Background
The plot of the play Keisei Soga haru no fujigane (景清曽我賑不尽) is unknown to us, but it is certainly related to one of the many Soga monogatari (Stories about the Soga: 曾我物語) about the Soga brothers hell-bent on avenging their father's murder. These jidaimono (lit., "period piece" or historical drama: 時代物) were produced annually at the New Year for kabuki. In the present production Kataoka Gado II also played the role of Soga no Jurô, while Ichikawa Ebizô V performed as Soga no Gorô. Conflated with the Soga tale in this play was the saga of Akushichibyoe Kagekiyo (the historical Taira Kagekiyo), with Ichikawa Ebizô V taking on that role as well.
Hirosada's depiction of Kataoka Gado II as Chichibu Shôji Shigetada is the center sheet of a triptych with Ichikawa Ebizo V as Iwanaga Saemon and Ichikawa Danzô VI as the courtesan Akoya on the right and left sheets, respectively.
Design
This is a finely printed and well-preserved deluxe edition of the design, with with furikake ("sprinkling" or application of powdered metallics: 振掛). For another design issued for this play, see HSD51.
References: IKBYS-V, no. 503
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