The Actor Ichikawa Danjuro V as Issun Tokubei in Act Eight of the Play Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami (Mirror of Osaka in the Summer Festival), Performed at the Morita Theater from the Seventeenth Day of the Seventh Month, 1779 c. 1779

This woodblock print by Katsukawa Shunkō depicts the famous Kabuki actor Ichikawa Danjuro V as the character Issun Tokubei in Act Eight of the play Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami (Mirror of Osaka in the Summer Festival). This work is a *yakusha-e*, a genre of Japanese woodblock prints depicting actors in specific roles. The detailed portrayal of the actor's costume and expression highlights the theatricality of Kabuki performance. The dynamic pose and expressive features of the actor convey the drama of the scene, while the use of color and line add depth and detail to the image. This captivating print, created in 1779, is a testament to the artistry and popularity of Kabuki theatre during the Edo period.