Individual Warrior Prints

1836 - 1837

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 S1d. I am grateful to Robert Pryor for his contributions to this section.

Scene: Sakata Kaidômaru (坂田怪童丸), who is also known as Kintarô and as Kintoki, struggling with a huge carp in a waterfall

Publisher: Kaga-ya Kichiemon

Date: c. 1836

Robinson: S1d.1

NOTE: Kaga-ya Kichiemon was the original publisher of this design.

Another state with white title, signature, and text cartouches, also published by Kaga-ya Kichiemon

An additional state with the seals of the Kaga-ya Kichiemon and the censor in a white cartouche

This, and the following image, are later editions with the seal of the publisher Iba-ya Sensaburô replacing the seal of Kaga-ya Kichiemon. These prints also bear a reversed seal of the censor Watanabe Shôemon, which dates them to 1842-1846.

Seals of Iba-ya Sensaburô with reversed seal of Watanabe Shôemon	Correctly oriented seal of the censor Watanabe Shôemon, which reads Watari (渡)

A key block print for the above design

Scene: Ono no Komachi praying for rain (雨乞小町)

Publisher: Kaga-ya Kichiemon

Date: c. 1836

Robinson: S1d.2

A later state of the above design with the seal of the publisher Iba-ya Sensaburô

Scene: The rakan (Buddhist holy man) Nakasaina Sonja (那伽犀那尊者) seated on a rock with a dragon emerging from the bowl in his hands

Publisher: Kaga-ya Kichiemon

Date: c. 1836

Robinson: S1d.3

NOTE: Nagasena is one of the original sixteen disciples of the Buddha

Another state without any green

Scene: The sennin Kikujidô (菊慈童, Ch’u-tsu-tung in Chinese), who is also known as the Chrysanthemum Boy, as an androgynous youth in Chinese clothes seated among chrysanthemums

Publisher: Kaga-ya Kichiemon

Date: c. 1836

Robinson: S1d.4

NOTE: Sennin are Immortals in Taoism. In Buddhist Japan, the term referred to mountain dwelling hermits possessing magical powers. This is actually a picture of a mannequin displayed at a chrysanthemum show.

Scene: Minamoto no Tametomo, who is also known as Chinzei Hachirô Tametomo, seated in full armor with war fan, bow and arrows

Publisher: Tsuru-ya Kiemon

Date: 1837

Robinson: Not listed

NOTE: This is an aka-e (赤絵, red print) which was said to protect from smallpox. It was probably printed during the 1837 smallpox epidemic. The print size is unknown.

Scene: Minamoto no Tametomo, who is also known as Chinzei Hachirô Tametomo, seated in full armor with war fan, bow and arrows

Publisher: No seal

Date: 1837

Robinson: Not listed

Another aka-e of Tametomo courtesy of Michael O’Clair

“Robinson” refers to listing in Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints by Basil William Robinson (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1982) and its privately published supplement.

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