After a lot of digging around, we finally found the original of this print! In this reproduction of it we see actors (from left) Ichikawa Komazô II (as Sano Genzaemon), Ichikawa Danjûrô V (as Sanshô Dayû, actually Sano no Gentôta), and Nakamura Nakazô I (as Prince Munetaka) from the kabuki play Kawaranu Hana Sakae Hachi-no-ki (常花栄鉢木). The play, a kaomise (play used to introduce actors for a new season to their audience) was based on the Noh play Hachi-no-ki. Danjûrô holds a lantern and sword, and is in kumadori makeup, while the two others seem to be fighting over a staff carried by Buddhist monks known as a shakujō. There are three crests at the top of the print, two of which take the shape of the mimasu-mon ("three square crest") of the Ichikawa family of actors, and one from the mon of the Nakamura family.

Some beautiful karazuri blind embossing can be seen on the costume of the actor on the right, and the same technique is used on the snow in the background.