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Description
This short biography of the famed kabuki actor Bando Hikosaburo V (1832-1877) was written by the novelist Okamoto Kisen and illustrated by Chikanobu. Hikosaburo came from a family of carpenters living in the Asakusa area of Edo and was adopted in 1840 by Bando Hikosaburo IV (1800-1873), who trained him and gave him his stage name in 1856 (Hikosaburo IV then became Kamezo I). This volume describes how Hikosaburo V learned the role of the villain Nikki Danjo in Meiboku Sendai hagi. Later he played the nursemaid Masaoka in the same play, becoming renown for both his male and female / onnagata acting skills. In his youth he was popular as the handsome hero Yoshitsune in Yoshitsune senbon zakura and as he matured he perfected the roles of the faithful retainer Sato Tadanobu and of the fox who pretends to be Tadanobu. Hikosaburo V was one of the superstars of kabuki in the 1860'-1870's, competing with Nakamura Shikan IV (1831-1899) on stage and off. He died unexpectedly at the age of 45. This biography was part of the memorabilia made for his fans. Here Bando is depicted in a female role. He stands in front of a railing hung with lanterns; in the background a samurai slashes at a woman with his sword. Bando wears a blue and black plaid kimono with a padded hem, and a purple print obi over which lies a green obi cord or obi-jime. Over this he wears a loose green jacket which he clutches with his left hand. The jacket is tied with a purple cord and and has small sleeves, through the ends of which are pulled a red under robe. In his right hand he waves a flowering branch.
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