The prolific Japanese artist Koikawa Shozan (1821-1907) was given the moniker ‘The Topographer of Sex’ for a reason. His book set entitled ‘Ekironosuzugichi‘ (c.1840s) is a nice endorsement of this.
Inspiration
In this erotic pastiche Shozan got his inspiration from Hiroshige’s ‘53 Stations of the Tokaido Road (Tōkaidō Gojūsan-tsugi)‘, issued in 1832.
Decipher
The stations are depicted in the inserts above the shunga scenes. When I have been able to decipher the concerning station, it is included.
Sensual Silhouettes
Left: A geisha itches her customer’s nose. Behind them, a bald-headed client (monk) leaves the brothel. We can see the silhouettes of a sensual couple who are visible through the transparent sliding doors behind the monk.
Right: A geisha is entertaining a client while sitting straddle-legged and leaning backwards. The station depicted in the insert is 3rd one called Kanagawa.
Horse “Tools”
Left: During his love-making a male lover is lighting the lantern behind them.
Right: Amusing scene with a woman and her infant at a market. She is awestruck by the “tools” of the horse standing next to them, while her toddler plays with a shell and a spinning top.
Sideways
A nude male is penetrating a courtesan from the rear while kissing her sideways.
Fallen
The fallen geisha pillow (taka-makura) is an indication of the passion of this couple.
Sensual Bathing
Left: Two young geisha peeking on a colleague performing fellatio on a nude male client. In the background silhouettes of another sensual couple are visible.
Right: A characteristic “Hiroshige” composition with in the foreground a nude female putting on her kimono after bathing, watching the sensual activities in the bath. The squatting female in the middle drying herself with a towel has moxa burns on her back.
Chuckling Colleague
Left: A voluptuous couple, sitting in front a mosquito-net, take a tea break during their intimate session. The insert depicts the 19th station of the Tokaido: Fuchū.
Right: A chubby prostitute is sitting on top of a client, The latter embraces her tightly. They are being watched by a chuckling colleague.
Peasant
Left: A post-coital scene with an attentive male handing a cup of tea to his female partner. The latter holds a bundle of tissues in her mouth while cleaning her private parts.
Right: A striking composition with the couple only partly visible behind the tree. The man’s black leggings and the hat in the background indicate he is a peasant.
Playful Puppies
Left: A passionate, almost completely, nude couple make love on a roof terrace during the setting sun. The insert refers to Hiratsuka, the 7th Station of the Tokaido,
Right: A shameless couple makes love on the street in a litter. An amusing touch are the two playful puppies in the background.
Straw Hat
Left: Funny scene with a sneaky male voyeur spying on an intimate couple from behind his wide straw hat.
Right: On one of the floors of a brothel, two customers have fun with some geisha. The 2nd station Kawasaki can be found in the insert.
Festival
A colorful scene with some high-class courtesans (oiran) preparing for a festival parade. A very young geisha apprentice opens a box with a piece of garment in it.
Perspective
Left: Scene seen from a perspective in which depth is suggested by the geisha in the foreground, the intimate couple in the middle and the harbor in the background. The insert most probably depicts the 1st station Shinagawa.
Right: Charming design depicting fishmongers and geisha on a bridge with Mount Fuji towering over them.
Balls
Left: A customer is overcome by horniness when a courtesan caresses his balls.
Right: Two sensuous couples in a cheap brothel.
Wild Horses
Left: A wild intimate encounter on the bottom floor of a brothel. The 21st station called Okabe can be seen in the above image.
Right: A high-class courtesan offers her wealthy client a drink during their love-making. The screen in the background portray wild horses. The snow scene in the insert most probably refers to Kanbara-juku which was the 15th of the 53 Stations of the Tōkaidō series.
Feigning Brothel Visitors
Left: A nude male lover rubs the glans of his penis while his likewise naked lover grabs a tissues to clean her private parts.
Right: Two feigning brothel visitors admire the genitals of a sleeping geisha.
Left: A courtesan and a regular client look for inspiration in the shunga books in front of them.
Right: In a shop a male attendant makes advances to his young lover. A kokeshi doll stands behind them.
Rice Field
Left: Two amused peasant girls look at their copulating colleagues further down the rice field.
Right: A male and female traveler make love while the latter clings firmly to a temple pillar.
Mysterious Male
Left: An experienced couple prepare for intercourse while being watched by a young couple in the background.
Right: A mysterious male on a boat obsessed with the unmasking of his identity hides behind a straw hat and umbrella.
Blue Flower Motifs
A passionate rendezvous with the couple almost entirely covered by a huge blanket decorated with blue flower motifs.
Reluctant
Post-coital scene with the man trying to convince his reluctant partner, who is picking a tissue to clean her private parts, for another “round”.
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