Japanese Print Description
KUNICHIKA (1835-1900)
ICHIKAWA GONJURO as YURANOSUKE
Signed: Kunichika hitsu
Publisher: Gusokuya Kahei
C 1869 (5th Month)
Very good impression, colors, and condition.
A very strong portrait of Danjuro IX (acting as Gonjuro) by Kunichika.
Yuranosuke is the leader of the 47 Ronin and the hero of the play Kanadehon Chushingura. As recent historical plays were not allowed, the story was turned into a 14th century period piece.
Although there is no factual 14th century counterpart, the avenging leader in the 1700s was Oishi Kuranosuke. For the play version he was renamed Oboshi Yuranosuke.
Although Ichikawa Danjuro IX was the biological son of Danjuro VII, he was adopted by Ichikawa Gonnosuke VI and took on that name after Gonnosuke died in 1868. He used the name for a few years before he took on the more prestigious name of Ichikawa Danjuro (IX).