Individual Warrior Prints, 1820-1830

Part I

These prints are listed in Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints by Basil William Robinson (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1982) and its privately published supplement as S1a. I am grateful to Robert Pryor for assisting with this section.

	Scene: Ôta Saemon-dayû Mochisuke (太田左衛門大夫持資), who is better known as Ôta Dôkwan (太田 道灌), with a maiden offering him a spray of yamabuki Publisher: Nishimura-ya Yohachi Date: c. 1815-1820 Robinson: S1a.1 NOTE: This print is signed Saihôsha Kuniyoshi ga (採芳舎 國芳 画)
	This variant is lacking the seal of the publisher Nishimura-ya
	Scene: Soga Hakoômaru (曽我箱王丸) with hands clasped in prayer before a statue of Fudô in front of a waterfall Publisher: Nishimura-ya Yohachi Date: c. 1820 Robinson: S1a.1a
	Scene: Oki Jirô Hiroari (隠岐次郎廣有) killing a huge tengu against a dark background with flames coming from the tengu’s mouth Publisher: Nishimura-ya Yohachi Date: c. 1820 Robinson: S1a.2 NOTE: Tengu are forest-dwelling creatures that are either human-like with wings and long noses or bird-like. Robinson lists the publisher as Izumi-ya Ichibei, but this example bears the seal of Nishimura-ya Yohachi.
	An alternate state of the above design
	Scene: The severed head of Shuten-dôji swooping on the helmet of Raikô (源頼光) Publisher: Izumi-ya Ichibei Date: c. 1820 Robinson: S1a.3 I am grateful to Marc DeVriese for this image.
	Another state of the above design without any purple
	Scene: Takeda Katsuchiyo Maru (武田勝千代丸), the childhood name of Takeda Shingen, making a slash at a raccoon dog (tanuki) Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Uhei Date: c. 1825-1830 Robinson: S1a.4 NOTE: The old tanuki had possessed Takeda’s wooden horse, parts of which, including the falling abumi stirrup, can be seen.
	Another state without any purple
	Scene: Kane-jo, the strong woman from Ômi Province (近江之金女), stopping the runaway temple horse Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Uhei Date: c. 1825-1830 Robinson: S1a.5
	Another state with a blue kimono
	Scene: Sasaki Saburô Moritsuna (佐々木三郎盛綱) holding a dirk in his mouth strangling the fisherman Tôdayû Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Uhei Date: c. 1825-1830 Robinson: S1a.6 I am grateful to Marc DeVriese for this image.
	Another state of the above print
	This is yet another state of the same print. Sasaki Saburô Moritsuna’s coat is not only red instead of blue, but it has a different pattern, which means that it was printed from a different woodblock. Sasaki Saburô Moritsuna’s black hat and Tôdayû’s blue garment also have different patterns. A careful comparison of other details, such as the text and Tôdayû’s straw skirt, indicates that they were printed from the same woodblocks. The reason for replacing some, but not all, of the woodblocks cannot be known with certainty. The original blocks may have been damage, lost or worn-out. Alternatively, the garments may have been modified to match those worn in a new dramatic production. I am grateful to Marc DeVriese for this image.
	Yet another state with green rocks on the top of the print
	Title: Tenjiku Tokubei (天竺徳兵衛) Scene: Magician Tenjiku Tokubei seated on a giant toad Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Uhei Date: c. 1825-1830 Robinson: S1a.7
	Another state of the above design
	Scene: Kamigashi-hime (神我志姫) thrusting her spear down on an earth-spider, which has emerged from its hole below her to drink from a stream Publisher: Tsuta-ya Kichizô Date: c. 1825-1830 Robinson: S1a.8
	Another state of the above design also published by Tsuta-ya Kichizô
	I am grateful to Marc DeVriese for this image of a later edition published by Sano-ya Kihei (seal name Sanoki 佐野喜)
	Scene: Saitô Oniwaka Maru (西塔鬼若丸), the childhood name of Benkei, a dirk held in his teeth, fighting a giant carp at the Bishamon Waterfall Publisher: Tsuta-ya Kichizô Date: c. 1825-1830 Robinson: S1a.9 Image courtesy of Richard Illing
	An alternate state of the above design
	Scene: Washio Saburô (鷲尾三郎) killing a huge wild boar Publisher: Sano-ya Kihei (listed as Tsuta-ya Kichizô in Robinson) Date: c. 1825-1830 Robinson: S1a.10

“Robinson” refers to listing of the series in Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson (Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1961).

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