UKIYO-E OF THE MONTH

(Discontinued)

YOSHIIKU (1833-1904): Illustration of a story from Tôkyô Nichinichi Shinbun, no. 1043 - ca 1876

The second half of the 19th century was a period of social and political turmoil in Japan. When the "black ships" under the command of Commodore Perry anchored off Uraga in July 1853, they put a sudden end to the seclusion policy of the shogunate and started a series of events that led to the abolition of the shogunate itself 15 years later. After more than 200 years of isolation from the rest of the world, Japan was opened up to Westeners and to Western influence. This print reflects these changes in more ways than one.

One of the novelties of the period was the modern newspaper. In the early 1870's Tôkyô Nichinichi Shinbun, the first daily newspaper in Tokyo was founded, and one of its co-founders was the ukiyo-e artist Yoshiiku, who had been a pupil of Kuniyoshi.

Like his master, Yoshiiku was as very prolific artist, and in the 1870's he produced a large number of colour woodcuts illustrating topical stories from the daily, mostly crimes and scandals. Contrary to what one would believe, these woodcuts were apparently not published together with the newspaper issues, where the stories were originally printed. According to Julia Meech-Pekarik (The World of the Meiji Print, Weatherhill 1986, p 216), they were single-sheet prints, produced by other publishers, though they carry the name of the newpaper.

The probably true story behind this particular print is also closely connected with the social changes of this period.

The Meiji Restoration led to the abolition of the daimyo system, and the private armies of the feudal lords were dissolved. In 1873 a national army based on a conscription system was introduced. As a result, about 2,000,000 samurai were suddenly unemployed. Very few members of the traditional warrior class could be used in the national army, and the government had to find other means of supporting them. Their salaries were replaced by small pensions. These accounted for a huge part of the government's annual expenditure, and over a few years the system was phased out. In 1876 every samurai household received a sum of money, intended to yield enough interest for independent support. The sum was very small, however, and many of these once proud warriors were living in great poverty. (Stephen R Turnbull: The Book of the Samurai, Magna Books 1982, p 182-183.)

The tragicomic story illustrated in this print by Yoshiiku features an impoverished ex-samurai, Naokichi Fujiwara, who has spent all his money. In his destitution he has decided to sell his wife as a prostitute. But before they part, they are going to spend their last night together in a hotel in Naito-Shinjuku, downtown Tokyo, drinking sake and making love. As it is a cheap hotel, they share the room with other guests.

During the night Naokichi, having had a lot of sake, rolls out of their bed in his sleep. Another guest, named as Tomigoro, a brother of Bunzo Yamada from Yokohama, sees Naokichi's wife alone in the bed and joins her. She wakes up, and in the dark she mistakes Tomigoro for her husband. They make love, and during this act Naokichi wakes up, hearing his wife crying with joy. He understands what is going on, and he gets furious. After a violent affray, they are all arrested by the Shinjuku police.

© Hans Olof Johansson