Kabuki actor patterns and Kabuki crests

Ukiyoe Toyokuni carved bamboo

This fan was originally created from a fan painting depicting a scandalous Kabuki actor.

Ibasen had deep ties with Kabuki, and in the early 19th century, it sold fan paintings depicting Kabuki actors as what we now call actor's promidoes.

Together with the Toyokuni carved wisteria below, these two patterns are the only Kabuki fan paintings that survived the Great Kanto Earthquake and the Second World War.

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Ukiyoe Toyokuni, engraved wisteria

This is a Kabuki performance Kanjincho.

In the Edo period, Ukiyoe played the role of advertising media for Kabuki, and were sold for each performance.

It seems that people in Edo knew which actor was which by the patterns and family crests on the yukata, obi, and hand towel.

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Edo fan "Kumatori

Kumatori is a method of creating perspective by using colors and shades of colors.

It is said that Danjuro Ichikawa I started kumadori in Kabuki. It is said that he got the idea for kumadori from joruri puppets.

Kabuki began in the Edo period (1603-1867), when playhouses were dimly lit without electric lighting, making it difficult to see the actors' expressions.

The colors of the kumadori also have meanings: red for justice, blue for evil, brown for demons, and there are about a hundred different shapes and forms.

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List of Kabuki KUMAMORI

You can see the list on the left to see which of the three kumadori (shading) fans by Ijasen corresponds to which of the three kumadori fans.

The leftmost one is the most commonly used kumagori in Kabuki.

『arrowheadSoga Goro in

The middle one is Mukimiguma, a little delicate and sexy.

Soga Goro in "Sukeroku Yui Edo SakuraSukeroku

Sukeroku is used in the role of Saruguma, a dashing samurai with a funny and comical personality.

Kobayashi in "Kotobuki Soga no Mukai" (The Face of Kotobuki Soga)Asahina

Various Yakusha Patterns

Yakusha patterns were invented by kabuki actors in the Edo period to promote their respective troupes. The yakusha crest is a unique and chic form that combines and develops several types of patterns. These yakusha patterns are the ultimate in sophistication, connecting kabuki actors with the audience.

Shikanjima

This pattern was popularized by the kabuki actor Nakamura Shikan I (Nakamura Utaemon III).

Four stripes with ringspatternThe pattern is a combination of "four rings" and "shikan" (a play on the word "shikan").

It is still used today for yukata (light cotton kimono) and hand towel patterns.

YOKIKOTOKIKU

It was used for Onoe Kikugoro's Kabuki costumes.

The picture of an axe reads "yoki," below which is "koto," and the round shape is the flower of "chrysanthemum.

It means "to hear good things."

It is said that this piece was adopted to compete with Ichikawa Danjuro's "Kamawanu-bun," which was popular at the time.

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Kamawanu

Known as the pattern used by Kabuki actor Ichikawa Danjuro.

This pattern, popular in the Edo period, consists of a picture of a sickle, a picture of a wheel, and the character "Nu" superimposed on top of each other, in reference to "Kamawanu".

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Mitsugoro Stripe

A pattern named after the Kabuki actor Mitsugoro Bando III.

It is a lattice pattern of three, five, and six stripes crossing each other vertically and horizontally.

Sangoroku" ▶︎ "Mitsugorou" stripe

Also called Mitsugorou lattice.

Kikugoro lattice

Kabuki actor Onoe Kikugoro III used this latticework, and it became popular.

Its four and five stripes are combined into a lattice, and the character for "ki" and the character for "ro" are placed alternately in the lattice to form "kikugoro" and Kikugoro's name.

Kikugoro lattice. Kikugoro dyeing. Also known as Kikugoro dyeing.

Ichimura lattice

A favorite of Kabuki actor Uzaemon Ichimura XII.

The character "ra" is used between one horizontal and six vertical lattices: "ichiroku-ra" ▶ ▶ "ichi-mura" ▶ "ichi-mura" ▶ "ichi-mura" ▶ "ichi-mura".

There is also a "torn Ichimura lattice" in which the lattice stripes are partially torn.

Fan with Kabuki pattern

Kabuki crests, like patterns, have also been used for stage costumes and props tenugui (hand towels).

Ichikawa Danjuro's Sanmasu crest is well-known.

Three monkey crest

Mitsuzaru-mon" is a stylish pattern of the crest of three monkeys, the family crest of Omodakaya, a famous nashien (pear orchard) family, scattered in the sun and in the shade throughout the pattern.

This family crest is also used by the Kabuki actor Ichikawa Ennosuke on his stage props.

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Mimasumon

This crest was invented by Kabuki actor Ichikawa Danjuro I from the "lightning bolt pattern" and later became the family crest of the Ichikawa clan.

The "San-masu" pattern is a pattern of large, medium, and small Masu (bowls), arranged in a box and viewed from the top. There are many variations, such as those with "San Masu" scattered or with "San Masu" arranged between the stripes.

The word "Masu" is believed to be good luck, as it is related to the word "increase. It is also called "three nested Masu".

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Tenugui fan, Yakusha design, purple

A cotton fan with a tenugui pattern.

Combination of stylish light purple hanjimono.

Shikanjima
Axe and chrysanthemum
Kamawanu
Mitsugoro Stripe
Kikugoro lattice
Hemp leaves
Checkered pattern, etc.

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San Masu pattern fan and fan bag

Edo folding fan set No.25, Double-sided, San-masu pattern

The pattern of San Masu pattern is also embroidered on the fan bag, making this a set product.

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Back side of the fan

It is a vivid blue San Masu pattern.

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Ibasen Kabuki Fan Bag, San Masu

This design is also available to match with Sanmasu-mon folding fans.

This design is also available to match with the San Masu fan.

Fan bag is here.

Various patterns

There are patterns that symbolize the Edo period, such as Yoshiwara Tsunagi, flag marks used by firefighters during the Edo period when there were many fires, and Mawarimono.

Yoshiwara connection

Yoshiwaratsunagi" is also known as "Kurutsunagi.

It comes from "Yoshiwara," the largest brothel in the Edo period, and is still used today as a representative pattern for hand towels and yukata (summer kimonos).

Yoshiwaratsunagi: red and navy blue

The regular pattern of red and black vertically on both sides is called "Yoshiwaratsugi," also known as "Kuru Tsunagi.

This pattern is also used in the ukiyoe cat design by Kuniyoshi. Kuniyoshi's uniqueness is expressed casually.

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Clothing

A kind of banner used by firefighting groups in the Edo period.

It has a head at the top that represents the clan, and a long, thin decoration hanging from the top called a "baren," with a tassel made of paper or leather.

The banner is held in the hand, and when it is raised or rotated, it dances.

The fun is enhanced by comparing the unique "baren" of each group to see which group it belongs to.

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Kitcho Pattern

Designs depicting objects considered auspicious are called kisho-monyo (auspicious design).

Please see here for a variety of kisho-monyo patterns.

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Related products

Ukiyoe Edo fan paintings (Nishiki-e, Yamato-type) were produced by the publisher Ibasen as multicolor printed fan paintings (uchiwa-e). This time, Ibasen printed and produced this product based on this only existing woodblock print.