Ichikawa Danjūrō II as Soga no Gorō: A Rare Kabuki Surimono by Torii Kiyomine (c. 1820)

Ichikawa Danjūrō II as Soga no Gorō in Yanone

Attributed to Torii Kiyomine (鳥居清峰) | c. 1820 (Bunsei 3) | Surimono woodblock print

This print depicts Ichikawa Danjūrō II as Soga no Gorō Tokimune, the hero of the kabuki play Yanone (矢の根). The date refers to the print, not to a performance by the actor in 1820. 🎭

The Moment of Yanone

Seeking to avenge his father, Gorō sharpens an enormous arrowhead against a large whetstone. His forceful pose, distinctive kurumabīn hairstyle, and butterfly-patterned costume give the scene its theatrical power. ⛩️

A New Year's Surimono

The print includes celebratory kyōka poems associated with the New Year. Such privately circulated surimono brought poetry and printmaking together in finely crafted editions. Text at the left includes place names such as Ōdenma-chō Nichōme and Yoshichō.

The Torii School

Torii Kiyomine brought the school's bold actor-print tradition to this dramatic portrait. The scene makes a classic kabuki character vivid through costume, gesture, and the oversized arrowhead.

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