Glossary
Aiban: Middle size. For prints about 13×9 inches.
Banzuke: Play-bill. Most of those used for the present plays were crudely illustrated.
Chidori: Small shore-birds similar to sanderlings.
Daimyo: A feudal lord whose annual income from his fiefs amounted to at least 50,000 bushels of rice.
Edo: The older name for the present Tokyo.
Geisha: A trained female entertainer.
Gozen: A title of respect. Approximately, His or Her Excellency. As used for the plays treated here, applied only to women.
Gwa: Drew. Used with the signature of an artist. The equivalent of “Pinxit.”
Hakama: Wide pleated trousers or divided skirts used by men for formal wear.
Haori: A short coat-like garment.
Hibachi: Literally “fire-box.” A brazier or charcoal-burner.
Hosoye: Narrow picture. For prints about 13×6 inches.
Ichibanme: Literally “first.” Technically the first part of a performance.
Jōruri: A narrative song originally used for the puppet stage and taken over by the kabuki for particular episodes.
Kabuki: The popular theater.
Kamishimo: Literally “upper and lower.” A formal garment, the upper part of which has stiff wing-like shoulders.
Kimono: A garment. Literally “thing worn.” In particular the long dress worn by both men and women.
Manji: A swastika.
Mon: A crest. A personal or family mark of identification.
Nagauta: A style of music sometimes used in the theater as an accompaniment.
Nibanme: Literally “second” or “secondly.” Technically the “second part” of a performance. See discussion under No. 1-a.
Nō: A formal, highly stylized dance-drama of religious or ethical import.
Ōban: Large size. For prints about 15×10 inches.
Obi: A sash or girdle. Obi used by women usually were much wider than those used by men.
Saké: Rice wine.
Samurai: A member of the military caste.
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