# Tail Doll Nagai Shuzan is said to have created the foundation for the current Oshie Hagoita (pressed-picture battledore). His masterpieces are also housed in the Yoshitoku Collection (Yoshitoku Doll Museum). This is not a mass-produced version, but a masterpiece produced in limited quantities as a work of art, and is inscribed "Shuzan Saku" (Made by Shuzan) in the upper right corner. It is rare for such an item to remain. Reading the description of the "Yoshitoku Collection" (Taito Ward Tangible Cultural Property), Shuzan was a diligent researcher, and was loved by Kaburaki Kiyokata, and later created works based on Kiyokata's paintings. The motif is the large Kabuki signboard, Soga Goro, played by Ichikawa Danjuro. The design emphasizes the arrows, so it is likely the play "Yanone" (Arrowroot) among the Soga plays. The fact that the performer is Danjuro is clear from the Mitsumasu (Ichikawa family's family crest) on the back. This play, in which a fortunate event of achieving one's goal at the foot of Mount Fuji is depicted, was popular with the people of Edo along with the beauty of the stage's perspective with Mount Fuji in the background, and is still often performed during the New Year. Soga Goro and Juro each have their own costume patterns, called "Chocho Chidori" (Butterflies and Plovers). With the rough Kumadori (makeup) and butterflies, this Hagoita must be Goro. The delicate armor construction is also one of the highlights. The back painting is the Mitsumasu, the Ichikawa family's family crest, and peonies, as explained at the beginning. Both are hand-painted. It is preserved in very good condition overall, but the base of the arrow appears to be broken. The arrows are glued to the board and will not come off. Height is about 20cm, and about 23cm including the tip of the arrow. It comes with a wooden gold leaf sprinkled stand.