Iwai Shijaku as Mountain Wild Woman Yamauba and Iwai Kumesaburō as Boy Kaidōmaru

The print comes from the series “Dance-Dramas from Different Seasons” (Getsusetsuka shosagoto no uchi, literally “Scenes from the Dance-Dramas shosa with the motifs of the moon, snow and blossoms”. The renowned actor of female roles, Iwai Hanshirō V (1776–1847), had two sons, who also made a name for themselves as actors in female roles onnagata. Moreover, they had big penetrating eyes and arched surprised eyebrows, just like their father. This sheet depicts both of them – the older brother Iwai Shijaku (1804–1845) is standing and the child in his arms is Iwai Kumesaburō as future muscleman Kaidōmaru. (See Helena Honcoopová, Kunisada, Praha 2005, p. 126)