Dealing in fine Japanese prints, paintings and books since 1968
Dealing in fine Japanese prints, paintings and books since 1968
Click here to view image full size. Jigoku Dayu, the “Hell Courtesan” from the set Chuko meiyo kijin den, “Stories of Remarkable Persons of Loyalty and High Reputation.” Published by Iseya Ichiemon or Enshuya Matabei (this design) 1845. Robinson S35.3.…
Click here to view image full size. Shows the monk Mongaku Shonin doing repentance under the Nachi waterfall in winter. The story relates how Endo Morito (the secular name of Mongaku) falls in love with Kesa Gozen, the beautiful wife…
Click here to view image full size. Shows Benkei humourously kneeling to tie his slipper prior to the fight on Gojo Bridge. The story relates how Benkei, of Herculean strength, was subdued by the young Onzoshi Ushiwaka Maru (Yoshitsune) on…
Click here to view image full size. A heavily tattooed fishmonger, Danshichi Kurobei, slaughtering his father-in-law, Mikawaya Giheiji, in a swamp. From a set Eimei nijuhasshuku, “Twenty-eight Famous Murders with Verse.” A series produced with Yoshiiku, each designing 14 prints.…
Click here to view image full size. Tanaka Kanhachi falling backwards into a sea of mud from a set Kaidai hyaku, “Yoshitoshi’s Selection of One Hundred Warriors.” Sixty-five prints published by Ohashiya Yashichi between 1868 and 1869, this being 1869.…
Click here to view image full size. The boy warrior Sakai Kuzo hurling a te-yari spear from a set Kaidai hyaku, “Yoshitoshi’s Selection of One Hundred Warriors.” Sixty-five prints published by Ohashiya Yashichi between 1868 and 1869, this being 1868.…
Click here to view image full size. A triptych Gishi shiju shichi-nin hommo wo toge…. Shows the Forty-seven Ronin crossing Ryogoku bridge with the head of their enemy while on the way to the Memorial Temple after carrying out their…
A triptych showing Raiko and his four companions conquering the demon of Oe Mountain. Raiko shitenno Oeyama kijin taiji. The story relates how the demon (Shuten-doji) kidnappes young girls and keeps them captive in his lair on Mt. Oe near…
Click here to view image full size. A triptych , Shinyo rokkaisen, “Six New Monsters” showing Taira no Kiyomori (1118-1181) and his lover on the engawa of the palace confronted by a multitude of snow covered skulls and skeletons in…
Click here to view image full size. A triptych Fuji no sono Soga kyodai hommo o togeru zu. “Moor at the Foot of Mt. Fuji: Picture of the Soga Brothers Achieving their Avowed Wish.” Soga no Goro Tokimune and Soga…
Click here to view image full size. A triptych showing the great wrestling match between Matano Goro Kagehisa and Kawazu Saburo Sukeyasu. The match was refereed by Ebina Gempachi and occurred during a hunting expedition organised by the general Minamoto…
Click here to view image full size. A triptych showing Miinamoto no Yorimitsu (aka Raiko) and his retainers confronting the giant Earth Spider (Tsuchigumo – a form of spider-like yokai). After a fierce battle Yorimitsu cuts off the head of…
Click here to view image full size. A triptych showing Shutendoji’s palace on Mount Oyeyama, Oyeyama fukujin shusei. Raiko (Minamoto no Yorimitsu) is charged by the Emperor Murakami with killing the evil Shutendoji who terrorizes the neighbourhood. He and his…
Click here to view image full size. A triptych showing Sato Masakiyo, having invaded Shikoku and overthrowing the castle of Shosokabe Motochika, entering deep into the mountains where he battles an army of huge toads, lizards, bats, spiders, cats and…
Click here to view image full size. Kan Zhang Liang (below) and Huang Shigong from the set Kan-So gundan, “Battle Tales of the Han and Chu.” The success of the Chinese warrior tales retold by Takizawa Bakin (1767-1848) in his…
Click here to view image full size. Abe no Hirafu fighting a giant bear in the snow from a set of 51 prints Dai Nippon meisho kagami, “A Mirror of Famous Commanders of Great Japan.” The set was published by…
Click here to view image full size. Yatsunada attacking Saohime’s brother’s castle from a set of 51 prints Dai Nippon meisho kagami, “A Mirror of Famous Commanders of Great Japan.” The set was published by Ebisuya Shoshichi (the first 11…
Click here to view image full size. The heavily tattooed bandit Tanmeijiro Genshogo grappling with an adversary under water. One of the great designs from Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachi-nin no hitori, “The Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Suikoden,…
Click here to view image full size. The Sennin Kinko (Chin. Ch’in Kao) riding a giant carp from the set Ressen gachu. There are various versions of this story. One narrates how Kinko was bathing in the river one day…
Click here to view image full size. The brigand Saginoike Heikuro Masatora plunging a short sword into a giant boar. He is usually depicted battling a giant snake. Published c 1834-5 by Sanoya Kihei. Republished by Uedaya Kyujiro. Robinson S1c.17.…
Click here to view image full size. The actor Ichikawa Kodanji IV as Torii Matasuke clenching a sword between his teeth in pouring rain. From the play Kagamiyama gonichi no Iwafuji performed at the Ichimura Theatre, 3 The plot centres…
Click here to view image full size. Daimotsu no ura nanpu no zu, “Adverse Wind on Daimotsu Bay.” The ghosts of the Taira warriors attacking Yoshitsune’s ship in Daimotsu Bay. Minamoto no Yoshitsune (1159-1189) aboard his ship Tsukimaru sailing along…
Click here to view image full size. An original sumi woodblock for two chuban prints from a Kanadehon Chushingura set. The upper design being Act VII, the tea-house Ichiriki, Kyoto with Yuranosuke; the lower showing Act VIII, the bridal journey…
Click here to view image full size. An oban showing Jiraiya (Ogata Shuma Hiroyuki), a ninja who was able to transmogrify himself into a giant toad. His arch enemy was Orochimaru, a master of serpent magic, who is seen here…
Click here to view image full size. A triptych with title Taiheike Yakiyama-Goye no zue, “Picture of the Slope of Burning Mountain in the Taiheiki.” Shows the Japanese Daimyo Sato Masakiyo (Kato Kiyomasa), who was a leading general in Toyotomi…
Click here to view image full size. Kato Kiyomasa (aka Masakiyo, 1562-1611) hunting man-eating tigers with his cohorts in Korea. Masakiyo ko toragari no zu. Kiyomasa had two expeditions to Korea in 1592 and 1597. Published by Hiranoya Shinzo, 1861.…
Click here to view image full size. Torii Matasuke swimming underwater from a set of 28 prints Eimei nijuhasshuku, “Twenty-eight Murders with Verses.” The set was published jointly with Yoshitoshi, each contributing 14 prints. Matasuke is seen gripping the topknot…
Click here to view image full size. The best design from the set Tsuki hyakushi, the “Hundred Phases of the Moon.” The set published between 1885 and 1892 (this being 1886) by Akiyama Buemon. Benkei against a full moon. In…
Click here to view image full size. The Monkey King: One of the best designs from the set Tsuki hyakushi, the “Hundred Phases of the Moon.” The set published between 1885 and 1892 (this being 1886) by Akiyama Buemon. Based…
Click here to view image full size. A triptych showing Minamoto no Yorimitsu (aka Raiko, 948-1021) trying to capture the notorious thief Hakamadare Yasusuke. Kijutsu Hakamadare o karamen to su. Yorimitsu is seen with his cohorts Urabe Suetake, Hirai Yasumasa,…