The Actor Nakamura Tomijuro I as the Spirit of Taira no Masakado Disguised as Otomo no Kuronushi in the Play Shida Yuzuriha Horai Soga, Performed at the Morita Theater in the First Month, 1775 c. 1775

This is a woodblock print by Tamagawa Shunsui, made in 1775, depicting the actor Nakamura Tomijuro I in a theatrical role. Ukiyo-e prints such as this one served as publicity for the Kabuki theatre in Japan, a popular, and sometimes controversial, form of entertainment in the Edo period. This print captures a specific moment from the play "Shida Yuzuriha Horai Soga." It shows Nakamura Tomijuro I as Otomo no Kuronushi, who is actually the spirit of Taira no Masakado in disguise. The actor's elaborate costume and makeup are visual cues, indicating his dual identity to the audience. The artist uses line, color, and form to capture the drama and tension of the scene. Kabuki was often subject to censorship due to its potential to satirize or comment on contemporary social and political issues. Resources such as playbills, diaries, and government records can help us understand the complex relationship between art, entertainment, and power in 18th-century Japan. The meaning of this print, like any artwork, is thus contingent on its historical and cultural context.