Imitations of the Twelve Months

(Miburi ju-ni omoi gwatsu)

Publisher: Ebisu-ya Shoshichi

1847-1848

In this series of prints, well known actors are representing the twelve months. The series is listed as number 211 in Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson (Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1961). The prints are each about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as ôban.

	January: Kite with the face of actor Bandô Mitsugorô IV and actor Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as a lobster or prawn February: Actor Onoe Baikô IV as a fox
	March: Actors Ichikawa Kodanji IV and Ichikawa Hakoemon as paper dolls, actor Iwai Kumesaburô III as a court lady, actor Onoe Tamizô II as a child doll and Nakayama Bunogorô as a papier-mâché dog
	April: Actor Bandô Shuka as Kuckuck and actor Matsumoto Kôshirô VI Buddha May: Actor Nakamura Utaemon IV as Shôki and actor Seki Sanjûrô III as Agari Kabuto
	June: Actor Nakamura Tsuruzô as a snake July: Actor Ôtani Tomoemon IV as Onigawara August: Actor Ichikawa Kuzô II as a monkey September: Actor Onoe Kikujirô II as a butterfly
	October: Actor Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Ebisu and actor Sawamura Sôjûrô as a sea bream November: Actor Ôtani Hiroemon representing the festival of tori no machi (cock fair) December: Actor Sakata Sajûrô II as a salmon

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