This print shows the warrior Higuchi Jirō Kanemitsu. He has disguised himself as a boatman, Matsuemon, hoping to find an opportunity to harm his enemies. However, his cover is blown by enemy soldiers, who attack him in his boat. Here Kanemitsu has climbed a pine tree to survey the enemy surrounding him; the pine tree forms the link between print and poem. The story was the subject of a popular kabuki play.
nishiki-e
Nishiki-e literally means 'brocade pictures' and refers to multi-coloured woodblock prints.
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