Background
The historical Minamoto no Yorimasa (源の頼政 1104-1180) served eight different sovereigns in his long career, holding posts such as hyôgo no kami (head of the arsenal). He was also a prominent poet whose works appeared in several anthologies. In 1179 he entered the Buddhist priesthood and took the name Gen Sanmi Nyûdô.
Although he had allied himself with the Taira (Heike 平家) clan against the Minamoto (Genji 源氏) during the Hôgen no ran (Hôgen civil war; 1156-59) and the Heiji no ran (Heiji civil war; 1160), he switched allegiance and led the Minamoto forces against the Taira in 1180. Suffering defeat at Uji, he committed suicide in the Byôdô Temple. Yorimasa nue monogatari (Tale of Yorimasa and the nue: 頼政鵺物語) features the legend of Yorimasa, who is forever associated with slaying the mythical nue (鵺) in 1153 — as recorded in the Heike monogatari (Tale of the Heike; first quarter 13th century). Yorimasa, a formidable archer, looked up at the emperor's palace roof, catching sight of a strange winged-creature with an ape's head, tiger's claws, badger's (tanuki) back, and snake-head tail. As the emperor was suffering from a life-threatening illness, Yorimasa suspected that the nue was the cause. A single arrow took down the beast, whereupon Yorimasa's retainer (Ino Hayata Tadazumi) delivered the coup de grâce with his sword.
This performance of Yorimasa nue monogatari by Kitsusaburô II (formerly Tokusaburô II; later Rikan II; 1788 - 6/1837) was part of a first-year memorial program for his illustrious predecessor, Arashi Kitsusaburô I (Rikan I; 1769 - 9/1821). It also featured a shûmei (襲名) or accession ceremony — here the passing on of an acting name to a successor — through which Tokusaburô II became Kitsusaburô II. Kitsusaburô I's final performance before his fatal illness was as Yorimasa in 8/1821; thus the role held the utmost symbolic significance for the Arashi lineage, their fans, and the Kamigata theatrical world. There would have been enormous pressure on Kitsusaburô II to perform at a level worthy of a homage to his predecessor.
Design
The inscription on this print confirms that this performance is a commemorative work, celebrating the first anniversary (second memorial service) of the late Arashi Rikan I. At this staging, Arashi Kitsusaburô II plays the roles of Yorimasa and Hayata.
兵庫ノ頭頼政 嵐橘三郎
Hyōgo-no-kami Yorimasa — Arashi Kitsusaburô ("Hyôgo-no-kami Yorimasa, played by Arashi Kitsusaburô.")
たち花と名をあらためて / 面かけもむかしの人の袖のうつり香 / 春の屋
Tachibana to na o aratamete / omokage mo mukashi no hito no sode no utsuri-ga / Haru no ya
"Changing his name to Tachibana, /even his appearance recalls the fragrance / lingering in the sleeves of people of old."
Note: "Tachibana" (orange blossom) is the actor's crest. The poem praises the actor's name change and refined style, suggesting that the new name still carries the elegant "fragrance" [of the tachibana] of earlier masters.
References: KNZ, no. 186
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