Untitled series of children performing firemen's acrobatics

Publisher: Yamamoto-ya Heikichi

c. 1837

This series shows children imitating acrobatics performed by firemen at various festivals. Demonstrations called dezomeshiki (出初式), usually took place in the first week of January and include acrobatics atop the bamboo hashigo (梯子) ladders. Each print also shows a matoi (纏), a flag or standard used by firemen in the Edo period. The series is not listed in Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson (Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1961). The prints are each about 14 by 5 inches or 36 by 13 centimeters, a size known as chûtanzakuban. I am grateful to Robert Pryor for assisting with this section.

	Brigade: Ni Brigade of Group One (Ni-gumi, に組)
	A hanshita-e (final drawing) for the above design
	Brigade: Se Brigade Group Two (Se-gumi, せ組)
	A hanshita-e (final drawing) for the above design
	Brigade: I Brigade of Group One (I-gumi, い組)
	Another state of the above design
	A hanshita-e (final drawing) for the above design
	Brigade: Me Brigade of Group Two (Me-gumi, め組)
	A hanshita-e (final drawing) for the above design
	Brigade: Ro Brigade of Group Two (Ro-gumi, ろ組) This hanshita-e (final drawing) may be for a print that was never published.
	Brigade: Mo Brigade of Group Two (Mo-gumi, も組) This hanshita-e (final drawing) may be for a print that was never published.
	Brigage: Yo Brigade of Group One (Yo-gumi, よ組) This hanshita-e (final drawing) may be for a print that was never published.
	Brigage: Ha Brigade of Group One (Ha-gumi, は組) This hanshita-e (final drawing) may be for a print that was never published.
	Although not part of the above series, this diptych bears a marked resemblance Robinson: Not listed Title: Children Playing as Diggers of the Well of Golden Water (子供遊金生水之掘抜, Kodomo asobi kinjôsui no horinuki) Size: Kakemono-e, a vertical diptych with each panel about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters) Description: Children using bamboo scaffolding to dig a well Date: 1842 Publisher: Jôshû-ya Kinzô

“Robinson” refers to listing of the series in Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson (Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1961).

CLICK HERE TO GO TO PART II