This plate is in the first edition of volume I of Utamaro's most interesting shunga book of his later period, 'Michiyuki koi no futosao', which was first issued in black and white, before the color edition followed somewhat later.

The depictions in the book show famous couples inspired by theatrical dramas of the Japanese puppet theater, the 'Bunraku', and by chronicles on famous lovers, such as Gompachi and Komurosaki (the names of the lovers are written on each illustration). The book contains two well-known illustrations of homosexual activities (homosexual scenes in Utamaro's books are very rare). The opening page depicts a scene in a theater, with an actor on stage and a few spectators with phalliform heads.