Ichikawa Danjūrō VII as Minister Emi no Oshikatsu

Ichikawa Danjūrō VII plays courtier Emi no Oshikatsu, the leader of the rebellion against the Soga family, who received the title of Fujiwara Nakamaro from the emperor in 764. He thus became the founder of the Fujiwara family that led all of Japan in the long Heian period between the 9th and 13th centuries. Emi no Oshikatsu wears a beautiful black garment with a spiral motif suggesting Chinese Tang inspiration, and the courtier hat eboshi. He holds the bamboo lid of an unknown object in his hand. The sheet bears the censor’s stamp kiwame and the seal Matsu of the publisher Matsumuraya Yahei. (See Helena Honcoopová, Kunisada, Praha 2005, p. 122)