The Actors Ichikawa Danjūrō and Sawamura Sōjūrō II as the Priest Mongaku Shōnin and Taira no Kiyomori in the play Nagi no ha Izu no sugatami at the Nakamura Theater

Although most famous for nishike-e prints, Harunobu began his career with benizuri-e prints. Roughly thirty actor prints survive from the early stage in Harunobu’s career, and only one example survives of each. This is the only known copy of this benizuri-e print. This is a scene from the play Nagi no ha Izu no sugatami performed at the Nakamuraza theater in the eleventh month of 1762. Here Ichikawa Danjūrō IV (1711–78) holds an opened handscroll in his role as Priest Mongaku, who was an ally of Minamoto no Yoritomo. The figure holding a spear is Sawamura Sōjūrō II (1713–70) in the role of Taira no Kiyomori.