Ukiyo-e print - Frogs as Japanese Kabuki actors Thongs

The traditional form of Japanese dance-drama known as Kabuki theatre started back in the 17th century and quickly became a favourite subject of Ukiyo-e (literally “pictures of the floating world”) genre of woodblock prints and paintings of the time. This kabuki woodcut by ukiyo-e master Utagawa Kuniyoshi, however, is a wonderful variation on the theme. Kuniyoshi produced hundreds of triptychs and diptychs of kabuki actors, but in this particular print the famous characters from kabuki theatre are played by frogs!