Kakogawa Honzō Showing the Blueprint of the House of Kō no Moronao/ Act 9 (KyÅ« dan me), from the series The Treasury of Loyal Retainers (Kanadehon chÅ«shingura) Edo period,

Curator: This woodblock print by Katsushika Hokusai, circa unknown, is titled "Kakogawa Honzo Showing the Blueprint of the House of Ko no Moronao". It's a scene from Act 9 of the series *The Treasury of Loyal Retainers*. Editor: My first impression is one of hushed intensity. The snow-covered landscape feels like a silent witness to the unfolding drama inside the house. Curator: It's interesting you mention the silence. This print captures a pivotal moment where Kakogawa Honzo unveils the blueprint, setting the stage for a violent act of retribution and the overthrow of established power. Editor: I'm curious about the women in the image. They seem to be confined to the edges, observing. What does their marginalization tell us about gender roles in this narrative? Curator: The women represent the domestic sphere against the backdrop of masculine violence, highlighting the tensions between private lives and public acts of resistance. They have been historically omitted from records even though they are complicit and instrumental in the plot that takes place. Editor: Thinking about this piece, I see it as a powerful testament to the enduring spirit of resistance, where planning and contemplation can be as transformative as the act itself. Curator: Indeed, and Hokusai's ability to capture the nuances of this moment is a testament to his genius and insight. It is also an important historical document of the period from which this image was created.