi" (戀 or 恋) meaning 'romantic love'. 'Koi' is also the first character of the title of the play. Iwai Shijaku-I (Hanshiro VII, 1804-1845) in the female role of Tajimaya Onatsu in the center panel holds the the kite's spool and string. The big threefold repeated white on blue logo at the stage background, may be the emblem of the Kawarazaki Theatre.

The Soga Monogatari is one of the most popular stories in Japan. There are many variations of this popular kabuki script. Almost every well-known woodcut artist of his time made kabuki woodcuts with the soga monogatari theme. Kunisada even made various woodcuts with this subject. Various representations within this theme with depicted kites may also be found (cp. 1, 2 and 3).

Series - ~


Artist - see Biography


Signature -"Gototei Kunisada-ga" ("五渡亭国貞画") on all three panels; censor's seal (改印) kiwame (極)


Publisher - Tsutaya Kichizo (蔦屋吉蔵), Koeido printshop (紅英堂)


Image Size - 37.8 X 76.3 cm (14 7/8" x 30") + margins as shown


Condition - triptych, three single panels; nishiki-e (cloured woodblock); Vertical ôban (ôban tate-e);