Portraits of the Faithful Samurai of True Loyalty

(Seichû gishi shôzô, 誠忠義士省像)

Publisher: Sumiyoshi-ya Masagorô

1853

In 1702, Lord Asano of Akô was provoked by Kira Kozukenosuke Yoshinaka into drawing his sword in the shogun’s palace, for which he was forced to take his own life, and his estate was confiscated. Forty-seven of Lord Asano’s retainers, who were now rônin (samurai without masters), planned and carried out a successful attack on Kira’s palace. Kira’s head was cut off with the same dagger Lord Asano used to commit seppuku. (The term “hara-kiri”, although more common in English than “seppuku”, is considered in Japan to be a vulgar and disrespectful description of an honorable action.). The 46 surviving rônin were forced to take their own lives. These events were made into the play, Kanadehon Chûshingura. This series of prints portrays some of the 47 rônin, with altered names, paired with short poems in the red and green cartouches. The prints in this series are each about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as ôban.

	Ôboshi Yuranosuke Yoshio (大星由良之助良雄) representing the historical Oishi Kuranosuke Yoshitaka, with a spear over his shoulder Robinson: S78.1
	Yato Yomoshichi Norikane (矢頭與茂七教兼) holding a decorated lantern that illuminates his face Robinson: S78.2 Image courtesy of Richard Illing
	Yoshida Sawaemon Kanesada (吉田沢右エ門包貞) blowing the signal whistle Robinson: S78.3 Image courtesy of Richard Illing
	Yokogawa Kanpei Munenori (横川勘平宗則) dripping wet, wringing out his clothes Robinson: S78.4
	Kanzaki Yagorô Noriyasu (神嵜彌五郎則休) behind screen with drawn sword Robinson: S78.5
	Nakamura Kansuke Masatatsu (中村勘助正辰) warding off a brazier of hot ashes that has been thrown at him Robinson: S78.6 The poem translates: Surely there will be teahouses where we can drink amidst plums– on the journey to the other world. NOTE: The oval cartouche is the color of hot embers in the first edition, whereas the cartouches of the other prints in this series are all solid red.
	A later edition of the above design. Note the colors of the cartouches in the right upper corner and the absence of ashes.
	Muramatsu Sandayu Takanao (邑松三太夫高直) drinking from a dipper Robinson: S78.7
	Horibe Yahei Kanamaru (堀部矢兵衛金丸) parrying a spear thrust from an unseen opponent Robinson: S78.8
	Tominomori Sukeemon Masakata (富之森祐右エ門正固) with drawn sword under a bell, which served as an intruder alarm Robinson: S78.9
	Ushioda Masanojô Takanori (潮田 政之丞 高教) with bow Robinson: S78.10
	Yada Gorozaemon Suketake (箭田五郎佐エ門助武) in the snow, making a two handed stroke with his sword Robinson: S78.11
	Sugino Juheiji Tsugifusa (杉野十平治次房) looking through a lifted curtain, his sword drawn Robinson: S78.12 The poem translates: “Behold our valor!” they cry, as they surrender to the wind– cherry blossoms on the peak.
	I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this shita-e (preparatory drawing) of Fuwa Katsuemo.
	I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this shita-e (preparatory drawing) of Yazama Kihei Mitsunobu (矢間喜兵衛).
Preparatory drawing (shita-e) and keyblock print (kyôgô) of Onodera Tôemon Hidetome (小野寺 幸右エ門 秀當), intended for this series. This design is not listed in Robinson, and it is very unlikely that it was ever made into a woodblock print. This is one of several known drawings for unpublished designs in this series.
These acrylic on canvas paintings are by the contemporary Japanese artist Keisuke Yamaguchi, who uses the art name Oz

“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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