資料名 |
Title unknown (“Shiranami Gonin Otoko (Five Notorious Thieves)”, from the kabuki play “Aoto-Zoushi Hana no Nishiki-e”) |
解説 |
Utagawa Kuniaki The production date:1862 In this picture, the patterns of kimono represent the characteristics of the thieves. Tadanobu Rihei, who was known for his special ability to disappear suddenly like a magic is represented by dragon pattern. Akaboshi Jyuza is represented by the morning star “Ake-no Myoujou” (Venus), which is related to his name Akaboshi. Nangou Rikimaru’s violent and wild personality is represented by the lightning and an imaginal beast called raijyu patterns. Nihon Daemon is represented with the bird of prey, which is about to capture the small bird, and Benten Kozou Kikunosuke is represented with chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum is kiku in Japanese.) pattern. Benten Kozou was acted by Ichikawa Uzaemon III, and the kimono’s thunderbolt pattern is arranged to spiral pattern, which is related to the actor’s pattern. The Dandy Villains: Shiranami Five Thieves Shiranami in Japanese literally means ”white waves” and it indicates thief. Shiranami Five Thieves appeare in a kabuki play “Aoto-Zoushi Hana no Nishiki-e (The Glorious Picture Book of Aoto’s Exploits)” and one of the five thieves is Benten Kozou Kikunosuke, who has a connection with Enoshima Island since he worked at the temple of Enoshima when he was a boy. The other thieves are Nihon Daemon, who was the head of a bandit and inspired by the famous thief Ishikawa Goemon, Tadanobu Rihei who had power to appear or disappear freely, a beautiful boy thief Akaboshi Jyuzaburou and rowdy thief Nangou Rikimaru. They were very popular as the dandy antiheros among people since they were not entirely evil, although they stole things from the wealthy people. |
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