Original Japanese Woodblock Print – Utagawa Kunisada Toyokuni 3 – Inaba no Kozō – Nakamura Shikan IV – Edo 1862

Traditional original Ukiyo-e woodblock print. [This print is not a modern reproduction]

Print type: Yakusha-e (Kabuki theater actor portrait)

🎨 Artist: Utagawa Kunisada 歌川国貞 signed: 七十七翁豊國画 — Kio Toyokuni ga
Signature used by Kunisada at 77 years old!

📅 Date of publication: 1862 (2nd year of the Bunkyū era, late Edo period)

📜 Publisher: 海老屋林之助 (Ebiya Rinnosuke)

🔪 Engraver (Horishi): 松嶋彫政 (Matsushima Horisada)

📏 Format: Ôban tate-e (approx. 25 × 36 cm)

Origin: Japan, found in Tokyo Prefecture.

📌 Series title:
見立子僧三幅対 (Mitate Kozō Sanpukutsui)
which could be translated as: "Three portraits of actors in disguised young monk roles"

👤 Character depicted:
稲葉小僧 (Inaba no Kozō)
🎭 Actor: 中村芝翫 (Nakamura Shikan IV)

🏮 Subject:

The title of this series suggests a religious scene: "triptych of young monks".
But in the theatrical language of the Edo period, it's a clever pun.

Indeed, the word kozō (子僧) can literally mean "young monk", but it is also used to refer to a brat, a thief, or a low-ranking servant (小僧).

Here, the character depicted is Inaba no Kozō, a famous masked thief from kabuki theater — also known as Nezumi Kozō (the "rat thief"), a legendary Edo bandit nicknamed the Japanese Robin Hood.
He was said to be able to break into samurai residences to steal money and treasures... without ever being captured.

In this print, Nakamura Shikan IV embodies Inaba Kozō in a theatrical posture, with his sword raised and a taut silhouette.
A cunning character, between shadow and light, whose name suggests a beggar or monk, but whose presence evokes the underground violence of criminal kabuki.

✨ Notable details:

• Extremely rare signature by Kunisada indicating his age: "Toyokuni aged 77"
• Strong contrast between the sobriety of the black costume and the tension of the body
  
• Katana blade printed in blue gradient, using Prussian blue (bero-ai) pigment
• Fine engraving on the hair and textile patterns
  

📦 Condition:

Original period print, in good condition.

➕ Well-preserved colors
➕ Original unlined paper, flexible and healthy
➕ Translucent examination: no restoration, no gluing, no retouching
➖ Slight creases
➖ Two small spots visible on the character's face
➖ A tiny hole in the hair, very discreet but present

🦝 Our opinion:

This print is a beautiful example of the double meaning inherent in kabuki theater, ukiyo-e, and the Japanese language: beneath the appearance of a "young monk," a mythical burglar stands, sword in hand. Edo humor at its finest!

Kunisada, at the end of his life and at the peak of his art, captures the moment of maximum tension before action, in an elegant, sober, and expressive composition.

We love the blade with the Prussian blue gradient!

Kunisada distinguished himself with his refined portraits and kabuki scenes. Discover other unique pieces in our collection of Japanese prints.