Skulls on Stage: Ichikawa Ebijūrō I as Tōken Jūbei by Shunkōsai Hokushū

Two skulls stare out from a dark robe. Above them, the actor’s eyes cut sharply to one side, his mouth held in a tense line. Shunkōsai Hokushū’s portrait of Ichikawa Ebijūrō I as Tōken Jūbei uses a close view and an unforgettable costume to give a kabuki character immediate presence.

The costume that catches the eye

The skulls and skeletal forms spread across the garment are impossible to miss. Their pale shapes stand out against the dark fabric, while a flash of red at the chest adds another point of contrast. The pattern is not just decoration: on a stage where costume helps an audience recognize a character at a glance, it creates a forceful first impression. Rather than assigning one fixed meaning to the skulls, we can look at how they make the actor’s image feel daring and theatrical.

A face with its own drama

Hokushū brings us close enough to study Ebijūrō’s features. Strong brows, a sideways glance, and a tightly drawn mouth give the portrait its tension. The light, open background leaves little to compete with the face or the robe. This approach makes a single performer feel as vivid as a whole stage scene.

The print is an example of an Osaka actor portrait, part of the tradition of kamigata-e. It presents the actor as a recognizable presence while letting the role’s costume and expression carry the drama. Attributed to around 1822, the image shows how a print could preserve the visual excitement of kabuki beyond the theater.

Look above the actor

Handwritten verse occupies the space over Ebijūrō’s head. Its flowing lines provide a quiet counterpoint to the bold skull pattern below. Together, text, face, and costume shape the experience of looking: first the startling robe, then the actor’s expression, and finally the words hovering above him.

Hokushū’s portrait rewards that movement of the eye. What first appears to be a dramatic image of skulls becomes a study of how an actor, a costume, and an artist can create a character in a single sheet. 🎴