Utagawa Toyokuni I, Segawa Kikunojō III, 1798, woodblock print. Segawa Kikunojo III was a celebrated

Utagawa Toyokuni I, Segawa Kikunojō III, 1798, woodblock print.

Segawa Kikunojo III was a celebrated kabuki actor who posted exclusively female parts. The tradition of men playing women in the theatre was first encouraged to avoid licentious behaviour, but for many of these actors it was not a moral necessity but a serious way of life. For example they would continue to dress as women outside of Kabuki and would even become major trend setters among the female population. Their cultural influence is clearly apparent from the number of woodblock prints which were mass produced to glorify capture their image.