The Actor Segawa Kikunojo III as Oshichi in the Play Junshoku Edo Murasaki, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the First Month, 1779 c. 1779

This is a woodblock print by Katsukawa Shunko, made in Japan in 1779. It depicts the actor Segawa Kikunojo the Third in the role of Oshichi, from the play, ‘Junshoku Edo Murasaki’. This print gives us insights into the cultural world of Japan’s Edo period. Woodblock prints were an important part of this culture. They were widely circulated and offered a way for the urban population to engage with popular culture, including the Kabuki theatre. Kabuki was very popular and offered opportunities for actors to become stars. Notice how Shunko’s print immortalizes Segawa Kikunojo in his celebrated role. But there’s more here than simple documentation. The artist uses particular visual codes, in the actor’s robes and stance, to tell us something about Segawa’s interpretation of the role. To understand the significance of this print, we might research the Kabuki theatre, the Edo period, and the wider cultural context of 18th century Japan. By doing so, we will start to see it not only as a beautiful object, but as a window onto a complex historical moment.