A scene from the play The Tale of the Sakura Martyr (Higashiyama Sakura Zōshi)

Engraving from Kabuki theater. In the Summer of 1851, the city of Edo saw the premiere of The Tale of the Sakura Martyr ‎‎(Higashiyama Sakura Zōshi). Based on true events, it tells the story of a peasant who is ‎executed after protesting against the authorities. In this frightening scene, Sakura Tōgō’s ‎bloodied ghost returns to haunt the feudal lord responsible for his death. The strong political ‎nature of this play reflects decades marked by immorality and social decadence, hinting at ‎the coming fall of the feudal government and the consequent end of an era. ‎
The staging of ghost stories was one of the highlights of the Kabuki summer season. At this ‎time of the year, the Obon Buddhist Festival (still celebrated today) remembers and ‎welcomes the souls of those who have departed; at the same time, the chilling experience ‎that characterizes ghostly tales was, in the Edo period, a well-known antidote for Japan’s hot ‎and humid summers. On stage, the sudden materialization of these frightening and ‎grotesque figures, through special effects, captivated the 19th century audiences.‎