Ôtani Oniji III playing the role of the yakko Edohei in the drama "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna", which was staged in the 5th lunar month of 1794 at the Kawarasakiza (print made by Tôshûsai Sharaku)

Ichikawa Omezô I playing the role of the yakko Ippei in the drama "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna", which was staged in the 5th lunar month of 1794 at the Kawarasakiza (print made by Tôshûsai Sharaku)

Ichikawa Monnosuke II playing the role of Shigenoi's lover Date no Yosaku in the drama "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna", which was staged in the 5th lunar month of 1794 at the Kawarasakiza (print made by Tôshûsai Sharaku)

Iwai Hanshirô IV playing the role of Yosaku's wife Shigenoi in the drama "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna", which was staged in the 5th lunar month of 1794 at the Kawarasakiza (print made by Tôshûsai Sharaku)

Tanimura Torazô playing the role of Kandayû's brother Washizuka Hachiheiji in the drama "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna", which was staged in the 5th lunar month of 1794 at the Kawarasakiza (print made by Tôshûsai Sharaku)

Ichikawa Ebizô playing the role of Takemura Sadanoshin in the drama "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna", which was staged in the 5th lunar month of 1794 at the Kawarasakiza (print made by Tôshûsai Sharaku)

Bandô Hikosaburô III playing the role of Sagisaka Sanai in the drama "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna", which was staged in the 5th lunar month of 1794 at the Kawarasakiza (print made by Tôshûsai Sharaku)

Osagawa Tsuneyo II performing in the drama "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna", which was staged in the 5th lunar month of 1794 at the Kawarasakiza (print made by Tôshûsai Sharaku)

Iwai Kiyotarô II and Bandô Zenji I playing the roles of Sagisaka Sanai's wife Fujinami and Washizuka Kandayû's wife Ozasa in the drama "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna", which was staged in the 5th lunar month of 1794 at the Kawarasakiza (print made by Tôshûsai Sharaku)

Intriguing double portrait of the actors Iwai Kiyotarô and Bandô Zenji in the Kabuki play "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna". At left, Iwai Kiyotarô plays Fujinami, the wife of the good man Sagisaka Sanai, while at right Bandô Zenji portrays Ozasa, the wife of the evil Washizuka Kandayû. Sharaku uses the two women to mirror their husbands' characters, contrasting the good and evil temperaments. Fujinami has a sweet, kindly expression, smiling slightly as she holds her hand modestly to her chest. Ozasa seems almost to leer over her shoulder, with a broad, tightly lipped grin and her chin thrust forward. A fascinating subject with a lovely distressed mica background (from fujiarts.com)

The illustrations below are from the ezukushi banzuke of the staging of "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna" at the Kado no Shibai in the 5th lunar month of 1793 with the actors Kanô Hinasuke I, Seki San'emon, Fujikawa Tomokichi II, Asao Tamejûrô I, Yamamura Tomoemon I, Mimasu Matsugorô I, Nakamura Noshio II, Nakayama Raisuke II, Hanagiri Toyomatsu III, Nakamura Jûzô III and Ogawa Kichitarô II