Miscellaneous comic series

 

 

Series: Clowning around in Heaven (Dôke tenchû gyôji, 道外天中行事)

Number: 1 ()

Title: None

Robinson: Not listed

Description: Amaterasu receiving a variety of other kami

Format: ôban (about 14 by 10 inches or 36 by 25 centimeters)

Date: c. 1841

Publisher: No seal

 

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image and information.

 

 

 

Series: Clowning around in Heaven (Dôke tenchû gyôji, 道外天中行事)

Number: 2 ()

Title: Wind on the Fifth Day (Itsuka-me no kaze, 五日めの風)

Robinson: Not listed

Description: Fûjin, the kami of wind, is releasing wind from his bag, which is being directed down to earth with fans marked (kaze, wind). 

Format: ôban (about 14 by 10 inches or 36 by 25 centimeters)

Date: c. 1841

Publisher: No seal

 

NOTE: The idea behind this print is the expression “Wind every fifth day and rain every tenth day”, meaning a harmonious balance in the weather.  I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this information.

 

Series: Crazy Pictures (Kyôga, 狂画)

Robinson: Not listed

Title: Monster Drinking Party (Bakemono sakamori, ばけものさかもり)

Description: A nekomata (cat ghost), a kitsune (fox ghost or trickster), and a rokurokubi (long-necked ghost) playing kitsune-tsuri (trap the fox)

Format: ôban (about 14 by 10 inches or 36 by 25 centimeters)

Date: c. 1841-1842

Publisher: Sano-ya Kihei

 

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image. 

 

Series: Crazy Pictures (Kyôga, 狂画)

Robinson: Not listed

Title: Kappa’s Pottery Repair (Kappa no yakisugi, かつぱのやきすぎ)

Description: Kappa coming out of the water to give a dish to a man with a carrying stick

Format: ôban (about 14 by 10 inches or 36 by 25 centimeters)

Date: c. 1841-1842

Publisher: Sano-ya Kihei

 

NOTE: This print satirizes the belief that kappa had a saucer-shaped depression on the tops of their heads which had to hold water for the kappa to retain their powers.  I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

 

Series: Likenesses of the Fart in a Series of Comic Farts (He no yôna dôke he-zukushi, 屁のやうなどうけ尽し)

Robinson: 189

Title:

Description:

Format: Chûban (about 7 by 10 inches or 18 by 25 centimeters) printed two per sheet 

Date: c. 1845

Publisher: Nomura-ya Tokubei

 

I am grateful to Michael R. O’Clair for this image.

Series: Likenesses of the Fart in a Series of Comic Farts (He no yôna dôke he-zukushi, 屁のやうなどうけ尽し)

Robinson: 189

Title: Unread

Description: Parody of the famous swordsmen Miyamoto Musashi (宮本 武蔵) and Tsukahara Bokuden (塚原 卜伝)

Format: Chûban (about 7 by 10 inches or 18 by 25 centimeters) printed two per sheet 

Date: c. 1845

Publisher: Nomura-ya Tokubei

 

NOTE: The two characters in the print, Heyamoto Kusashi (屁や夲くさし) and Kusahara no Ijin (くさはらの異人), have comically similar sounding names to the swordsmen.  Kusa in their names means smelly, so Kushashi can be read as smelly samurai or Mr. Smelly, and Kusahara no Ijin as strange man with a smelly belly.  I am grateful to Robert Pryor for the image and the information.

 

Series: Successful Plays with Frolicking Dogs (Atari doshi inu no tawamure, 当田どし犬の戯)

Robinson: Not listed

Top title: Dog ken (Inuken)

Bottom title: Mysterious lights on the sea (Shiranui)

Format: Chûban (about 7 by 10 inches or 18 by 25 centimeters) printed two per sheet 

Date: 3rd month of 1850

Publisher: Ôta-ya Takichi

 

NOTE: The Japanese word “atari” means a hit or a success.

 

 

Series: Frolicking Dogs (Inu no tawamure, 犬のたわむれ)

Robinson: Not listed

Top title: The rag picker (Kuzuhiroi)

Bottom title: The dog’s revenge (Inu no katakiuchi)

Format: Chûban (about 7 by 10 inches or 18 by 25 centimeters) printed two per sheet 

Date: 1849

Publisher: Ôta-ya Takichi

 

Series: A Hundred Turtles… (Hyakki yakyû, 百亀家久)

Robinson: Not listed

Top title: Acrobatics (Karuwaza, かるわざ)

Top description: A ropewalking turtle

Bottom title: Caricature of the Shitenno (Shitenno mitate, 四天王の見立)

Bottom description: A turtle riding a crab.  This is a parody on Raiko’s four champions subduing the Earth Spider. 

