Nakamura Utaemon IV as Karaki Masaemon (From the series A Tale of Valor at Iga Pass)

This Cleveland Museum of Art print shows Nakamura Utaemon IV as Karaki Masaemon, the central figure of the Igagoe vendetta narrative — the swordsman who guides and ultimately enables the avenger to kill his father's murderer at Iga Pass. Konishi Hirosada places Utaemon IV in characteristic okubi-e closeup, emphasizing the actor's intense facial expression and elaborate samurai dress. Nakamura Utaemon IV (1796-1852) was the dominant Osaka actor of the early-to-mid nineteenth century, succeeding to a stage name that carried tremendous prestige across multiple generations of kabuki performers. His portrayals of complex swordsman-mentor roles like Karaki Masaemon were celebrated for their psychological depth, and Hirosada's prints provided audiences with portable souvenirs of his most acclaimed performances. The Cleveland Museum acquired this print in 1976 as part of its Iga Pass set.