This uchiwa-e, or rigid fan print, design by Hiroshige is one of a set of three, the two other designs having been created by Utagawa Kunisada I (1786-1864) and Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1868). The 'Sanbaso Dance' of the series title was an Edo period (1615-1868) adaptation of Okina, one of the oldest works in the No theatrical repertory with origins in ritual dances dating back to the 10th century. In both its Bunraku puppet theatre and Kabuki theatre versions it was performed, as in the case of the No theatre, on celebratory occasions and always at the beginning of a cycle of plays. The pine tree backdrop is similar to what would have been used on the stage. The references to Senzai, the character alluded to in this design, are the heron pattern of the woman's robe, the black cap in the lower corner of the cartouche and the insect box, which represents the box in which the mask presented to Okina was kept.