The One and Only Eight Dog History of Old Kyokutei, Best of Refined Authors

(Kyokutei-ô seicho Hakkenshi zui-ichi)

Publisher: Nishimura-ya Yohachi

c. 1835

This series of prints is based upon the novel Nansoo Satomi Hakkenden (The Biography of Nansoo Satomi and the Eight Dog Warriors) written by Takizawa Bakin (1767-1848), who is here called Old Kyokutei. By a rather complicated set of circumstances, Fusehime, the daughter of Lord Anzai of the Satomi Clan, produces eight great warriors fathered by a dog. The majority of the novel’s 181 chapters relate their swashbuckling adventures. Each panel in this series is about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as ôban.

Kempachi Nobumichi on the Hôryûkaku roof Robinson: S5.2

Inudzuka Shino Moritaka on the Hôryûkaku roof Robinson: S5.1

Inuye Shimbei Masashi on the shoulders of his protector attacked by a gang of roughs Robinson: S5.4

Inuda Kobungo Yasuyori attacked by a gang of roughs Robinson: S5.3

Inuyama Dôsetsu Tadatomo chopping at stone tank Robinson: S5.6

Inukawa Sôsuke Yoshitô cuts off the corner of a stone tank, revealing a shining jewel Robinson: S5.5

Inumura Daikaku driving his dirk into a monstrous cat-witch Robinson: S5.8

Inuzaka Keno Tanetomo struggling with four assailants Robinson: S5.7

‘Robinson’ refers to listing in Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints by Basil William Robinson (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1982) and its unpublished supplement.

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