['Ohatsu, brandishing a sword, attack on Iwafuji', 'Sawamura Tanosuke III as Ohatsu'] 1865

This woodblock print by Toyohara Kunichika depicts the actor Sawamura Tanosuke III as Ohatsu, brandishing a sword. Here, the sword isn't merely a weapon; it’s a powerful symbol of righteous anger and retribution, deeply rooted in the samurai ethos of honour and justice. We see the sword as a symbol of power and resistance across cultures, echoing in the ancient myths and medieval legends of Europe. Think of the tale of Judith beheading Holofernes, and Artemisia Gentileschi’s bloody portrayal of it, in which the sword becomes an emblem of female agency. The blade is not just cold steel; it is a conduit for the surging emotionality of vengeance and transformation. The motif of falling cherry blossoms, ephemeral and beautiful, evokes the transient nature of life. This relates back to the samurai, who faced the impermanence of life with bravery.