Format: Chûban (about 7 by 10 inches or 18 by 25 centimeters) printed two per sheet 

Date: c. 1840s

Publisher: Fûyo

Series: A Hundred Turtles… (Hyakki yakyû, 百亀家久)

Robinson: Not listed

Top title: Sake Enthusiasts (Sakezuki, さけずき)

Top description: Two turtles drinking sake, with a crab tending a fire

Bottom title: The Journey (Ryokô, りよこう)

Bottom description: Turtle being lead with a rope and being ridden

Format: Chûban (about 7 by 10 inches or 18 by 25 centimeters) printed two per sheet 

Date: c. 1840s

Publisher: Fûyo

 

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

Series: A Hundred Turtles… (Hyakki yakyû, 百亀家久)

Robinson: Not listed

Title: The Night Stall (Yomise, 夜見世)

Description: Turtles at a shop at night

Format: Chûban (about 7 by 10 inches or 18 by 25 centimeters) printed two per sheet 

Date: 1842-1843 (censor Takano Shin’emon)

 

NOTE: This is a key block print, courtesy of Richard Illing

Series: Silly Chronicles of the Golden Treasury (Bakatehon hyô kingura, ばかてほんひやうきんぐら)

Robinson: Not listed

Titles: Ryugoku Bridge scenes of the Chûshingura and Parodies of the Night Attack

Description: Ôban (about 14 by 10 inches or 36 by 25 centimeters)

Format: aper about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as Ôban.

Date: c. 1839

Publisher:

 

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

Kuniyoshi - Japanese Divinities Compared to the 12 Months (Jû-ni gwatsu wa ko kami) (R110), Kanchono - a warrior archer,

 

Series: Japanese Divinities Compared to the Twelve Months (Jû-ni gwatsu wa ko kami, 十二月和合神)

Robinson: 110

Title:

Description: Kanchono, a warrior archer

Format: ôban (about 14 by 10 inches or 36 by 25 centimeters)

Date: c. 1840

Publisher: Sano-ya Kihei

 

Kuniyoshi - Actors as Fish (Uo no kokoro), 1842, oban, pub

 

Series: Actors as Fish (Uo no kokoro, 魚の心)

Robinson: Not listed

Title: None

Description (from the top): flathead (kochi), sting ray (akaei) with face of Onoe Eizaburô, rockfish (mebaru) with face of Sawamura Sôjûrô V, mirror dory (kagamidai) with face of Ichikawa Kuzô II, cuttlefish (ika) with face of Onoe Kikujirô II, gurnard (hôbô) with face of Seki Sanjûrô III and octopus (iidako) with face of Ôtani Hiroemon V

Format: ôban (about 14 by 10 inches or 36 by 25 centimeters)

Date: 1842

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Uhei

Series: Actors as Fish (Uo no kokoro, 魚の心), three states are shown 

Robinson: Not listed

Title: None

Description: (from the top): two horse mackerels (aji) the lower one with the face of Nakamura Utaemon IV, sea bream (tai) with the face of Arashi Kichisaburô III, flatfish (karei) with the face of Iwai Shijaku (Hanshirô IIV), puffer fish (fugu) with the face of, Onoe Tamizô II, octopus (tako) with the face of Nakayama Bungorō II and crab (kani)

Format: ôban (about 14 by 10 inches or 36 by 25 centimeters)

Date: 1842

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Uhei

Kuniyoshi - Popular Kites (Ryûkô tako kurabe), kite series

Series: Popular Kites (Ryûkô tako kurabe, 流行たこくらべ)

Robinson: Not listed

Title:

Description:

Kuniyoshi - Popular Kites (Ryûkô tako kurabe), kite series(key)

1.  Actor Onoe Kikujirô II as a female Daruma
2.  Octopus with face of actor Nakayama Ichizô
3.  Red kite with face of actor Matsumoto Kôshirô VI
4.  Dragon with face of actor Sakata Sajûrô II
5.  Black kite with face of actor Ichikawa Kuzô II

Format: ôban (about 14 by 10 inches or 36 by 25 centimeters)

