Ghosts of Kamata Matahachi (Ichikawa Kodanji IV) and his lover Kikuno (Iwai Hanshirō VIII) tied to a tree

The flames hitodama floating around the ghosts of the lovers tied to a tree were part of the scenic special effects of all kabuki horror dramas. Kamata Matahachi is the protagonist of the horror play Matsutaka temari fujitsuroku or Nani Takashima Ryūta jitsuroku. Starting in 1853, Kodanji was the leading actor in Edo, specializing in quick costume changes and horrors dramas. (See Helena Honcoopová, Kunisada, Praha 2005, pp. 142 and 143)