Scene from the play Sukeroku, The Cherry Blossom of Edo
Many Kabuki scenes transpire in a brothel, like the one here. Sukeroku is looking for a stolen sword. He suspects a wealthy, elderly customer whose eye has fallen on Sukeroku’s girlfriend, the courtesan Agemaki. Sukeroku insults the man grieveously by offering him a pipe with
his foot in the hope that he will draw his sword in anger.