Sakata Hangorō III as the groom Abumizuri no Iwazō in Koriyama, actually Kurisaka Tarō Tomonori 1794

This woodblock print depicts the actor Sakata Hangorō III, created by Tōshūsai Sharaku during a brief but influential period in the 1790s. Sharaku emerged during the Kansei Reforms, a time of cultural and social austerity in Japan, when the extravagance of the Kabuki theatre and the pleasure districts were subtly censored. Here, Sakata Hangorō III is shown playing a humble groom, but in actuality, he is the warrior Kurisaka Tarō Tomonori. The artist captures a duality reflective of the social tensions of the time. While actors were popular figures, they were also considered social outsiders. Sharaku does not shy away from depicting the slightly grotesque aspects of the actor’s features, challenging idealized representations. Instead, we find an honest portrayal, blurring the lines between the actor’s persona and the character they embody. This print invites us to consider how identity is constructed, both on and off the stage. It speaks to the complex interplay of social roles, expectations, and individual expression in a society undergoing change.