No. 176, December 2010/February 2011

Selections from NDL Collection

Sanjuroku-ban tsuzuki yakusha juni-tsuki - Shogatsu Nichomachi nenrei no zu
(New Year’s Greetings in Nichomachi, from the Twelve Months of Kabuki actors series)

Artist: Utagawa Toyokuni I
Publisher: Ezakiya Kichibei
Published in 1809
Set of three large-size (39×26cm) color woodblock prints (nishiki-e)
Owned by the National Diet Library

This picture shows Kabuki actors making New Year’s courtesy calls. Nichomachi was the common name for two theater quarters in Edo (Tokyo).

The actors portrayed are, from the right, Matsumoto Koshiro V, Bando Mitsugoro III, Iwai Hanshiro V, Sawamura Gennosuke I (later Sojuro IV), Nakamura Utaemon III and Segawa Kikunojo IV, all accompanied by their attendants.  Behind them, young women in their best clothes and carrying hagoita (battledores for a New Year’s game) are gathering to catch a glimpse of the actors. Framing the scene are giant kadomatsu (pine and bamboo New Year decorations).

Utagawa Toyokuni I (1769-1825) excelled at depicting actors and beautiful women.
“Sanjuroku-ban tsuzuki yakusha juni-tsuki” is made up of twelve triptychs (thirty-six pieces in all) representing each month from January to December.

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