[New Exhibition Information]
Shiraishi Banashi: Revenge, Painting by Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi
Shin Yoshiwara Chapter: Go Taiheiki Shiraishi Banashi (Original Script)

“Go Taiheiki Shiraishi Banashi” is a masterpiece of joruri and kabuki dramatized based on an actual vendetta that took place during the Edo period. It consists of 11 acts, and is a collaborative work by Chikamatsu Hanji, Namiki Gohei, Takeda Koizumo, and Karatei Enma. It premiered in 1777 at the Takemotoza Theater in Osaka. Miyagino and Nobuo, daughters of farmer Yomosaku, vow to avenge their father’s death at the hands of the samurai retainer Shiga Danshichi. The older sister becomes a prostitute in Yoshiwara, while the younger sister trains in martial arts, and they reunite. With permission from the shogunate, they finally avenge their father’s death at the Shiraishi River.

One of the most famous scenes in the play is the “Shin Yoshiwara no Dan” (New Yoshiwara Scene). Written by the playwright Utei Enma, this scene richly depicts the sisters’ reunion and their determination to seek revenge. Tsutaya is thought to have been close friends with Utaya Enma.

The “Shin Yoshiwara no Dan” is a moving scene depicting the sisters’ reunion and their determination. The scene depicts the older sister, Miyagino, working as a courtesan at a daifukuya in Yoshiwara, intersecting the world of prostitutes with the samurai value of revenge. The scene also features a rental bookstore called “Honju” selling the illustrated stories and reading books featured in the story. Honju is modeled after the real-life publisher Tsutaya Juzaburo, who was deeply involved in the publication and promotion of this play. Tsutaya worked with ukiyo-e artists and actors, and was instrumental in popularizing this work to the masses not only as a play, but also as illustrated zoshi and nishiki-e prints. Tsutaju is a prime example of a business model that leveraged the popularity of joruri and kabuki to generate sales for publications. This fascinating work demonstrates Tsutaju’s thoughtful approach to the publishing business, encompassing art, performance, marketing, and company branding.

Our shop will be holding a seasonal exhibition of the magnificent three-panel revenge scene created by Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi in 1853, as well as the script for the Shin Yoshiwara section of this work.

Ukiyo-e Cafe Tsutaju changes its exhibits every few months.

At X, we’ll be giving you a sneak preview of some of the changing works. Stay tuned!