Hilarious Shunga Book with Grotesque Erotica by Akatsuki No Kanenari
Marijn Kruijff
01/26/2020
5 min
4

Hilarious Shunga Book with Grotesque Erotica by Akatsuki No Kanenari

01/26/2020
5 min
4

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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