Cat Homophones

(Neko no ateji, 猫の當字)

Publisher: Iba-ya Sensaburô

c. 1842

 

In this series of prints, cats form the names of fish in kana and hentaigana.  The series is listed as number 196 in Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson (Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1961).  The prints are each about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as ôban.  I am grateful to Robert Pryor for his contributions to this series.

 

 

Catfish (namazu)

な

ま

ず

 

Another state without the censor’s seal above Kuniyoshi’s signature

Kuniyoshi - Cat homophones [for names of fish] (R196), Cats forming the caracters for catfish

 

Another state of the above design

 

Puffer fish (fugu)

ふ

ぐ

Kuniyoshi - Cat homophones [for names of fish] (R196), Cats forming characters for 'fu gu'

 

Another state of the above design

 

Eel (unagi)

う

な

ぎ

 

Another state of the above design

 

Octopus (tako)

た

こ

 

 

Bonito (katsuo)

か

つ

を

Kuniyoshi - Cat homophones [for names of fish] (R196), Bonito (katsuo)

 

Another state of the above design

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