Imitations of the Twelve Months

(Miburi ju-ni omoi gwatsu, 身振十二おもい月)

Publisher: Ebisu-ya Shôshichi

1847-1848

 

In this series of prints, a well-known actor represents each of 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 the demon queller and actor Seki Sanjûrô III as Agari Kabuto

 

June: Actor Nakamura Tsuruzô as serpent of Mt. Fuji

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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