Yamamura Kōka (Toyonari) (Japan, 1885-1942) Print, dai oban tate-e, okubi-e, Yonsei Onoe Matsusuke no Kōmori Yasu (四世尾上松助の蝙蝠安), Onoe Matsusuke IV as Komori no Yasu [in the play Kirare Yosa]. Signed Koka ga and artist's stamp Ka. Publisher Watanabe Shōzaburō and stamp. Circa 1917 (Freckles) Size: 40.9 x 29.1 cm The second print made by Koka for Watanabe depicts the actor Onoe Matsusuke IV (1843-1928) in the play known as Kirare Yasu (Yasu the scarred). Here he plays Kōmori Yasu, Yasu the bat, a blackmailer who takes his name from the tattoo on his cheek. The play focuses on the character of Yosaburo, nicknamed the scarred man because of mutilations received following his affair with the mistress of a gang leader, Otomi. Years later, Otomi and Yosaburo meet again and realise that their love is still intact. Koka had already portrayed Matsusuke in the same role in 1915 for the first edition of Shin nigao-e (New Portraits of Actors). Like Natori Shunsen, Yamamura Kōka made his portraits from silver bromide photographs of the actors. Reference: This print is reproduced in: Uhlenbeck, Dwinger, Ouweleen, Shin hanga: Les Estampes Modernes du Japon 1900-1960, Éditions Hazan (2022), p.122 A similar print held at LACMA, no. M.73.37.460