The Actor Sawamura Sojuro III as Soga no Juro Sukenari in the Play Edo no Hana Mimasu Soga, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the First Month, 1783 c. 1783

This woodblock print by Katsukawa Shunjō depicts the famed kabuki actor Sawamura Sojuro III as Soga no Juro Sukenari in the play *Edo no Hana Mimasu Soga* (Flowers of Edo View the Soga). Created around 1783, this *yakusha-e* (actor print) captures the dramatic intensity of a popular kabuki role, showcasing Sojuro III’s renowned skill in portraying heroic figures. The print's detailed depiction of the actor's costume and posture, combined with the artist’s signature dynamic composition, exemplifies the popularity of kabuki theater and the enduring fascination with the lives and performances of its stars in 18th-century Japan.