The Actor Ichikawa Danjuro V as Raigo Ajari

The inscription on this print does not name the actor or the role he is playing—when the print was released, the subject would have been evident to Kabuki fans. The square emblem on his costume’s sleeve indicates that the actor is one of several who went by the name Ichikawa Danjūrō. His character carries prayer beads and a box inscribed with the word for “monk.” However, his shaggy, unkempt hair indicates that he is a former monk who has stopped shaving his head and succumbed to temptations and evil influences. Wayward monks are a relatively common theme in Japanese theatrical literature, so it is difficult to pinpoint the exact character or drama depicted here.