“Eighteen Kabuki Plays : Elephant Tug-of-War / Kabuki juhachiban : Zobiki”
by Torii Kiyosada (1844-1901) & Kiyotada VII (active 1875-1941) 1896

Danjuro IX plays the strongman Yamanoue Gennaizaemon (below) who tries to wrest control of an elephant from Prince Suzuka. The exotic animal had been sent from India to the Imperial Palace in Kyoto, but had escaped into the mountains. The play was first performed in 1701 by Danjuro I to highlight his great strength and exaggerated acting style. The original text has been lost, and the play has seldom been performed.

Fine impression.

Signed: 'Kiyotada' with red 'Torii' seal.

Colored ink woodblock print on off-white paper. Chuban tate-e.

Showa period color woodblock print depicting the actor Ichikawa Danjuro in the act of subduing an elephant. In Zouhiki, the hero Iruka and the villain Gennaizaemon have a tug-of-war using an elephant instead of a rope. After Iruka wins, he celebrates by dragging and flinging the elephant around in a display of strength and power.

This play introduced an exotic aspect to kabuki, as elephants were not native to Japan, and in fact, only three elephants are known to have been brought there before the 19th century.

This object has the following keywords:

• Actors and Actresses
• Kabuki
• Showa Period

This object is a member of the following portfolios: