Sumô Wrestler Prints,
Part I
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Sumô (相撲) is a Japanese style of wrestling and Japan’s
national sport. It originated in
ancient times as a performance to entertain the Shinto gods. Many rituals with religious background are
still followed today. The basic rules
of sumô are simple: The wrestler
who first touches the mat with any part of his body other than the soles of
his feet, or leaves the ring, loses.
The bouts usually last only a few seconds and in rare cases up to one
minute or longer. I am grateful to
Robert Pryor for contributing to this section and to Yasu Takano for
identifying many of the wrestlers. |
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Wrestler: Ôzora Buzaemon (大武左衛門) pulling up a
bamboo tree Date: 1827 Publisher: Yamaguchiya Tobei NOTE: Ôzora Buzaemon had an unusually
short sumô career. He appeared only in the 1827 spring season,
losing all seven matches, and retired immediately. |
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Wrestler: Mutsugamine Iwanosuke (六ツヶ峰岩之助) Date: 4th
month of 1853 Publisher: Yamaguchi-ya
Tôbei |
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Wrestler: Mutsugamine Iwanosuke (六ツヶ峰岩之助) in street
attire Date: 3rd
month of 1852 Publisher: Kamaya-ya Kihei |
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This state of the above design has the
seal of the publisher Koga-ya Katsugorô
in the right lower corner.
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Wrestler: Koshinoumi Yuzo (越?海 勇藏) in street attire Date: Publisher: Nishimura Yohachi |
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Wrestler: Inagawa Masanosuke (猪名川 政之助) Date: 1845-1846 Publisher: Maru-ya Seijirô |
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Wrestler: Koyanagi Tsunekichi (小柳常吉) Date: c. 1845-1846 Publisher: Maru-ya Seijirô |
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Wrestler: Shiranui Dakuemon (不知火諾エ門) Date: 1845-1846
(censor Fakatsu Ihei) Publisher: Maru-ya Seijirô |
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Wrestler: Nami (涛) Date: Publisher: No seal
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Wrestler: Nioarashi Isogoro (鳰嵐磯五郎) in
professional attire (Marugame genkai aratame Nioarashi Isogoro) Date: 1845 Publisher: Nishimura Yohachi |
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Wrestler: Unryű Kyűkichi (雲龍久吉) Date: 1851 (censors
Mera and Watanabe) Publisher: Maru-ya Seijirô NOTE: The name 雲龍久吉 may also be
read as Unryű Hisakichi. |
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A keyblock print of Unryű Kyűkichi (雲龍久吉) |
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Wrestler: Sendagawa Yoshizô Text: Kishű, Sendagawa Yoshizô (紀州, 千田川吉蔵) Date: 3rd
month of 1855 Publisher: Tsuta-ya Jűzaburô |
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Wrestler: Inagawa Masanosuke (稲川政之助) Date: 1837-1842 Publisher: |
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Wrestler: Shingari Katsugorô (肥後 殿勝五郎) Date: 5th
month of 1853 Publisher: Kama-ya Kihei |
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Wrestler: Iozan Moriemon (猪王山森右工門) Date: 5th
month of 1856 Publisher: Yamada-ya Shôjirô NOTE: This is a finished drawing for a woodblock print. |
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Wrestler: Oniwaka Rikinosuke (鬼若 力之助) in street
attire Date: c. 1850
(censors Mera and Murata) Publisher: Enami |
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An alternate state of the above design |
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Title: Born in Toda village in Musashi, Kazusa
Province, Oniwaka Rikinosuke
is a disciple of Katsunoura (Kazusa kuni Mushashi gun Todamura no san Katsunoura monjin Oniwaka Rikinosuke, 上総国武射郡戸田村産 勝の浦門人 鬼若力之助) Scene: Oniwaka Rikinosuke struggling with a huge carp in a waterfall in
a parody of Oniwaka-maru or Kaido-maru Publisher: Unidentified Date: 1848-1849 |
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Title: Maru Game Nioarashi
aratame Koshinômi Isogorô (丸亀 鳰嵐 改 越ノ海 磯五郎) Date: c. 1830 Publisher: Nishimura Yohachi |
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An alternate state of the above design with the wrestler’s name
given as Nioarashi Isogorô
(鳰嵐磯五郎). . |
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Title: Ikezuki Geitazaemon (生月 鯨太左ェ門), the big
wrestler Date: c. 1844
(censor Watanabe Shôemon) Publisher: Hon-ya Genpachi Note: Ikezuki Geitazaemon was not a
skilled sumô wrestler, but was a
giant who was brought to |
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Wrestler: Ikezuki Geitazaemon (生月 鯨太左ェ門) in street
attire Date: 1844 Publisher: Sa (phonetic
pronunciation of サ) |
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Wrestler: Ôzora Buzaemon (大武左衛門) Date: 1827 Publisher: Yamaguchi-ya
Tobei NOTE: Ôzora Buzaemon had an unusually
short sumô career. He appeared only in the 1827 spring season,
losing all seven matches, and retired immediately. |
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Title: Sumô Toshiyori Ikazuchi Gondaiyu (相撲 年寄 雷権太夫) Description: The yearly
wrestling meeting (sumo toshiyori, 相撲 年寄), showing Ikazuchi Gondaiyu (雷権太夫), a veteran
wrestler or an umpire, in a dark robe, seated with his hands in his lap. The title cartouche is framed with symbols
of longevity. Date: 2nd
month of 1858 Publisher: Yamaguchi-ya Tobei (山口屋藤兵衛) |
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Wrestler: Arauma Kichigorô (荒馬吉五郎) Date: c. 1839-1840 Publisher: |
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Wrestler: Tsuneyama Goroji (常山五良治) Date: 1851 (censors
Mera and Watanabe) Publisher: Maru-ya Seijirô |
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Wrestler: Onikatsu Rikiya (鬼勝力弥) Date: 1851 (censors
Fuku and Muramatsu) Publisher: Echizen-ya Hachiemon Text: Onikatsu Rikiya, a
disciple of Urakaze, is 13 years old and weighs 19 kanme (71 kg or 157 lb)
(浦風門人 鬼勝力弥) |
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Wrestler: Tsurugiyama Taniemon (劔山 谷右エ門) Date: 1842-1846
(censor Fukatsu Ihei) Publisher: Maru-ya Seijirô |
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“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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