Wakashu Playing the Hand Drum, Ichirakutei Eisui

Ichirakutei Eisui (active 1790-1823), Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

In this drawing of a Wakashu holding up this shoulder drum, we get a close-up look at a Wakashu’s hairstyle. It has Edo period stroke in visualizing the character and also this light make up on this Wakashu’s face. We see a very strong characteristic of half-shaved top up on his head as a prominent way of telling the difference between a wakashu and a man who has entered adulthood. Other characteristics of his hairstyle include a knot in the back of his head, and long forelocks at the sides, which opposed to adulte men. We also see here that he is dressed in clothing the same as what a young and unmarried woman would wear - long and flowing-sleeved kimono. The distinct hairstyle and clothes were banned for Wakashu to wear and thus the taking away of this group’s identity after the implementation of Sakako.