Maple Leaf Viewing (1899)

Maple Leaf Viewing (1899)

Taira no Koremochi defeats the Kijo Momiji. 1899-11-28 Japan 6 Min. PG-13
5.8 16 votes

Overview

A reel of the Noh drama Momiji-gari, in which Danjuro Ichikawa played opposite Onoe Kikugoro V as an ogress who has disguised herself as the Princess Sarashina. Filmed by Shibata Tsunekichi in the open air on a windy day in November 1899, Danjuro would allow only the one take, so that when his fan blew away in mid-performance the scene had to stay. The film re-emerged at the Kikikan theatre in 1907 where it was a great success and inspired a wave of fiction filmmaking based on traditional Japanese narratives.

Cast

九代目 市川團十郎 is Princess Sarashina / Momiji
Princess Sarashina / Momiji
Kikugoro Onoe V. is Taira no Koremochi
Taira no Koremochi