The Enigmatic Ukiyo-e Artist, Sharaku, and His Connection to Kagurazaka
The Enigmatic Ukiyo-e Artist, Sharaku, and His Connection to Kagurazaka Who is Sharaku? Toshusai Sharaku is a unique figure in the world of Ukiyo-e. In a brief period between May 1794 and January 1795, he produced over 145 works primarily focused on actor portraits, and then suddenly vanished. His prolific output in such a short time and his mysterious disappearance leave many unanswered questions. Characteristics of Sharaku’s Art Sharaku’s works are distinguished by their unique expressive power. His portraits of actors are boldly and realistically captured, which was unusual for the time. This approach quickly made him popular but also controversial due to his unflinchingly real depictions of actors. One of his most famous pieces, “Otani Oniji III as Yakko Edobei,” vividly portrays the actor’s expressions and gestures. The True Identity of Sharaku Over the years, various theories about Sharaku’s identity have been proposed. Recently, the theory that Sharaku was Saito Jurobei, a Noh actor in the service of the Awa Tokushima Domain, has gained traction. According to this theory, Saito Jurobei temporarily took up painting while serving the daimyo. His existence and his work as a painter have been substantiated through various documents, including