
1805–1815
The actor Onoe Shōroku I (1744–1815; also known as Onoe Matsusuke I) was known for playing supernatural roles, which often required quick changes of costume to transform from a beauty into a demon or ghost. This print documenting a performance at the Ichimura-za Theater in Edo (now Tokyo) tries to mimic the special effects of the Kabuki stage by including a flap of paper that hides the ghost the young woman transforms into.