79. Dawn moon and tumbling snow (Seppu no gyogetsu)

In the final act from the Kabuki play Chushingura, “The Attack on Morono’s Mansion”, one snowy night the revengeful Ronin begin their attack. Kobayashi Heihachiro is sleeping at his home nearby. Disguising himself as a maid, he rushes in to defend his lord. In this scene Yoshitoshi focusses on Heihachiro, who is heavily outnumbered by four of the Ronin, among which the young Oishi Rikya (print #4). It is obvious, however, that they are not the hero's from this scene. Heihachiro fends off his attackers with great courage, but is eventually killed. (printed in 1889.)