Kabuki actor Iwai Hanshiro V, in the role of Shirai Gonpachi, stands under a willow tree (yanagi, 柳) to read a letter from the courtesan Komurasaki of the Miuraya [三浦屋小紫]. In this letter, Komurasaki laments their unfortunate love. This is a scene from the kabuki play The Floating World's Pattern and Matching Lightning Bolts (Ukiyozuka hiyoku no inazuma) [浮世柄比翼稲妻] written by Tsurya Namboku IV [鶴屋南北]; it was played for the first time in March 1823 at Ichimura Theatre [市村座] in Edo. This play was later divided into two individual pieces: Saya-ate [鞘当] and Fuwa [不破]. On the shoulders of the actor's garment is a character 井 in a circle — both names, Iwai 岩井 and Shirai 白井, use this character.
"Ukiyozuka Hiyoku no Inazuma" is a kabuki play in nine acts, written by Tsuruya Nanboku IV. It premiered in Bunsei 6 (1823) at the Ichimura-za theatre in Edo.
The play includes two particularly famous scenes:
- "Suzugamori no ba" (The Scene at Suzugamori), which portrays the episode of Banzuiin Chōbei and Shirai Gonpachi
- "Yoshiwara Nakanochō no ba" (The Scene at Yoshiwara Nakanochō), which depicts the story of Nagoya Sanza and Fuwa Banzaemon
These scenes have been frequently performed under the well-known titles "Gozonji Suzugamori" (A Well-Known Suzugamori) and "Sayaate" (The Scabbard Clash).
More information about the play and the real story behind it can be found at Lyon Collection.
Actor: Iwai Hanshirō V [岩井半四郎] (Japanese, 1776 – 1847); other names: Iwai Tojaku, Iwai Kumesaburō I.
Role: Shirai Gonpachi [白井権八]
Artist: Utagawa Toyokuni I [歌川豊国] (1769–1825).
Signed: Toyokuni ga [豊国画].
Publisher: Enshūya Matabei [遠州屋又兵衛] (Enterprise, active c. 1768 – 1881); seal: “to” (ト) under roof (Marks 01-031 | 057a).
Date-aratame censor seal: 未改, Bunsei 6 (1823).
Media: Aiban yoko-e uchiwa-e 団扇絵), 233 x 260 mm.
Additional Information
| Collection | Fan print (Uchiwa-e) [団扇絵] , Japanese prints and drawings |
|---|---|
| Type / Purpose | Fan , Woodblock print |
| Period | 19 AD , Bunsei era [文政] (1818–1830) , Early 19th century , Edo period [江戸時代] (1603–1868) |
| Country | Japan |
| Media/Technique | Chromoxylography , Colour , Ink , Laid paper , Woodblock print (nishiki-e) |
| Subject | Fan print , Kabuki , Kabuki actor , Kabuki actors , Kabuki play , Kabuki theater , Shirai Gonpachi , Suzugamori [Suzu-ga-Mori, 鈴ヶ森], a.k.a. Ukiyozuka Hiyoku no Inazuma , Uchiwa-e |
| School | Utagawa (歌川) |
| Creation / Publishing year | 1823 , Bunsei 6 |
| Signature | Date-aratame , Publisher's seal , Toyokuni ga [豊国画] |
| Size | Aiban yoko-e uchiwa-e , Fan , Uchiwa-e |
| Genre | Actor Prints (Yakusha-e, 役者絵) |
| Acquisition year | 2025 |
