Twelve Months of Buffoonery

(Dôke jûnitsuki, 道外十二月)

Publisher: Ezaki-ya Kichibei

c. 1839-1842

First half of this series is titled Twelve Months of Buffoonery (Dôke jûnitsuki, 道外十二月), and the second half is titled A Set of Twelve Months of Buffoonery (Dôke jûnitsuki no uchi, 道外十二月の内). This series is not listed in Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson (Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1961). The images are each about 10 by 7 inches (25 by 18 centimeters), a size known as chûban. Two images were printed on a sheet of paper about 10 by 14 inches (25 by 36 centimeters), a size known as ôban.

Month: 2 (February) Description:

Month: 1 (January) Description: Children tormenting a street performer

Month: 4 (April) Description: Battle of the first products of the season (Shigatsu hatsumono no arasoi)

Month: 3 (March) Description: Battle of the dolls (Sangatsu hiina no isakai)

Month: 6 (June) Description: Children tormenting a crippled man

Month: 5 (May) Description:

Month: 8 (August) Description: Man afraid of a shadow

Month: 7 (July) Description: The Star Festival

Month: 10 (October) Description: Bathhouse scene

Month: 9 (September) Description:

Title: Polar Moon, Demon’s New Year’s Eve (Dôke jûnitsuki, Gokuzuki, Ômisoka no oni; 道外十二月, 極月 大晦日の鬼) Month: 12 (December) Description: A parade of oni (demons) NOTE: The last day of the year is known as “demon’s new year’s eve” (ômisoka no oni, 大晦日の鬼). The lanterns are marked Enma (えんま) and Oni (鬼).

Month: 11 (November) Description: Raccoon dog selling scrotums that resemble Yatsaugashira potatoes sold at the Torinoichi Festival

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