The Actor Bandō Hikosaburō V and the Mo troupe 1865

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi created this woodblock print of the actor Bandō Hikosaburō V and the Mo troupe in Japan during the Meiji era. The print offers a fascinating window into the social and cultural landscape of Japan at the time. Yoshitoshi was working during a period of significant social upheaval. The Meiji Restoration sought to rapidly modernize Japan by adopting Western technologies and institutions. This print reflects a tension between the modernizing forces and the traditional culture. Kabuki theatre was hugely popular and prints of actors were collected as memorabilia. The print uses conventions of Kabuki theatre such as exaggerated make-up to create meaning through well established visual codes. Yoshitoshi made this print to comment on the enduring appeal and cultural importance of Kabuki theatre, but as historians we might ask questions about the status of the artist in society and the economics of printmaking at the time. Understanding these socio-political and cultural forces helps us appreciate the complexities of this piece.