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This double oban woodblock print looks like a banzuke, but I never saw any other like it before. As Lucienne found, it is signed by Itchinsai Yoshiteru, a rather unknown Edo woodblock artist.
What is the print about (date, title of play, list of players, or what)?
Can you read some of the names in the list?
Any other information on the artist?

Francis

This is the text I was able to dichiper but I'm not sure it will be of any help

Right side vertical
連名次夷不同
Renmei-ji ebisu fudo (Joint name next disagreement)

Left side vertical
千秋万歳叶 Senshūbanzei
https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/%E5%8D%83%E7%A7%8B%E4%B8%87%E6%AD%B3/
https://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q126837137

It took me few hours but I think I found the solution.
The print is not a "banzuke" but a New Years surimono combined with the wish "May you live a thousand years" (Senshū banzei kana), ordered and paid for by the united Shamisen players. To the audience, to the actors and most of all probably to the theater owners.
It's a long list of names that have "signed together".
The first kanji of most names is strange, but in my opinion it can only be "竹" (take).
Some names can then be read with this, for example 竹本町太夫 (Takemoto Chōtayū) and 竹本重太夫 (Takemoto Judayu), the names of famous Shamisen players.
Here is another surimono with the names of Shamisen players: https://www.dh-jac.net/db/nishikie/results-big.php?f44[]=%E5%99%A8%E7%89% A9&-format=results-1p.htm&-max%20=30&singleskip=7&enter=portal&lang=yes&skip=0#
However, the spelling on the print differs greatly from the transcription in the description.
Horst

Thank you a lot Horst!
Unfortunately, I cannot open the ARC page you mention.
Also, is there a reason for this illustration by Yoshiteru, like this specific kabuki play included many shamisen players...
I still don't understand why nearly all those names had to start by "take". Could it be some kind of title or rank for shamisen players?
I guess such surimonos are rather rare. What do you think?
Again, thanks for this great research job!

This link should work:
https://www.dh-jac.net/db/nishikie/results-big.php?f44[]=%E5%99%A8%E7%89%A9&-format=results-1p.htm&-max=30&singleskip=7&enter=portal&lang=ja&skip=0

Kabuki performances and also bunraku performances were accompanied by an orchestra.
The orchestra is shown on some prints, with and also without the names of the musicians.

If you search for 竹本 on Waseda, you will find some entries: https://archive.waseda.jp/archive/subDB-search.html?arg={%22item_per_page%22:20,%22sortby%22:[%22%22,%22ASC%22],%22view%22:%22display-simple%22,%22pagination%22:{%22page%22:1},%22subDB_id%22:%2252%22,%22id%22:%22187301;1%22,%22advanced_search%22:false,%22search_key%22:%22%E7%AB%B9%E6%9C%AC%22}&lang=en
Mostly in the entry for "music", but also some named musicians, for example no. 007-2666
But I have no idea if and how musicians were organized in Japan at the end of the Edo period.

I think this form of surimono is very rare; whether it also becomes "valuable" is another question.

Perhaps the motif chosen from "Imoseya onna teikin" or the performance date has some connection to the year for which the surimono was published. But I do not know.
Horst

Thanks a lot! I am delighted to know more about this print.

Lucienne sent me this link: https://www2.ntj.jac.go.jp/unesco/kabuki/en/production/music5.html
Maybe it helps for better understanding.
Horst

Addition/correction (thanks to Lucienne!):
The members of the Takemoto clan were musicians in general (singers too), not just shamisen players.
Horst

Thank you to Lucienne and you for all the informations you found for me!
This print is a precious find for me.
Francis

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