null

Arashi Kichisaburo III (三代目嵐吉三郎) as Nitta Tadatsune (仁田忠常) and Arashi Rikan II (二代目嵐 璃寛) as Soga no Sukenari (曽我祐成)

null
Japanese colour woodblock print showing two men, one in armour, the other drawing his sword

Arashi Kichisaburo III (三代目嵐吉三郎) as Nitta Tadatsune (仁田忠常) and Arashi Rikan II (二代目嵐 璃寛) as Soga no Sukenari (曽我祐成)

Collection:CSM Museum & Study Collection
Date: 1854-1855
Artist: Utagawa Kunisada (歌川国貞)
Dimensions:
370 x 265 mm (37 x 26.5 cm)
Medium: O-ban Nishiki-e (大判錦絵, large-format coloured print)
Object number: O.11
DescriptionFold-out book of 98 coloured Japanese prints bearing black and white calligraphic design. Book cover of wooden boards and stamped dark brown paper.

This print is one from the series Go Sekku no Uchi Satsuki (五節句之内, the Five Festivals) published to celebrate the healthy growth of boys on tango no Sekku (端午の節句, the Boys’ Day) in Satsuki (皐月, the fifth month). It depicts two characters, Nitta and Soga, in a historical tale Soga Monogatari (曽我物語). This story is based on the historical fact that the Soga brothers avenged their father's murder by the Nitt. This tale became so popular that it was used as the subject of Noh and Kabuki plays as well.