Sanjo Kantaro II in the Role of Urashima Taro
1704
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1704
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
A man in a bright kimono stands on a rocky shore, holding a fishing pole. His face is pale, his hair tied back in a loose knot. A small tortoise peeks from the waves near his feet. This is a Kabuki actor playing Urashima Tarō, a fisherman who visits a magical underwater palace. The artist didn’t show the palace—just the quiet moment before the story explodes. The actor’s delicate features and flowing sleeves tell you he’s playing a young man, even though he was famous for female roles too. Look up *Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)* to see more paintings like this.
