The Actor Arashi Kitsusaburō I (Kichisaburō II) as Prince Koretaka

Shunkōsai Hokushū

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The renowned Osaka actor Kitsusaburō I (best known as Rikan I, 1769–1821) is shown as Prince Koretaka, whose character was based on an actual member of the late ninth-century Heian court, but who was always represented more heroically in Kabuki plays. Grandly posed on a raised mat, he leans on a black lacquer armrest topped with a tiger pelt and decorated with tachibana (mandarin orange) patterns, referring to the actor’s newly acquired crest. The hokku (17-syllable verse), by the actor himself, refers to the character’s retirement in Ono Village, near Mount Hiei: Sakura chiru Ono ni minori no wakaba kana As cherry blossoms scatter at Ono, new leaves will appear, just as Buddha teaches.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art