JAPANESE PRINTS
A MILLION QUESTIONS
TWO MILLION MYSTERIES
Ukiyo-e Prints浮世絵版画 |
| Port Townsend, Washington |
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TOYOKAWA YOSHIKUNI 豊川芳国 とよかわ.よしくに fl. 1803-40? |
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Actor: Nakamura Shikan II 中村芝翫 なかむら.しガン |
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Role: Nursemaid Komori 子守 こもり |
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Play: Rangiku Tsuyu no Adamakura 乱菊露仂枕 らんぎく.つゆのあだまくら |
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Size: 15 1/8" x 10" |
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Date: 1827, 10th Month Bunsei 10 文政10 |
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Signature: Toyokawa Yoshikuni ga |
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Publisher: Honsei 夲清 ほんせい |
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This is one of five panels. Each shows Shikan II in a different role. |
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Illustrated: 2. Ikeda bunko, Kamigata yakusha-e shûsei, 1997, vol. 1, #399 |
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$210.00 |
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FUJIMA KAMESABURŌ AKA NAKAMURA FUJITARŌ AKA NAKAMURA TSURUTSUKE AKA NAKAMURA SHIKAN II AKA NAKAMURA UTAEMON IV |
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| 1796? to 1852 |
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It is not uncommon for an actor to be known by various names throughout his career. In fact, it is the standard. Whether through adoption or advancement names are changed often - especially in the case of those who are particularly adept at their craft. Such is the case of Shikan II who is actually better known as Utaemon IV.
The son of the owner of a teahouse he started his career as a student of an uncle who was a dance master who adopted him in 1807. He worked as a choreographer or furitsuke (振り付け or ふりつけ) until his move to Edo in 1811 when he entered the household of Utaemon III. At that time he took the name Nakamua Fujitarō. In Osaka in 1813 he changed it to Nakamura Tsurusuke. "In 1825 he became Shikan II while playing in Kyoto." By 1827 he was so successful that the government placed him under house arrest in Edo because of his lavish lifestyle. (This was not an isolated incident. Several other prominent actors and artists suffered the same fate at various times in their careers.)
In 1836 Shikan II was adopted by Utaemon III who changed his own name to Tamasuke. That allowed Shikan to become Utaemon IV. Although he was a large and imposing figure his abilities allowed him to play even female roles with aplomb. "Such versatility earned him the title kaneru yakushu...[兼ねる役者 or かねる.やくしゃ - an 'all-around actor' or 'a man of a thousand faces'.]
Source and quotes from: New Kabuki Encyclopedia, Samuel Leiter, Greenwood Press, 1997. |
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NAKAMURA SHIKAN II Must Have Been One Heck of a Versatile Actor |
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Below are four of five oban prints which includes the image featured on this page. Each print represents Shikan II as a different character within this play. Peter Sellers performed a similar theatrical feat in Dr. Strangelove.
None of the other examples shown here are for sale. We have posted them in order that you might get a more complete idea of the role of the nursemaid print within the set. |
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THE JAPANESE PINWHEEL KAZAGURUMA 風車 かざぐるま |
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| As a child I was fascinated by pinwheels. Don't know any that weren't. Some people never grow out of it. Even today I see them everywhere. When I ride my bike around Port Townsend it would be difficult to count the number of yards with them. And those are the only ones I can see. They're ubiquitous. |
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Direct purchase may be made through check or money order or by payment through PayPal by clicking on the link below. |
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