According to some sources, there was a significant scandal during the Edo era: the daughter of a wealthy oil shop owner and a shop boy fell in love. However, the difference in their social status made it unable for them to get together, leading to a tragic double suicide. At the time, oil was an expensive commodity, mostly used for lamps, and oil merchants were quite affluent. This heartbreaking story became a popular theme in many areas, including kabuki.

In this image, the young girl appears very happy as she holds a letter in her hands, presumably from her lover, or perhaps one she has just finished writing. Her delicately depicted fingers holding the letter vividly show her excitement and elation.