Famous Heroes of the Kabuki Stage Played by Frogs – Utagawa Kuniyoshi (c. 1840)

Kabuki’s greatest heroes… played by a troupe of frogs. In this joyful print, Utagawa Kuniyoshi fills a pale blue sheet with frogs and toads striking the dramatic poses of the kabuki stage. Samurai frogs draw their swords, two toads in loincloths grapple like sumo wrestlers, others swirl in kimono, wave fans or wear lotus leaves as costumes, and one lies flat on its back at the bottom of the scene. Bulging eyes, round white bellies and fierce scowls: each actor is caught at the peak of its role.

Next to every frog, a small yellow cartouche gives the name of the character it plays, as on a theatre programme. Edo audiences would have recognised these famous roles at a glance, such as Soga no Gorō Tokimune, one of the great heroes of kabuki, and laughed at seeing them performed by these croaking actors. The humour lies in the contrast between the seriousness of the poses and the round, clumsy bodies of the frogs.

Kuniyoshi, master of animal parody

Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861) loved animals, and especially cats, which he kept in his studio. He often dressed animals as humans to parody theatre, legends and daily life in Edo, with a wit that still feels fresh today. These playful prints, known as giga (“comic pictures”), are among the most popular of his work.

• Artist: Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861)
• Date: c. 1839-1841
• Technique: woodblock print (ukiyo-e)
• Format: vertical
• Theme: kabuki, frogs, Japanese humour

A funny, colourful print for a living room, a child’s room or a frog lover. Discover another side of the artist with The Ghost Cat, and more of his work in our Kuniyoshi collection.