Author: Utagawa Kunikazu (歌川国員).
Subject: the kabuki actors Arashi Kichisaburō III and Jitsukawa Enzaburō I (三代目嵐吉三郎, 初代目實川延三郎) as the brother Sasahara Sammonosuke (笹原左門之助) and Sasahara Hayato (笹原原隼人).
Series: Sixty odd provinces of great Japan: Buzen (Dai nippon rokujū to shū: Buzen, 大日本六十余州: 豊前).
Genre: yakusha-e (役者絵), kamigata-e (上方絵).
Size: medium (chūban, 中判).
Publisher: Ishikawa Wasuke (石川和助).
Period: c. 1861~1862.
Trimmed: no
Backed: no
Code: UKZ01001

Condition: the general condition is good. There are no remarkable stains or damage; no repairs have been made. The color has slightly faded on the cartouches, where it was originally a crimson red tone, and on the characters' garments, which were darker originally.

This print is a yakusha-e (役者絵) from the series 'Sixty Odd Provinces of Great Japan.' It portrays the Kabuki (歌舞伎) actors Arashi Kichisaburō III (嵐吉三郎) and Jitsukawa Enzaburō I (実川延三郎) as the Sasahara brothers from Buzen Province (豊前国), today's Buzen city (豊前市), Fukuoka Prefecture (福岡県), Kyūshū (九州).
Buzen Province, known as Buzen-no-kuni (豊前国) in Japanese, was located in the area of northeastern Kyūshū (九州), which today corresponds to parts of southeastern Fukuoka Prefecture (福岡県) and northwestern Ōita Prefecture (大分県). During the Edo period (江戸時代), this province was largely under the control of the Kokura Domain (小倉藩), ruled by the Ogasawara clan (小笠原氏), with some areas governed by the smaller Nakatsu Domain (中津藩). Buzen's history is marked by the influences of these ruling clans and the strategic importance of its location.
The Kokura Domain (小倉藩), with Kokura Castle (小倉城) at its center, played a significant role in the region's governance. This period was characterized by the rule of the Ogasawara (小笠原) family, which lasted until the end of the Edo period (江戸時代). The Ogasawara clan, known for their contributions to the development of Aganoyaki pottery and the tea ceremony, faced several challenges, including financial difficulties and internal conflicts known as the "Ogasawara Disturbances." Despite such turmoil, the domain is noted for its cultural achievements and the construction of Kokura Castle, which became a significant site in the region.
Nakatsu Castle (中津城), also located within Buzen Province (豊前国), was initially constructed by the Kuroda (黒田) and Hosokawa (細川) families and withstood the tumultuous events of the Edo period without being damaged by natural disasters. This castle was also known as "Ogi Castle" (扇城) due to its fan-like shape. Notably, Nakatsu Domain (中津藩) produced Yukichi Fukuzawa (福沢諭吉), an influential figure in modern Japanese history.