Hilarious Shunga Book with Grotesque Erotica by Akatsuki No Kanenari
26 januari 2020 
8 min. read

Hilarious Shunga Book with Grotesque Erotica by Akatsuki No Kanenari

The author and illustrator from Osaka who produced the comical erotic scenes below, Akatsuki no Kanenari (1793-1861) is a lesser-known name within the shunga genre because he mainly published essays, novels, comic novels and non-erotic books. Also, shunga were predominantly produced in the pleasure quarters of the Yoshiwara in Edo (now Tokyo) only.

Soy Sauce Maker

Kanenari was born as the fourth son of the well-known soy sauce maker, Izumiya Tahei. He developed his drawing style under the guidance of Shokosai Hanbei. He used several “Go” (studio names) such as Kimura, Meikei, Keimeisha, Kiya Yukishige and Gyoseio.

Chubby Females

The 12 satirical illustrations from Kanenari’s ‘Gugen sansai chie (Foolish Talk, Three Years’ Wisdom)‘ are remarkable, to to say the least. For example, there is the scene with the two chubby females sitting on a phallic shaped rock (Fig.6 – left page) while playing with two harigata (strap-on dildo). Or what about the penis and scrotum-shaped foo-dog (Fig.2 – right page).

Akatsuki no Kanenari

Fig.1. Double page illustration from the book series ‘Gugen sansai chie (Foolish Talk, Three Years’ Wisdom)‘, c.1818-29 by Akatsuki no Kanenari

Akatsuki No Kanenari phallus and scrotum shaped foo dog

Fig.2.

Akatsuki No Kanenari bound penis

Fig.3.

Akatsuki No Kanenari strap-on dildo, vulva and phallus shaped figures

Fig.4.

Akatsuki No Kanenari mature chubby lady squeezing her boobs

Fig.5.

Akatsuki No Kanenari females playing with strap-on dildos and well hung acrobatic male

Fig.6.

Akatsuki No Kanenari

Fig.7.

Akatsuki No Kanenari: tagaigata double-sided dildo

Fig.8.

Akatsuki No Kanenari: intimate couple and phallus humor

Fig.9.

Akatsuki No Kanenari: courtesan sitting on the back of a desperate male

Fig.10.

Akatsuki No Kanenari: phallic humor

Fig.11.

Akatsuki No Kanenari: erotic caricatures

Fig.12.

One of our devoted members Darya has send us the following additional images from a series by Akatsuki no Kanenari called ‘Bankoku shinwa‘ (c.1852)…

Akatsuki no Kanenari: Mermaid with vulva-shaped head

Fig.13. ‘Mermaid with vulva-shaped head‘ (c.1852) from the series ‘Bankoku shinwa‘ by Akatsuki no Kanenari (Source: ‘Сюнга. Откровенное искусство Японии / Shunga. Explicit art of Japan‘, 2016. Authors: A. E. Pushakova, K. G. Danelya)

Akatsuki no Kanenari : Two dromedaries with a phallus and vulva-shaped heads

Fig.14. ‘Two dromedaries with a phallus and vulva-shaped head‘ (c.1852) from the series ‘Bankoku shinwa‘ by Akatsuki no Kanenari (Source: ‘Сюнга. Откровенное искусство Японии / Shunga. Explicit art of Japan‘, 2016. Authors: A. E. Pushakova, K. G. Danelya)

Akatsuki no Kanenari: Pearl-hen with a penis-head and a goat with a vulva-head

Fig.15. ‘Guinea fowl (below left) with a phallus-head and a goat with a vulva-head (below right)‘ (c.1852) from the series ‘Bankoku shinwa‘ by Akatsuki no Kanenari (Source: ‘Сюнга. Откровенное искусство Японии / Shunga. Explicit art of Japan‘, 2016. Authors: A. E. Pushakova, K. G. Danelya)

The following two designs (also provided by our valued member Darya) are cut from a rectangular page from the book series ‘Bankoku shinwa (new Stories of Ten Thousand Couplings and Buddings)‘, was issued in 1852 and designed by Akatsuki no kanenari…

Akatsuki no kanenari: Bankoku shinwa (new Stories of Ten Thousand Couplings and Buddings)

Fig.16. ‘Bankoku shinwa (new Stories of Ten Thousand Couplings and Buddings)‘ (c.1852) by Akatsuki no kanenari

Hemispheres

The illustration (so both Fig.16 and 17) is entitled ‘Complete Abbreviated Map of the Two Fundamentals of the World (Ryōkon chikyū ryaku zenzu)‘, plays on maps of the world arranged in two large circles representing hemispheres.

Yin-yang

Instead, the illustration identifies man as the ‘southern fundamental’ and woman as the ‘northern fundamental’. This method of representing the world as a man and a woman is based on part on ancient Chinese yin-yang thought, but it also incorporates new knowledge introduced from the West.

Skilful Blending

The skilful blending of various ideas in this way can be considered in particularly Japanese form of cultural expression.

Fig.17.

Click HERE for numerous other book illustrations with similar bizarre figures….!!

Source: ‘Shunga, Sex and Pleasure in Japanese Art‘ issued by the British Museum

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About the author
Marijn is the founder of shungagallery.com. With more than 20 years of experience within the sensual and erotic art of shunga he is an authority in the genre. During this time he served many customers with complementing their art collection.
Darya
By

Darya

on 29 Feb 2020

Very amusing book! That's remarkable how it can satisfy people with different esthetic views being a mixture of grotesque drawings and depictions of beautiful sensuality. Kanenari's mermaid with a vulva-face from his 'Bankoku shinwa' series is a very memorable print also!

Marijn
By

Marijn

on 29 Feb 2020

Thanks Darya, do you have an image of this "mermaid" scene by any chance?

Darya
By

Darya

on 29 Feb 2020

Sure!

Marijn
By

Marijn

on 01 Mar 2020

Many thanks for the pictures Darya, I have included them above! In reaction to your additional remark whether the head of the dromedary (camel) is deliberately placed outside the frame of the design or not, I can say that the dromedary's head is suppose to stick out. In this way the artist gave the design an extra dynamic (to stand out!).This is often the case with the more exotic scenes such as the Eisen design with the http://www.akantiek.com/shunga/p1961.Keisai-Eisen.Japanse-Prent.jpg" rel="nofollow">monkey trainer from his 'Midare Gami (Hair in Disarray/ Tangled hair' series, issued c.1817.Akatsuki, in this case, goes to the extreme by also giving this long-necked "aliens" a phallus head.

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