Each ordinary family has a "kamon" (family crest) which is carved on tombstones, etc., and Kabuki actors' families have crests which are inherited together with their Myoseki (family names). A distinctive characteristic of Kabuki crests is that distinctive colors and patterns associated with each family accompany them, and these are used for costume, props and stage sets, strongly impressing audiences with the presence of actors.
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![Actors wearing kamishimo (ceremonial clothing of the Edo period) decorated with their family crests, and in colors used by their families, seated in line for a Kojo (prologue) [Ichikawa Kodanji 4th at center] ("Nakamuraza kotobuki hiro no zu" 1865 Nakamuraza)](images/img_4_03_02-01.jpg) |
This nishikie print shows a Kojo (actors' prologue on stage). In many cases, actors wear kamishimo, actors' full formal dress, to present Kojo. The colors and patterns of the kamishimo and the crests on them are those associated with each actor's family and family name.
The color of the kamishimo worn by Ichikawa Kodanji 4th, shown at center, is the yellowish brown of the Ichikawa Danjuro family, and the crest on it is mimasu [crest showing 3 nested masu (square rice measures)]. From this kamishimo we can understand that Kodanji is an actor of the Danjuro family. In this way, actors publicized their own family lines to audience by colors and crests.
The color of the kamishimo worn by Ichikawa Kodanji 4th, shown at center, is the yellowish brown of the Ichikawa Danjuro family, and the crest on it is mimasu [crest showing 3 nested masu (square rice measures)]. From this kamishimo we can understand that Kodanji is an actor of the Danjuro family. In this way, actors publicized their own family lines to audience by colors and crests.
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This is not limited to Kojo, in which actors sit on stage as themselves. Even when actors are performing parts, their crests are used on costume and props in many cases.
The photograph shows Danshichi Kurobe played by Matsumoto Koshiro 7th in the 'Sumiyoshi torii mae' scene of "Natsumatsuri naniwa kagami." When another actor performs Danshichi Kurobe, naturally the crest and Haimyo (poet's pen name) of that actor are used to decorated on the costume. The large crest decorating the neck of this costume is hanabishi, the crest of the Matsumoto Koshiro family. And the characters "Kinsho" which is Koshiro's Haimyo are dyed on the suso (lower front section) of his costume. |
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Why does the actor's crest, which is not related to his role, appear on his costume? It reminds us that in the Edo period many costumes were made by the actors themselves. When an actor prepared his costume, he taxed his ingenuity not only to express "Sono yaku rashisa" (looks like that role), but also to simultaneously give audiences the greatest possible impression of his existence. As a result, actors started to use crest and their favorite colors and patterns. In the Edo period, the colors and patterns used by popular actors were the height of fashion and greatly affected fashions in general society. Baikocha (Baiko's brown) named for the Haimyo of Onoe Kikugoro 1st, and the kamawanu pattern used by each generation of Ichikawa Danjuro, can be mentioned as examples.
