Embedded Files
Onoe Baiko VI as the demon-witch in "Momijigari" (Admiring the autumn red leaves) - Figures of the Showa scene #9
紅葉狩 - 六代目尾上梅幸丈 昭和舞台姿 その九
The print
Artist: Ôta Masamitsu
Publisher: Miyake Koshodo (Banchoro)
Carver: Nagai Otokichi (1902-1979)
Printer:
Date: 1954 No.205
Format: Oban-tate
Catalogue: S-579
Demon-witch - Sketch No.14 from the series "Souvenirs for the afterlife"
Demon-witch - Sketch No.14 from the series "Souvenirs for the afterlife"
This print is based on the watercolor n° 14 of the Meido no miyage shibai no omokage (Souvenirs for the afterlife) series, with this major difference that the face of the demon-witch, in profile in the watercolor, is represented three quarter – and with a more marked makeup – which gives him a more menacing presence and makes him even more horrifying. These watercolors, which Ôta Masamitsu probably made, like most shin-hanga artists, from the silver bromide photos (jap. buromaido) of actors in their roles that were sold to the fans during performances and used as the basis for prints: another innovation of shin-hanga introduced by his contemporary Itô Shinsui (1898-1972), in which the artist only provided the engravers and printers with a master drawing in ink with basic indications for the colors. (text courtesy of Francis Gautier)
The play
The play
This dancing drama "Momijigari" is the kabuki adaption of a dance Nô play of the same name. It was premiered in Tokyo in 1887 with Ichikawa Danjuro IX as Princess Sarashima, Nakamura Shikan IV as mountain god and Sawamura Gennosuke IV as Sarashina’s maid (See Toyohara Kunichika's print here below).
Note: The play was filmed in 1899 by Shibata Tsunekichi with Ichikawa Danjuro IX and Onoe Kikugoro V: This short documentary is the oldest Japanese movie of which a copy still exists.
Main characters
Main characters
Taira no Koremochi : A nobleman
Ugenta and Sagenta: His servants
Princess Sarashina: A beautiful princess and demon-witch
Print of the premiere by Toyohara Kunichika – Ichikawa Danjuro IX as Princess Sarashima, Nakamura Shikan IV as mountain god and Sawamura Gennosuke IV as Sarashina’s maid (1887)
The plot
The plot
The play takes place in autumn in the Togakushi mountains where the nobleman Taira no Koremochi came to admire the red autumn foliage with two servants Ugenta and Sagenta. He realizes that there are other visitors and asks Ugenta to go and investigate. A lady-in-waiting tells him that her mistress is waiting for someone and Koremochi decides to leave. Then the lady-in waiting comes back and invite them to meet her mistress and enjoy the maple-viewing together. Princess Sarashina arrives with several lady-in-waiting. She is beautiful and offers sake to Koremochi while the ladies begin to dance. Koremochi asks the princess to dance for him and she does so. However thanks to the sake, Koremochi and his servants begin to doze off, then sleep in earnest. The princess is insulted and leaves the stage furious.
The Mountain Good appears and sees the three men asleep. He is afraid that the witch may come and eat them, so he tries to wake them up, but to no avail. He gives up and leaves. The princess comes in and changes kimono from a princess to the demon-witch.
Koremochi wakes up. He had a strange dream where the Mountain God told him that Princess Sarashina is a witch. He asks his servants for help, but they take fright and flee. He finds himself face-to-face with the witch. He takes his magic sword and she loses her powers. He corners her against a tree and she is subdued.
The actor
The actor
Onoe Baiko VII (1915-1995) was a leading onnagata (male actor playing female role) of the second half of the twentieth century
Ichikawa En'o as Princess Sarashina in 2014
The final scene in a performance at the National Theater in Tokyo
Momijigari - Silent movie dated 1899 (3 min.) with Ichikawa Danjuro IX and Onoe Kikugoro V, The oldest extant Japanese movie.
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