Realizing the Taira forces would be defeated at the Battle of Dan-no-Ura, Tomomori (1152-1185), the Taira clan leader, grabbed an anchor and leapt into the sea. The three imperial symbols were also thrown into the water, to keep the Genji from...
men (male humans); women; swords; military uniforms; hats; costume
The theatrical traditions of kabuki were challenged by modernization, and new topics were introduced to the stage in the 1870's. Here Chikanobu provides advertisement for a play about the popular hero Saigo Takamori (1827-1877), who had just been...
Obata Sukerokuro Nobuyo was a brave, young, faithful retainer of Ishida. Ishida was defeated in war, and Nobuyo spied among his enemies to discover the fate of his master, Ishida. Nobuyo was captured by the enemy, but was released because of his...
depictions; men (male humans); warriors; horseback riding; war horses; armor (protective wear); battles
Taira-no-Masakado (903?-940) was a warlord who rebelled against the Kioto government of the Fujiwara Shoguns. In the 930s he seized eight provinces and founded a court at Sashima, calling himself Heishin No (Taira Prince). Masakado was defeated and...
A participant in the overthrow of the Tokugawa shogunate, after the Meiji Restoration Etō Shinpei was appointed to a number of government posts, including Minister of Justice where he played a part in overhauling Japan's penal code. He resigned...
men (male humans); women; trees; kimonos; swimming
Oai no kata was born in Okazaki and was both beautiful and strong, although of low social status. One day while swimming in a river, a young man tried to bother her, but she quickly defeated him. According to the cartouche, even the shogun Tokugawa...
