Heroine Umekawa in MEIDO NO HIYAKU

Umekawa is the tragic heroine of "Meido no Hikyaku" (The Courier for Hell), a bunraku and kabuki play by the great Osaka playwright Chikamatsu Monzaemon. In the story, Umekawa, a courtesan of the Shinmachi pleasure quarter, falls in love with the courier Chubei, who steals money from his employer to redeem her from the brothel. Their doomed flight and inevitable capture form one of the most affecting love stories in the Japanese dramatic tradition. Tsunetomi, as an Osaka native, had particular affinity for Chikamatsu's work, which was set in the very pleasure districts he depicted throughout his career. This oban-format print renders Umekawa with the emotional depth the character demands, likely showing her in the distinctive costume associated with the role in performance.