Nakamura Fukusuke in the role of Soshichi, a smuggler 1927

Natori Shunsen made this woodblock print of Nakamura Fukusuke, an actor, portraying the role of Soshichi, a smuggler. Shunsen’s work invites us to consider the rich social world of Japanese Kabuki theatre in the 20th century. Looking at the print, the actor's intense gaze and the somber color palette evoke the world of smugglers. Consider how the artist used conventions of Kabuki theater, such as stylized makeup, to create a recognizable character type. These visual cues would have been immediately understood by audiences of the time. Prints such as this one were part of a thriving popular culture in Japan. But we should also remember that the theater itself was subject to regulation by authorities, as were the lives of those connected with it. To fully understand this print, researchers might explore playbills, theater reviews, and other ephemera from the period. These sources can help us better understand the social meaning of Kabuki and how it reflected the anxieties of modern Japanese society.