Kunichika 国周: Hat-throwing scene with magic flap of Bando Hikasaburo as Mitsuhide seeking vengeance on Hideyoshi

Artist: Toyohara Kunichika (1835-1900)
Title:  Bandô Hikosaburô 坂東彦三郎 as Takechi Mitsuhide 武智光秀, from the Kabuki play “Amagasaki Retreat in  Taikô-ki”  Date: 1865

Two scenes in one diptych! Using the magic of a hidden flap (shikake), we see the actor in two dramatic poses, both holding onto his straw hat (and disguise), and throwing it up into the air to reveal his formidable visage. At right is we see Bando Hikosaburo 坂東彦三郎 as Takechi Mitsuhide 武智光秀, from the Kabuki play “Amagasaki Retreat in  Taikô-ki”. This is the famous scene where Mitsuhide, appearing on the terrace of moon flowers/gourds, mistakenly stabs his own mother Satsuki with the head of his spear when trying to kill his enemy.

In this version of the Taikô-ki play, after having killed his own lord, the powerful Sengoku warlord Oda Harunaga (real historical name Oda Nobunaga) at Hon’nôji Temple, Takechi Mitsuhide comes to Amagasaki to kill his archenemy, Mashiba Hisakichi (Toyotomi Hideyoshi). Hisakichi (Hideyoshi) has disguised himself as a travelling monk and has sought a place to hide at the home of Satsuki, the mother of Mitsuhide. Satsuki, knowing the situation and with shame for her son’s deed, sacrifices herself. In her dying moment she strongly accuses her son Mitsuhide of betrayal to his lord.

Here there is a “magic” flap (shikake) that has been carefully engineered, printed, and glued, that flips up, to show Mitsuhide holding his traveling hat on, and when flipped up, showing the same hand now tossing the hat into the air. This must be the moment of dramatic confrontation. It is rare to find a work like this with the extra double-sided panel still extant and in excellent condition. The straw atop Mitsuhide’s armor is meant to be the disguise of a farmer’s straw cape.

At left, within a crest-shaped inset, is Ichimura Kakitsu 市村家橘, shown within the shape of newari tachibana, a crest of his house, Tachibana-ya. The kabuki families of  Ichimura and Bandô are closely connected: Ichimura Uzaemon XIII took the name of Bandô Hikosaburo V (1832-1877). After his  death the name Ichimura Kakitsu as VI succeeded him. 

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition. Minor area of wormage near lower right margin of rightmost sheet and some smudging at bottom of lower left sheet. Scarce.

Dimensions: ôban diptych (36.3 x 49 cm) Publisher:  Gusoku-ya 具足屋 (Gusokuya Kabei)

Signature: Kunichika hitsu

SKU: KCA131