Actor Nakayama Tomisaburō as Miyagino

The subject for this woodblock print was Nakayama Tomisaburo , an eighteenth-century actor who specialized in female roles for the Kabuki theater. Known as "Floppy Tomi," Tomisaburo was famous for his unusually flexible movements and the delicate, nimble gestures by which he conveyed his characters' femininity. Sharaku featured "Floppy" in a remarkable total of eight print designs and character roles over six short months. In this print, Tomisaburo is portraying the avenging heroine Miyagino, who plots vengeance for her father's murder in the lively fifth act of the play. Sharaku, who attended the performance, depicts the heroine as she contemplates the final fate of her father's killer. For Tomisaburo's fans, the image captured the dramatic moment and consummate skills of their favorite actor in a format made more arresting by its shimmering mica ground.