Description:Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami (Sugawara’s Secrets of Calligraphy) is based on the historic figure, Sugawara Michizane, a politician during the Heian Period, who was exiled in 901. This play is known as one of the three great classics in the kabuki repertoire and frequently performed due to its popularity. Triplet brothers appear in this story; Umeomaru, Matsuomaru, and Sakuramaru, who grew up under Michizane’s protection but Matsuomaru broke away and took allegiance with the enemy, Fujiwara-no Shihei. Michizane was exiled by Shihei’s false accusations, and Umeomaru and Sakuramaru decide to take revenge and await Shihei at the Yoshida shrine where they have a run-in with Shihei’s retainer, Matsuomaru. It is a famous scene where the brothers fight and the carriage breaks and Shihei imposingly appears from inside.
The actors’ names are written next to each role, which indicates that the artist used popular actors of the time to portray this iconic scene in kabuki.
(Completed Size: 74cm(w) x 45cm(d) x 26cm(h))