Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)  
Omori Hikoshichi, 1820
Oban
Sheet size 36.5 x 24.5 cm
A young 'innocent' woman has persuaded a warrior (Omori Hikoshichi, a samurai from the 14th century) to carry her across a stream on his back. When they are halfway across he looks down and sees the reflection of a hanya demon in the water in front of him. Kunisada has masterfully captured this specific moment; the troubled expression on Hikoshichi's face as he is confronted with this hazardous situation, reaching beneath his robes ready to draw his sword.
There are two variations on the story, the first is straightforward, Hikoshichi draws his sword and kills the demon just in time. The second is not mythical and tells the tale of revenge by the defeated warlord Kusonoki Masashige's daughter who's seeking retribution for her father's suicide. She puts on a hanya mask before imposing revenge.