Individual Warrior Prints, Part I
These
prints are not part of any series.
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Scene: Ôta
Sayemon-dayû Mochisuke (usually known as Ôta
Dôkwan) with a maiden offering him a spray of yamabuki Publisher:
Nishimura-ya Yohachi Date: c.
1815-1820 Robinson:
S1a.1 |
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No image available |
Scene:
Hako-ô Maru (Soga Gorô) with hands clasped in prayer before a statue of Fudô
in front of a waterfall Publisher:
Nishimura-ya Yohachi Date: c.
1820 Robinson:
S1a.1a |
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Scene: Oki
Jirô Hiroari killing a huge tengu against
a dark background with flames coming from the tengu’s mouth Publisher:
Idzumi-ya Ichibei Date: c.
1820 Robinson:
S1a.2 NOTE: Tengu are forest-dwelling creatures
that are either human-like with wings and long noses or bird-like. |
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Scene: The
severed head of Shunte-dôji swooping on the helmet of Raikô Publisher:
Idzumi-ya Ichibei Date: c.
1820 Robinson:
S1a.3 |
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Scene:
Takeda Katsuchiyo Maru (Takeda Shingen in boyhood) making a slash at a
raccoon dog (tanuki) Publisher:
Date: c.
1825-1830 Robinson:
S1a.4 |
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Scene:
Kane-jo, a strong woman from Publisher:
Date: c.
1825-1830 Robinson:
S1a.5 |
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Scene:
Sasaki Saburô Moritsuna holding a dirk in his mouth strangling the fisherman
Tôdayû Publisher:
Date: c.
1825-1830 Robinson:
S1a.6 |
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This is another state of
the above print. |
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This is yet another state
of the same print. Sasaki Saburô
Moritsuna’s coat is not only red instead of blue, but it has a different
pattern, which means that it was printed from a different woodblock. Sasaki Saburô Moritsuna’s black hat and
Tôdayû’s blue garment also have different patterns. A careful comparison of other details, such
as the text and Tôdayû’s straw skirt, indicates that they were printed from
the same woodblocks. The reason for
replacing some, but not all, of the woodblocks cannot be known with
certainty. The original blocks may
have been damage, lost or worn-out.
Alternatively, the garments may have been modified to match those worn
in a new dramatic production. |
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Scene:
Magician Tenjiku Tokubei seated on a giant toad Publisher:
Date: c.
1825-1830 Robinson:
S1a.7 |
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Scene: Kamigashi-hime
thrusting her spear down on an earth-spider, which has emerged from its hole
below her to drink from a stream Publisher:
Tsuta-ya Kichizô (later edition published by Sano-ya Kihei) Date: c.
1825-1830 Robinson:
S1a.8 |
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Scene:
Saitô Oniwaka Maru (Benkei in boyhood), a dirk held in his teeth, fighting a
giant carp at the Bishamon Waterfall Publisher:
Tsuta-ya Kichizô Date: c.
1825-1830 Robinson:
S1a.9 Image courtesy of Richard
Illing |
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Scene:
Washinowo Saburô killing a huge wild boar Publisher:
Tsuta-ya Kichizô Date: c.
1825-1830 Robinson:
S1a.10 |
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Scene:
Kumagaye Naosada overcoming a black bear in the mountains of Musashi Publisher:
Tsuru-ya Kiyemon Date: c.
1825-1830 Robinson:
S1a.11 I am grateful to Ward
Pieters for locating this image. |
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Scene:
Asahina Saburô shouldering the gate of Hôjô Yoshitoki’s palace Publisher:
Idzumi-ya Ichibei Date: c.
1825-1830 Robinson:
S1a.12 |
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Scene:
Matano no Gorô Kagehisa and Sanada no Yoichi Munesada wrestling at the battle
of Ishibashiyama in 1180 Publisher:
Tsuru-ya Kiyemon Date: c.
1825-1830 Robinson:
S1a.13 |
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Another state of the above
print I am grateful to Ward
Pieters for locating this image. |
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Scene:
Higuchi Jirô (Kanemitsu) on a wooded mountainside struggling with a giant
monkey which grips his sword-blade between its teeth Publisher:
Tsuta-ya Kichizô Date: c.
1825 Robinson:
S1a.14 Note: This
print is the frontispiece of Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints by Basil William
Robinson (Cornell University Press, Ithica, NY, 1982) |
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Scene:
Kawadzu Sukeyasu throwing Matano Kagehisa in a sumô match under tent drapery bearing the Kudô mon
Publisher:
Idzumi-ya Ichibei Date: c.
1825 Robinson:
S1a.15 I am grateful to Ward
Pieters for locating this image. |
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Scene:
Takiguchi U-toneri Watanaba no Tsuna about to cut off the arm of the demon of
Rashômon Publisher:
Date: c.
1825 Robinson:
S1a.16 |
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Another state of the above
print I am grateful to Ward
Pieters for locating this image. |
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No image available |
Scene:
Matsui Tamijirô attacking a monstrous serpent in the mountains Publisher:
? Date: c.
1825 Robinson:
S1a.17 |
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Scene:
Yogo Shôgun Taira no Koremochi killing the demon-woman at Togakushi-yama with
a downward thrust of his sword Publisher:
Date: c.
1828 Robinson:
S1a.18 |
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Scene:
Miyamoto Musashi killing a monstrous bat in the mountains of Tamba Province
beside a river by moonlight Publisher:
Kawaguchi-ya Uhei Date: c.
1830 Robinson:
S1a.19 |
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Scene: Abe
no Sadatô defending himself against two ruffians Publisher:
Tsuru-ya Kiemon Date: c.
1825-1830 Robinson:
not listed |
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Scene:
Musashi-bô Benkei fully armored by moonlight with flying bats Publisher:
Tsuru-ya Kiyemon Date: c.
1832 Robinson:
S1b.1 |
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No image available |
Scene:
Minamoto no Yoshitsune seated on a stool in full armor beneath a blossoming
plum tree Publisher:
Idzumi-ya Ichibei Date: c.
1833 Robinson:
S1b.2 |
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Scene:
Watanabe no Tsuna standing with a drawn sword against a background of surging
black clouds Publisher:
Tsuru-ya Kiyemon Date: c.
1832 Robinson:
S1b.3 |
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Scene:
Satô Shirô Tadanobu brandishing a go
board in his last defense with a plain background. Tadanobu’s kimono displays his family crest Publisher:
Tsuru-ya Kiyemon Date: c.
1832 Robinson:
S1b.4 |
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Scene:
Sakata Kintoki wrestling with a three-eyed rokurokubi Publisher:
No seal Date: c.
1832 Robinson:
S1b.5 NOTE: Rokurokubi are female goblins with
long flexible necks. They look just
like ordinary women during the day, but at night they extend their necks to
frighten or spy on people. They
sometimes turn their human faces into those of demons. |
‘Robinson’ refers to listing in Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints by Basil William Robinson (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1982) and its unpublished supplement.
