KUNICHIKA . Hachirō Tametomo . 100 Roles of Ichikawa Danjūrō . 1897 . auth Japanese Woodblock - Japan - Meiji period (1868-1912)
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Selected by Giovanni Bottero
Holds a master’s in Japanese art history with over 10 years’ expertise in Asian art.
Estimate € 150 - € 250
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Original Toyohara Kunichika woodblock print from the Meiji period, titled Hachirō Tametomo in Ichikawa Danjūrō Engei Hyakuban (1897), Ōban tate-e (approx. 36 × 24 cm), published by Fukuda Kumajirō, in very good colour and impression with minor toning.
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Description from the seller
Artist: Toyohara Kunichika 豊原国周 (1835–1900)
Title: Hachirō Tametomo 八郎為朝
Series: Ichikawa Danjūrō Engei Hyakuban 市川団十郎演芸百番
Date: Colophon dated February, Meiji 30 (1897)
Publisher: Fukuda Kumajirō 福田熊次郎, Nihonbashi-ku, Hasegawa-chō 19, Tokyo
Block carver: Nisei Horiei 二世彫栄 (Horiei II)
Signature / seals: Signed Kunichika hitsu 國周筆 in a cartouche, with the artist's red ring seal
Format: Ōban tate-e, approx. 36 × 24 cm, full sheet with margins
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Condition
Very good colour and impression with generous margins. The paper is firm and subtle with minor toning. Very good overall! Please check the images!
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THE PRINT
Danjūrō IX appears here as Chinzei Hachirō Tametomo (1139–1170), the eighth son of Minamoto no Tameyoshi. Tametomo was remembered as the greatest archer of his age. Legend gave him one arm longer than the other and a bow that several ordinary men together could not draw. He fought on the losing side in the Hōgen Rebellion of 1156. After his capture, the victors cut the sinews of his arm so he could never shoot again, and exiled him to Ōshima in the Izu islands. The legends did not end there. In the most famous one, a fleet of the Taira came to take him, and Tametomo, his strength recovered, sank a warship with a single arrow before taking his own life.
Kyokutei Bakin carried the legend further in his novel Chinsetsu Yumiharizuki (1807–1811), illustrated by Hokusai. In the novel, Tametomo escapes to the Ryūkyū Islands, where his son founds the royal line. The novel made Tametomo one of the great heroes of Edo popular culture. For the Meiji audience, the part suited Danjūrō IX, who was the leading actor of history plays of his time.
The series was commissioned from Kunichika by Fukuda Kumajirō together with Gusokuya Kahei and began in 1893. Sheets were released gradually over several years, and the last designs appeared in 1903, after the artist's death. It is widely regarded as the high point of Kunichika's late work. The designs were printed with costly materials and techniques. The Honolulu Museum of Art holds an impression of this design.
Seller's Story
I've been collecting Japanese woodblock prints for quite a while now — everything from classic ukiyo-e to shin-hanga and sōsaku-hanga. What started as a personal passion eventually turned into something more, and these days I source prints from auctions, galleries, and private collections across Japan and Europe.
With growing worldwide interest in Japanese woodblock prints, gallery prices have been climbing steadily. My goal is simple: offer high-quality, authentic prints at reasonable prices. I'm picky about what I sell — I look for pieces that have been stored properly, kept flat, and are free from serious foxing, stains, or damage.
I'm based in Germany, which means EU buyers won't deal with any import duties or taxes. For US buyers, original artworks under HS code 9702 are duty-free as well. And wherever you are, I pack everything carefully with multiple layers of protection so your print arrives safely.
If you have questions about a piece, just reach out. You will get access to contact me once you've won an item from my lots.
Artist: Toyohara Kunichika 豊原国周 (1835–1900)
Title: Hachirō Tametomo 八郎為朝
Series: Ichikawa Danjūrō Engei Hyakuban 市川団十郎演芸百番
Date: Colophon dated February, Meiji 30 (1897)
Publisher: Fukuda Kumajirō 福田熊次郎, Nihonbashi-ku, Hasegawa-chō 19, Tokyo
Block carver: Nisei Horiei 二世彫栄 (Horiei II)
Signature / seals: Signed Kunichika hitsu 國周筆 in a cartouche, with the artist's red ring seal
Format: Ōban tate-e, approx. 36 × 24 cm, full sheet with margins
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Condition
Very good colour and impression with generous margins. The paper is firm and subtle with minor toning. Very good overall! Please check the images!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
THE PRINT
Danjūrō IX appears here as Chinzei Hachirō Tametomo (1139–1170), the eighth son of Minamoto no Tameyoshi. Tametomo was remembered as the greatest archer of his age. Legend gave him one arm longer than the other and a bow that several ordinary men together could not draw. He fought on the losing side in the Hōgen Rebellion of 1156. After his capture, the victors cut the sinews of his arm so he could never shoot again, and exiled him to Ōshima in the Izu islands. The legends did not end there. In the most famous one, a fleet of the Taira came to take him, and Tametomo, his strength recovered, sank a warship with a single arrow before taking his own life.
Kyokutei Bakin carried the legend further in his novel Chinsetsu Yumiharizuki (1807–1811), illustrated by Hokusai. In the novel, Tametomo escapes to the Ryūkyū Islands, where his son founds the royal line. The novel made Tametomo one of the great heroes of Edo popular culture. For the Meiji audience, the part suited Danjūrō IX, who was the leading actor of history plays of his time.
The series was commissioned from Kunichika by Fukuda Kumajirō together with Gusokuya Kahei and began in 1893. Sheets were released gradually over several years, and the last designs appeared in 1903, after the artist's death. It is widely regarded as the high point of Kunichika's late work. The designs were printed with costly materials and techniques. The Honolulu Museum of Art holds an impression of this design.
Seller's Story
I've been collecting Japanese woodblock prints for quite a while now — everything from classic ukiyo-e to shin-hanga and sōsaku-hanga. What started as a personal passion eventually turned into something more, and these days I source prints from auctions, galleries, and private collections across Japan and Europe.
With growing worldwide interest in Japanese woodblock prints, gallery prices have been climbing steadily. My goal is simple: offer high-quality, authentic prints at reasonable prices. I'm picky about what I sell — I look for pieces that have been stored properly, kept flat, and are free from serious foxing, stains, or damage.
I'm based in Germany, which means EU buyers won't deal with any import duties or taxes. For US buyers, original artworks under HS code 9702 are duty-free as well. And wherever you are, I pack everything carefully with multiple layers of protection so your print arrives safely.
If you have questions about a piece, just reach out. You will get access to contact me once you've won an item from my lots.
Details
Dynastic Style/Period
Meiji period (1868-1912)
Number of objects
1
Country of Origin
Japan
Attribution
Original
Height
36 cm
Width
24 cm
Title of artwork
KUNICHIKA . Hachirō Tametomo . 100 Roles of Ichikawa Danjūrō . 1897 . auth Japanese Woodblock
Condition
Excellent condition
Authenticity
Original/official
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