Utagawa Kuniyoshi (歌川国芳) (artist 11/15/1797 – 03/05/1861)
Kusunoki eiyū roku - Kusunoki's heroes (樟英雄勤)
1840
9 in x 14 in (Overall dimensions) Japanese color woodblock print
Signed: Ichiyūsai Kuniyoshi
一勇斎国芳
Publisher: Echizenya Heisaburō
(Marks 044 - seal unlisted, but closest to 01-121)
Honolulu Museum of Art - left panel of two
Waseda University There are at least 5 prints in this series.
It must be remembered that to avoid prosecution by the authorities at that time historical names were altered somewhat to barely disguise who the true character being featured was. That is why all of the names we are going to list are extremely difficult to both identify and pronounce.
That said, the second name down on the upper left is Chikudōmaru (竹童丸). In the lower right, right next to the signature cartouche is 神宮寺小太郎正宗, which reads: Jinguuji Kotarō Masamune. Next to Masamune is a cartouche which reads 鷺池九郎正虎: Kuro Sagiike Masatora (?). Another name in the lower right is 楠七郎正氏 of which the last two kanji characters might be read as Masauji.
Echizenya Heisaburō (越前屋平三郎) (publisher)
warrior prints (musha-e - 武者絵) (genre)
Minamoto no Yoshitsune (源義経) (role)