Celebration/festival; women; kimonos; hairstyles; shrines (structures); men (male humans)
Two women have been enjoying the cherry blossoms, for which Mukojima was famous, and one lady now rests on a red felt covered seat. The Meiji author Nagai Kafu thought highly of the area: "They who make the count of famous places of Tokyo cannot...
children (people by age group); hair ornaments; hairstyles; kimonos; dolls
This series depicts a variety of girls and women in both modern and traditional costumes. Some hold fans, flowers or books, while others play musical instruments, read the newspaper or drink beverages. Nearly all have their heads turned slightly,...
Yoshiwara was the pleasure district of Edo, a city within the city surrounded by high walls and a water moat, which housed Edo's prostitutes from 1617 to 1957. Its courtesans were considered among the "Flowers of Edo." The print combines three...
depictions; men (male humans); taiko; warriors; spears (weapons); swords
Yoshitoshi depicts a real character: Oishi Kuranosuke--chief of the famous forty-seven ronin of Ako--about to lead the night attack on Lord Kira's mansion. Yoshitoshi probably included Kuranosuke in this series of the 24 Accomplishments in Imperial...
depictions; men (male humans); warriors; boats; robes (main garments); hats
Back to back print. In 1331, the Hojo clan exiled the Emperor Go-Daigo to Oki Island. In 1333 Go-Daigo escaped Oki in a fishing boat, landing eventually in Katami. Its lord, Nawa-no-Nagashige, was an adherent to the Imperial cause, who cordially...
A sketch of two actors, Sakata Kintoki and Tsuchigumo in a play from the story of Raiko and the Earth Spider. In this tale, Raiko, while on a quest in search of a giant flying skull, found himself feeling ill and retired for the night. A servant...
emperors; courts (social groups); kimonos; men (male humans); women; hairstyles; folding screens; chairs; military uniforms; daises
The composition depicts the Emperor and his male entourage in the room at right seated on chairs at a table, while the Empress sits on a low dais in the alcove at left, attended by 15 women. The two rooms are of different architectural styles,...
folk tales; women; kimonos; grasses (plants); birds (animals)
Tamamo no mae was the beautiful and learned concubine of the Emperor Toba. One evening during a banquet, the wind rose and the lights went out, and the emperor became ill. The court magician declared this the sorcerous work of the concubine, who...
group portrait; women; courtesans; kimonos; hair ornaments; Single Built Works; sandals; axes (tools)
The series "Praise for Multicolored Blossoms" depicts the inhabitants of the Shin Yoshiwara, the government-licensed pleasure quarters. The prints are portraits of courtesans of the district, with their names and workplaces written on the fan in...
The arrival of Commodore Matthew Perry in June 1853 with his gunships and the negotiation of a commercial treaty with the west sharply divided Japanese society. Proponents of "Expelling the Barbarians," led by the daimyo of Mito, Tokugawa Nariaki,...
A character in "The Tale of the Heike" and kabuki plays, Mongaku experienced a religious awakening at the age of 19, took vows and entered the life of a wandering ascetic. As an austerity, Mongaku prayed beneath the Nachi waterfalls, standing under...
legends (folk tales); men (male humans); caves; bats (animals)
Back to back print. Yoshitoshi here depicts an incident in which the 12th-century samurai Nitta Shirō Tadatsune discovered a mysterious cave on Mt. Fuji. While his companions were afraid to enter, the samurai seized a torch and entered the...
legends (folk tales); men (male humans); caves; bats (animals)
Yoshitoshi here depicts an incident in which the 12th-century samurai Nitta Shirō Tadatsune discovered a mysterious cave on Mt. Fuji. While his companions were afraid to enter, the samurai seized a torch and entered the darkness. In a large...
legends (folk tales); men (male humans); caves; torches (lighting devices)
Yoshitoshi here depicts an incident in which the 12th-century samurai Nitta Shirō Tadatsune discovered a mysterious cave on Mt. Fuji. While his companions were afraid to enter, the samurai seized a torch and entered the darkness. In a large...
legends (folk tales); men (male humans); swords; kimonos
While hunting Taira no Koremochi came upon a princess and her attendants in the woods. At their invitation he joined them, and after feasting and drinking fell asleep. In a dream he was warned that the princess was in fact Kijo, a demon, who...
The 24 Paragons of Filial Piety depict the self-sacrificing behavior of twenty-four sons and daughters who when to extreme lengths to honor their parents, stepparents, grandparents, and in-laws.The upper panel depicts Kan no Buntei, second emperor...
men (male humans); military uniforms; dresses (garments); porches; gardens; draperies (curtains)
The production and promulgation of the Constitution was a series of important political and cultural events in the 1880's that were widely illustrated by artists. On the morning of 11 February 1889 the emperor formally issued the Constitution in...
The 10th century poetic anthology Tales of Ise contains several verses that reportedly describe the love life of Ariwara no Narihira (825-880). According to legend, this handsome poet and courtier eloped with Fujiwara no Koshi (842-910) who was...
Miyagino and Shinobu, whose whose farmer father was murdered by the samurai Shiga, swore to avenge his death. In secret they trained themselves in the martial arts. They then went to the local daimyo and challenged Shiga to a duel, killing him in...
portrait; men (male humans); kimonos; dog (animal)
The Japanese rebel and statesman Takamori Saigo (1827-1877) was the military leader of the imperial forces against the shogunate leading to the Meiji restoration. His growing discontent with the curtailment of the privileges of the samurai class...
