Monthly Archives: March 2014

Kuniyoshi’s Faithful Samurai – The Bathos of Victory

Posted on March 17, 2014 by toshidama

I was struck, looking at some of the very beautiful images from Kuniyoshi’s 1847 series of the 47 Ronin, by the bathos of the figures – the tremendous sense of anticlimax that runs through so many of the prints. This … Continue reading →

Posted in 47 Ronin, Chushingura, Japanese prints, japanese woodblock prints, Kunisada, Kuniyoshi, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Chushingura

Posted on March 14, 2014 by toshidama

Kunichika, Biographies of the Loyal Retainers Maybe cultures choose the myths that suit their times or maybe it is the myth that inexorably shapes the culture which proceeds them. Either way there can be little doubt that myth and legend … Continue reading →

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Mons, Crests and Ronins

Posted on March 5, 2014 by toshidama

The next exhibition at the Toshidama Gallery is devoted to the great revenge drama of Japanese culture – the Chushingura – and other folklore heroes. To anyone familiar with ukiyo-e (Japanese woodblock prints) – the great visual art of Japan … Continue reading →

Posted in 47 Ronin, Japanese prints, japanese woodblock prints, Kabuki Mons, kabuki theatre, ukiyo-e art, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments