Ichikawa Komazo as Ono Sadakuro (市川高簾蔵 斧貞九郎)

Another example in this collection of a swordsman - here, the character is wielding it above his head, in a battle stance ready to attack an unseen (to us) foe in the rain. 'Bare-armed and bare-legged' he carries two bundles of straw. This feels like an unequivocal example of perceived masculinity in ukiyo-e prints. The stark black kimono may suggest a darker side to this character, with a relief of colour provided in his obi. A tree and lush foliage in the background contrast the character's body language that serves of a reminder of the constant stylistic aesthetics of Japanese kabuki theatre.