Comment - Image of actor Seki Sanjuro II  (二代目関三十郎) as Kajiwara Heiji (梶原平次) in the kabuki play "Hana ni Tori Sakigake Soga" (はなにとりさきがけそが; alternative title "Kachō Kai Soga" or "花鳥魁曽我"). The play was staged in the 1st lunar month of 1832 at the Nakamura Theatre (中村座) in Edo. The title of the play maybe translated as "The first to pluck the flower", or "One Flower Blooms Ahead of Others" or most simple "Flowers, Birds and the Prime Soga" when using "花鳥魁曽我".

The kabuki character is associated with the Soga monogatari which was traditionally staged at the New Year. Kajiwara Heiji leans forward holding open a blue sack, frowning angrily. His kimono features a variety of kites, including an octopus kite (TakoTako, 鮹凧), an Edo kaku kite (江戸角凧) with the face of a ghost, an owl kite (Fukurō Dako, フクロウ凧), a fan kite (Sensu-tako, 扇子凧), a kite with a beauty (maybe an Edo kaku kite as well), and a Yakko kite (奴凧) with the depiction of a yakko (footman), and two kiteline winders. Kiteline curls are scatterd all over his kimono.
Possible additional kites can be seen at the edges of his kimono (partially cut off). Adjacent left to the octopus as a "kanji kite" (white on blue; also to be seen on the lower right of his kimono, next to the beauty kite ), and another ghost edo kaku, upper left below the octopus ).

Lower center left rim shows a a green barrel with a yellowish lid. The barrel carries a crane crest, a  hint to the Soga Monogatari "universe".

Kachō Kai Soga (subtitle: "Hana ni tori Sakigake Soga") was also featured with several ukiyo-e prints by KUNISADA.


Series - ~


Artist - see Biography


Signature - Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎 国芳画) center right, with circular censor's seal (改印) 'kiwame' ('極') above publisher's seal


Publisher - Kawaguchiya Shōzō (川口屋正蔵) with Kawacho seal ( 川正) from Shoei-do publisher's (正栄堂)  (Marks 25-355 (231)

Image Size - 37.2 X  25.7cm   (14 5/8" x 10 1/8")


Condition - single sheet; nishiki-e (cloured woodblock); Vertical ôban (ôban tate-e);