Date: 1846-1848

Publisher: Ebiju-ya Yo

Kuniyoshi - Popular Kites (Ryûkô tako kurabe), 1846-48, pub

Series: Popular Kites (Ryûkô tako kurabe, 流行たこくらべ)

Robinson: Not listed

Title:

Description:

Kuniyoshi - Popular Kites (Ryûkô tako kurabe), 1846-48, pub

1.  Fukusuke doll with face of actor Nakayama Bungorô

2.  Raccoon dog (tanuki) 

3.  Servant (yakko) with face of actor Onoe Tamizô II

4.  Catfish with face of actor Ichikawa Hakoemon

5.  Rabbit with face of actor Sawamura Sôjûrô V

Format: ôban (about 14 by 10 inches or 36 by 25 centimeters)

Date: 1846-1848

Publisher: Ebiju-ya Yo

Kuniyoshi - Fortunate Debut of the 7 Gods of Good Luck (Kaiun shusse kohon Shichi-fukujin), (R183), about 1843-1847 (Tempô 14-Kôka 4)m, Daikoku

Title: The Seven Gods of Good Fortune Join Together to Bring Luck (Kaiun shusse gattai Shichifukujin, 開運出世合体七福神)

Robinson: 183

Description: Daikoku (大黒), whose image is made up of a composite of all 7 gods, displaying his giant golden phallus and holding a golden mallet (uchide no kozuchi).

Format: Ôban (about 14 by 10 inches or 36 by 25 centimeters)

Date: 1842-1846 (censor Murata Sahei)

Publisher: Fujioka-ya Hikotarô

 

NOTE: The title may also be translated as The Seven Gods of Good Fortune Join Bodies and Give Birth to Luck.  I am grateful to Robert Pryor for information about this print.

342

 

Series: Asahina (朝夷)

Robinson: Not listed

Title: Asahina Saburô Yoshihide Playing on the Island of Dwarfs (Asahina Saburo Yoshihide kobito-jima asobi, 朝比奈三郎義秀小人じま遊)

Description: Asahina Saburô (朝夷三郎) on the island of the dwarfs

Format: Ôban (about 14 by 10 inches or 36 by 25 centimeters)

Date: c. 1842

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Uhei

343

 

Series: Asahina (朝夷)

Robinson: Not listed

Title: Asahina Yoshihide in the Land of the Dwarfs (朝比奈義秀小人遊)

Description: Asahina Saburô on the island of the dwarfs

Format: Ôban (about 14 by 10 inches or 36 by 25 centimeters)

Date: c. 1842

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Uhei

Series: Fashionable Daruma Games (Ryûkô Daruma asobi, 流行達磨遊び)

Robinson: Not listed

Title: None

Description:

Format: Ôban (about 10 by 14 inches or 25 by 36 centimeters)

Date: c. 1839-1841

Publisher: No seal

 

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

Series: Fashionable Daruma Games (Ryûkô Daruma asobi, 流行達磨遊び)

Robinson: Not listed

Title: None

Description:

Format: Ôban (about 10 by 14 inches or 25 by 36 centimeters)

Date: c. 1839-1841

Publisher: No seal

 

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

 

Series: 36 Famous Views of Edo (Edo meisho sanjuroku kei no uchi, 江戸名所三十六景の内); A Comical Shank’s Mare (Dôke hizakurige, 道外膝栗毛)

Robinson: Not listed

Title: The An’yo-ji Temple in Tamagawa (Kushushi Furukawa, 古川薬師)

Description: A monk ordering Yaji (弥次) and Kitahachi (喜多八) to leave the temple

Formatôban (about 14 by 10 inches or 36 by 25 centimeters)

Date: 6th month of 1855

PublisherÔta-ya Takichi

 

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

 

Series: 36 Famous Views of Edo (Edo meisho sanjuroku kei no uchi, 江戸名所三十六景の内); A Comical Shank’s Mare (Dôke hizakurige, 道外膝栗毛)

Robinson: Not listed

Title: Return to Kinoshitagawa (Kinoshitagawa no kaeri, 木下川の返り)

Description: Yaji (弥次) and Kitahachi (喜多八) slipping and sliding

Formatôban (about 14 by 10 inches or 36 by 25 centimeters)

Date: 6th month of 1855

PublisherÔta-ya Takichi

 

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

 

 

“Robinson” refers to listing in Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson, 1961, Victoria and Albert Museum, London

CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO MAIN PAGE

 

KuniyoshiProject