Kabuki Costume
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Kabuki Costume (Omigoromo) with Chrysanthemums and Stream, Formerly used by Bandō Mitsue, Edo period, 19th century (Gift of Ms. Takagi Kiyō)
Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 9
October 3, 2023 (Tue) - December 3, 2023 (Sun)The current exhibition celebrates the season for “face showing” (kaomise) kyōgen in the kabuki theater, in w hich new actors are introduced. This event happens in the eleventh month on the lunar calendar. Though the kabuki actors were usually all male, a large part of the kabuki costumes in the Museum collection were used by a female kabuki actress, Bandō Mitsue. She had access to the women’s chambers ōoku in shogun’s castle to play kyōgen, a comedic theater. The gorgeous de coration of thick and dynamic embroidery, large design motifs, and rich colors on these costumes reflect the extraordinary and flamboyant char acteristics of kabuki plays.
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Highlight | Kabuki Costume ("Haori") with Dragon and Waves | Formerly used by Bandō Mitsue | Edo period, 19th century | Gift of Ms. Takagi Kiyō, I-2064 | |||
| Highlight | Kabuki Costume ("Kitsuke") with Dragon and Waves | Formerly used by Bandō Mitsue | Edo period, 19th century | Gift of Ms. Takagi Kiyō, I-2065 | |||
| Highlight | Kabuki Costume ("Omigoromo") with Chrysanthemums and Stream | Formerly used by Bandō Mitsue | Edo period, 19th century | Gift of Ms. Takagi Kiyō, I-2061 | |||
| Highlight | Kabuki Costume ("Haori") with an Arrow and a Target | Formerly used by Bandō Mitsue | Edo period, 19th century | Gift of Ms. Takagi Kiyō, I-2066 | |||
| Highlight | Kabuki Costume ("Kitsuke") with Triple Wild-Ginger Crests | Formerly used by Bandō Mitsue | Edo period, 19th century | Gift of Ms. Takagi Kiyō, I-2067 |