The Most Curiosity Kabuki World（削除）

"O-yedo shibai nenjyu gyoji" "Hikimaku to Kojyo"
Artist: 吟光　　O-ban, Colour print
Ritsumeikan Art Research Center(arcUP2050)

Koujou is a greeting speech that the representative of a theater or actors gives on the stage. Today, Koujou has become independent event held when they announce someone's succession to his predecessor's name, and usually all casts line up on the stage and give short greetings. However, in Edo period, Koujou was held at variety of times, even in the middle of the performance, for announcements of an actor's first stage or memorial performances. They also held Koujou to introduce actors before every program, but it was only for Jidai-mono (historical drama), and there was no introduction for Sewa-mono (domestic drama).
In Edo period, in large theaters, Hikimaku was used instead of popular stage curtain. In contrast, in small theaters, Hikimaku was not allowed to use.
Hikimaku have two types, Joushiki maku and Iwai maku (Okuri maku).
Joushiki maku is sewed three different color cloths in striped pattern. It is written that this three coloured Joushiki maku came from a black-white striped shade curtain which Nakamura KanzaburoI was gifted from Tokugawa shogunate for his performance when he beat time for pulling oars of a ship Atake maru governed by the shogunate. Nakamura-za that the theatre received the curtain added persimmon-orange(yellowish red) stripes in this, and it became the origin of today's Joushiki maku. Colors and their orders of Joushiki maku differ from troupes, Nakamura-za used black, yellowish red and white, Ichimura-za used black, yellowish red and yellowish green, and Morita-za used yellowish green, yellowish red and black. Originally, for Kabuki performance, they didn't use stage curtain, but as story gets complicated, they needed to change scenes and equipment quickly so started to use the curtain. It is said that they also diverted Agemaku of Nou stage.
Iwai maku (Okuri maku) is a present from fans to actors and producers especially given when anniversary performance was held, and actors enjoyed competing the number they got.
In this picture, Masuseki in Doma of the theater was well drawn, and we can see 6 people regardless of age or gender are sitting in the Masuseki(squared box). Until performance starts, dishes and alcohols are delivered from Shibai Chaya. Same as today, Ehon banzuke(illustrated programs) and Yakuwari banzuke (role chart) were sold and distributed inside the theater, and the audience are enjoying reading them. Also there is some holes at seams of Jyoushiki maku, and from one hole, we can see an actor are watching the audience from inside of the stage.
[Glossary]
　　Shibaichaya、Nakamura Kanzaburo、Inarimachi、Yakuninkaena、Banzuke
[Related Topics]
　「Theatres and promotion」