The Menace of Kezori Kyuemo

This terrific scene from the popular kabuki play Kezori features Ichikawa Danjuro as the pirate Kezori Kyuemon, the leader of a gang of smugglers. In the center, Kezori commands attention with his wild hair and beard, draped in an exotic robe featuring a fierce dragon on the chest. To the left, the young merchant Sochichi, caught off guard, falls backward after witnessing the gang's illicit activities while traveling to see his beloved, the courtesan Kojoro. Kezori threatens Sochichi with death unless he joins the gang, creating a palpable tension. Surrounding him, his men loom menacingly, armed with a sword, a hatchet, and a spear. From left to right, the cast includes Ichikawa Sadanji, Bando Kakitsu, Onoe Kikugoro, Ichikawa Danjuro, Iwai Shijaku, and Nakaura Shikan. The design is striking, with expressive figures in boldly colored attire and delicate embossing on Kezori's white sash.