Men of Ready Money with True Labels Attached,
Kuniyoshi Fashion
(Kuniyoshi moyô
shôfuda tsuketari genkin otoko, 国芳もよう正札附現金男)
Publisher: Iba-ya Kyûbei
1845
The
rather cumbersome title of this series of heroic bust portraits is derived from
a contemporary kabuki play Shôfuda tsuki kongen kusazuri. The backgrounds are a solid color with a
short signed poem. The prints in this
series are each about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as ôban.
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Bust portrait:
Banzui Chôbei Poet:
Harunoya Kôichi Robinson:
S40.1 |
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Another state of the above design |
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Bust portrait:
Danshichi Kurobei (團七九郎兵衛) pouring a bucket of water over himself Poet:
Hôshitei Robinson:
S40.2 Image courtesy of Richard
Illing |
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Bust portrait:
Goshaku Somegorô (五尺染五郎) playing a shakuhachi
(bamboo flute) Poet:
Umeya Robinson:
S40.3 NOTE: The
uneven coloration of the background is the result of oxidation of the ink. |
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Another state of the above design |
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Bust portrait:
Nozarashi Gosuke (野晒五助) in a robe of skulls made up of cats and carrying a
long sword with a skull-like wooden sandal attached Poet:
Ryûkatei Tanekazu Robinson:
S40.4 |
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Another state of the above design |
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Bust portrait:
The sumô wrestler Nuregami Chôgorô
holding a pipe Poet:
Rôshô Robinson:
S40.5 |
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Bust portrait:
Shirai Gompachi (白井権八) holding a spotted scarf over his shoulders with a shakuhachi (bamboo flute) tucked in
the back of his girdle Poet:
Ryûkatei Tanekazu Robinson:
S40.6 |
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Bust portrait:
Teranishi Kanshin (寺？感心) holding an open fan Poet:
Gosônoya of Ise Robinson:
S40.7 |
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Another state of the above design |
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Bust portrait:
Tôken Gombei (唐犬権兵衛) looking in a mirror and wearing a kimono decorated with scenes of hell Poet:
Takaraya Masuo Robinson:
S40.8 |
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Bust portrait:
Ude Kisaburô (腕喜三郎) with a grim face and folded arms Poet:
Kunoya Umeki Robinson:
S40.9 |
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Bust portrait:
Poet:
Umeya Robinson:
S40.10 |
“Robinson” refers to listing in Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints by Basil William Robinson (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1982) and its privately published supplement.
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