A comic performance authored by the famous rakugo¹ storyteller of the time, Ryūtei Enshi 柳亭燕枝 (1838-1900)², by the actors (from right to left) Sawamura Tosshō II, Kawarazaki Gonjūrō and Nakamura Shikan IV. Given the red banner displaying the characters 成田山 (Narita-san) held by one of the spectators, as seen on the far right of the right sheet, it is likely that this play is being staged at or near Narita-san temple (the head temple of the Chisan sect of Shingon Buddhism) in Fukagawa, where the deity, the Wrathful Bright King Fudō Myōō, is worshipped. The timing of this performance was likely coincident with one of the periodic public displays (unveilings) of sacred objects (kaichō) held by Narita-san and other temples to raise funds.

The right sheet of this print shows Sawamura Tosshō II in the role of the monk/spiritual leader Kōbō Daishi, founder of Shingon Buddhism, who is said to have carved an image of Fudō Myōō while in China in the early 800s which he used to pacify the waves in a great storm.

The center sheet shows Kawarazaki Gonjūrō, who will take the name of Ichikawa Danjūrō IX in 1884, as the deity Fudō Myōō surrounded by flames representing the burning of anger and passion to purify the mind.

The left sheet shows Daikoku, the god of good fortune, whose presence may relate to the fund raising aspect of the kaichō.

The three figures are matched with three low-city districts in early Tokyo, renowned for working-class entertainment and commerce: god of good fortune Daikoku is matched with Asakusa; the Fudō Myōō of the Narita-san temple complex is matched with Fukagawa; and the monk/spiritual leader Kōbō Daishi is matched with Ryōgoku.

Narita San Shinshō-ji 成田山 新勝寺 "New victory temple"

Narita-san is closely associated with Kabuki, in particular with the Ichikawa Danjūrō line of actors. As the story goes "Danjūrō the first had difficulty having a child so he prayed to the Narita Fudō-myōō god and soon after had Danjūrō the second. After that his Kabuki themes revolved around the spirituality of the Narita Fudō-myōō god. His play, 'Tsuwamonno-konngen-soga' became a hit. His successors, also named Danjūrō, were also deeply religious in the Fudō-myōō god and performed a play called 'Risho-ki' about how people can be blessed by the Fudō-myōō god. Thanks to the success of their plays, the Fudō-myōō god became well-known among the people of the Edo period."³ The first Danjūrō summoned the power of the deity for his aragoto performance style and the current Danjūrō, the 12th, continues to visit the temple.

The temple was established in 940 to commemorate the victory of the forces dispatched from the Heian capital to suppress a revolt by the powerful Kantō region samurai, Taira no Masakado.