Set of Famous Leading Heroes

(Nagashira eiyû soroi, 名頭英雄揃)

1856

In this series of warrior prints, the initial kanji of the warrior’s name, sometimes highly stylized, is prominently displayed in the upper-left cartouche. The prints in this series are each about 10 by 14 inches (25 by 36 centimeters), a size known as ôban.

	Kanji: 朝 Hero: Asahina Saburô Yoshihide (朝比奈) breaking down the great gate during the Wada Rebellion against the Hojo in 1213 Publisher: Jôshû-ya Kinzô Robinson: S89.1
	Kanji: 政 Hero: Gen Sarnmi Yorimasa (源三位頼政), attended by I no Hayata, taking aim at the nuye above the Imperial Palace Publisher: Mikawa-ya Tetsugorô Robinson: S89.2 NOTE: The nuye was a beast with the head of a monkey, the claws of a tiger, the back of a badger and a snake for a tail. It spent its nights on the roof of the Emperor’s palace, causing him grave illness until it was slain by I no Hayata Hironoa.
	Kanji: 覺 Hero: Hôzôin Kakuzen (法蔵院覺禅) seated on a river-bank by moonlight holding a spear with an owl in a pine tree beside him Publisher: Tsujioka-ya Bunsuke Robinson: S89.3
	Kanji: 熊 Hero: The robber chief Kumasaka Chôhan (熊坂長範) receiving a cup of sake from one of his men while another keeps watch in a tree Publisher: Tsujioka-ya Bunsuke Robinson: S89.4
	Kanji: Possibly 臣 Hero: Miyamoto Musashi (宮本無三四) defeating his enemy Sasaki Ganryû (佐々木岸柳) on the seashore using only two sticks against Ganryû’s sword Publisher: Fujioka-ya Keijirô Robinson: S89.5
	Kanji: 仁 Hero: Nitta Shirô Tadatsune (仁田四郎忠常) killing the monstrous wild boar during Yoritomo’s hunting party on the moor below Mount Fuji Publisher: Mikawa-ya Tetsugorô Robinson: S89.6
	Kanji: 三 Hero: Sasaki Saburô Moritsuna (佐々木三郎盛綱) in armor with a court cap on a rock above the Inland Sea while the fisherman Tôdayû points out the shallows where troops can cross Publisher: Mikawa-ya Tetsugorô Robinson: S89.7
	Another state of the above design
	Kanji: 忠 Hero: Satô Tadanobu (佐藤忠信) wearing Yoshitsune’s armor leaping down on Yokogawa Kakuhan from the snow-covered roof of the Yoshino Temple Publisher: Mikawa-ya Tetsugorô Robinson: S89.8
	Kanji: 牛 Hero: Ushiwaka Maru (牛若) and Benkei (弁けい) on Gojô Bridge by moonlight Publisher: Fujioka-ya Keijirô Robinson: S89.9
	Kanji: 吉 Hero: Yoshioka Kanefusa (吉岡兼房) battling ruffians with a phoenix bird (howo) above Publisher: Yamaguchi-ya Tôbei Robinson: Not listed
	Kanji: Hero: Hako-ô Maru (箱王丸), the childhood name of Soga Gorô Tokimune (五郎時宗), praying to Fudô Myô-ô Publisher: Yamaguchi-ya Tôbei Robinson: Not listed
	Kanji: 義 Hero: Probably Nitta Yoshisada (新田 義貞) Publisher: Robinson: Not listed

“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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