Tenjiku Tokubei:

Chichu-no Renge (lotus flower on a pond): Tenjiku Tokubei. The drama entitled Tenjiku Tokubei Ikoku-banashi (story of Tokubei in India) is derived from a tale about Tokubei, a boatman who drifted as far off as Tenjiku (India). He became a town topic after making a miraculous return home. In the drama, Tokubei, assumed to be a son of deceased Korean warrior, Mokusokan, is a supernatural and ambitious character. Pursuing his father's will, Tokubei attempts to invade and seize command over all of Japan by skillfully resorting to witchcraft that conjures a monstrous toad. disguised as a blind masseur from Echigo Province, he visits the fort of Umezu Kamon, a provincial lord. Upon being suspected of his true colors, he jumps into a lotus pond in the garden, out of which he immediately emerges in the guise of a shogun's official envoy. This instant costume change under water is truly a highlight scene of the play. The drama, ever since its premiere, was a specialty of the Onoe Kikugoro family. This picture shows Ichimura Uzaemon XIII, later named Kikugoro V.
Overall dimensions: 13" by 13-1/2" (approximately)