The Actors Iwai Hanshiro IV as Sakura Hime and Matsumoto Koshiro IV as Priest Seigen in the play "Wada Sakamori Eiga Kagami," performed at the Namakumura Theater in the first month, 1773 1773

This 1773 woodblock print by Torii Kiyomitsu captures actors in a scene from "Wada Sakamori Eiga Kagami." Dominating the composition is the pine tree, a symbol of longevity, steadfastness, and even immortality in Japanese culture. Note how the pine stands as a silent witness to the unfolding drama, a motif that echoes through centuries of art. We see its counterparts in classical landscapes, where trees frame scenes of human endeavor. The pine, like the tree of knowledge, connects heaven and earth, bearing witness to the rise and fall of human dramas. Here, the actress playing Sakura Hime casts a somber gaze upon the priest. There's a palpable tension, a drama deeply embedded in the collective psyche. Consider, then, how symbols, like actors on a stage, reappear in different roles across time. The motif of the pine endures, connecting us to the deep, subconscious currents of human experience.