Description
Ushioda Matanojo Takanori (潮田又之丞高教), one of the faithful samurai of Asano Naganori (浅野長矩), was talented with weapons, in particular the spear. Here we see him depicted at the end of the legendary assault of the forty-seven ronin (四十七士) on the residence of Kira Yoshinaka (吉良義央), whose back gate had been opened precisely by Takanori, after he had climbed over the boundary wall using a hooked rope.
This precious woodblock print, made by the artist Utagawa Yoshitora (歌川芳虎), is the syllable “Ka” (か) from the series “Biographies of Loyal and Dutiful Retainers” (忠臣義士銘々伝), commonly referred to by the translation “The Story of the Faithful Samurai in The Storehouse of Loyal Retainers”, and is entitled “Ushioda Masanojo Minamoto no Takanori” (牛尾田政之丞源高教).
The work, printed in May 1864 by the publisher Wakasaya Yoichi (若狭屋与市), owner of Jakurindo (若林堂), has evident signs of aging, some worming and binding holes, a small laceration on the upper margin and a showy oblique cut on the upper right corner.
