The Revenge of the Soga Brothers is a story of two brothers who for eighteen years plotted and planned revenge for the wrongful death of their father. The story focuses on the conflict between the authority of the Shogun and the brothers’ loyalty to their father, highlighting the clash between their heroic vendetta and the feudal system that condemned them. The story was particularly popular in Kabuki plays of Edo period Japan (1615-1868).
- Titles Actor Sawamura Tosshō II as Soga Jūrō Sukenarii, from the series Butterflies and Plovers Kill Ten (Proper)@「蝶千鳥十番切」(二代目)「沢村訥升」「曽我十郎祐成」 (Proper)@Chou Chidori Jubangiri Soga (The White Camelia: The Revenge of the Soga Brothers) (Former title)
- Artist Toyohara Kunichika, Japan, 1835 - 1900
- Medium ink and color on paper
- Dimensions 13 5/8 x 9 7/8 in. (34.6 x 25.1 cm)
- Credit Line Gift of the Utagawa-ha Monjin-kai, 1994.81
- Work Type woodblock print
- Classification Prints
- Signature Recto, printed in white cartouch, right: Kunichika wrote (国周筆, Kunichika hitsu)
- Marks Recto, publisher's mark printed in yellow cartouch, lower right: Tsunoi (津伊) Recto, carver's mark printed white cartouch, left of signature: Carve Chō (彫長, Hori Chō) Recto, censor's seal, above blockcutter's mark: Dragon 8 aratame (辰八改)
- Inscription Recto, printed in colorful cartouch, top right corner: Butterflies and Plovers Kill Ten (蝶千鳥十番切, Chō chidori jūban kiri) Recto, printed in yellow cartouch, top right corner: Soga Jūrō Sukenari (曽我十郎祐成) Recto, printed in red cartouch, upper right: Sawamura Tosshō (沢村訥升)