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.  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.

 

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

 

Catfish (namazu)

な

ま

ず

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

 

Puffer fish (fugu)

ふ

ぐ

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

 

Another state of the above design

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

 

Eel (unagi)

う

な

ぎ

Kuniyoshi%20-%20Cat%20homophones%20%5bfor%20names%20of%20fish%5d%20(R196),%20eel%20(blue)

 

Another state of the above design

 

Octopus (tako)

た

こ

 

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

 

Bonito (katsuo)

か

つ

お

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

 

Another state of the above design

CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO MAIN PAGE

 

image016