The Actor Arashi Otohachi II as the Monk Hokaibo in the Play Edo Shitate Kosode Soga, Performed at the Morita Theater in the First Month, 1777 c. 1777

This ukiyo-e woodblock print by Katsukawa Shunkō, known as *The Actor Arashi Otohachi II as the Monk Hokaibo*, showcases the renowned actor Arashi Otohachi II in a role from the kabuki play Edo Shitate Kosode Soga. The print, created circa 1777, captures the moment of the play where the actor, in the guise of a monk, is carrying a long staff with a dangling ornament, holding a fan in his hand. This detailed portrayal, with its striking use of color and fine lines, highlights the expressiveness of Japanese woodblock printing.