Asao Kunigorô II in an illustration from the book "Yakusha Mono Iwai" (1784)
Copyright © The Trustees of the British Museum

The actors Kataoka Nizaemon VII (bottom/left) and Bandô Hikosaburô III (top/right) playing the roles of Shiratayû and Kan Shôjô in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", which was staged in the 7th lunar month of 1796 in Edo at the Miyakoza (print made by Utagawa Toyokuni I)

Fujikawa Hachizô III (left), Segawa Rokô III (center) and Kataoka Nizaemon VII (right) playing the roles of the yakko Yokanpei, the fox Kuzu-no-Ha and the yakko Yakanpei in the drama "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami", which was staged in the 9th lunar month of 1804 at the Kado no Shibai (cover for an ezukushi banzuke)

The actors Nakamura Daikichi I (top) and Kataoka Nizaemon VII (bottom) playing the roles of the nakai Ofune and Shindô Genpachi in the drama "Sanjikkoku Yofune no Hajimari", which was staged in the 11th lunar month of 1811 in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai (print made by Nagahide)

Courtesy of Guy Pepermans