The Masterful Shunga Book Series Hana-Goyomi by Kuniyoshi

Among the most famous erotic works by the great ukiyo-e artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861) is the hanshibon-sized illustrated book series Hana-goyomi (Flower Calendar), that was issued in 1835.

'Hidden Names'

Due to the new publishing regulations issued as part of the Kyōhō reforms in 1722, the names of authors, artists, and publishers all but disappeared from erotic books. 'Hidden names (ingō) started to be used instead.

'Playful Name'

Real identities were not completely disguised, however, and the hidden names generally alluded in some way to the person's real name or to an additional 'playful name' (gigō) with which they were associated. For example, the artist of the present book generally used the name 'Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi' for his ordinary ukiyo-e prints.

Fig.1.

A Wondrous Pussy

For this erotic book, however, this is playfully changed to 'Ichimyōkai Hodoyoshi' ('A Wondrous Pussy, How Nice'). Another easily recognized hidden name used by the artist was 'Neko-Yoshi' ('Cats are Good'), as Kuniyoshi was a well-known and self-professed cat-lover.

Bewitching Beauty

The overall quality of Hana-goyomi was enough to take the reader's breath away. It was colored in gold and silver, and incorporated artistic use of gaufrage (karazuri), skilled carving and printing techniques, and amazingly skillful depictions of the bewitching beauty of the female subjects. The nuanced shading and gradations of both the indigo blue and the sumi black are impressive and beautiful throughout.

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A Thousand Chores

This four page fold-out design takes place in a Fukugawa restaurant near the harbour. The vast room is crowded with geishas going about a thousand chores among huge bags of laundry, carrying their instrument cases and trays laden with platters of food, some stepping towards the outside area, where a party can just be seen taking place.

Tittle-Tattle

On the right, in a corner that is anything but screened off, a couple are making love lying on some sacks, while three geisha in the foreground exchange tittle-tattle about it. A young mysterious client wearing a hood (zukin) to conceal his identity, is looking for a female companion.

Mastery

It is Kuniyoshi’s mastery that leads our eyes from the crowded area on the left, slowly to the panel on the far right to the more quiet secret corner with the intimate couple.

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The complete series Hana-goyomi (Flower Calendar) including all 22 double and single page color illustrations with extensive descriptions of the most striking designs from the series an be viewed in our Premium section. Save yourself time and find the most fascinating sensual art in one place and become a Premium member now.

Click HERE for a rare complete shunga book series by Kuniyoshi revealing pleasure-quarter secrets

Sources: Shunga, Sex and Pleasure in Japanese Art by the British Museum, kuniyoshiproject.com, harashobo.com, Poem of the Pillow and Other Stories by Gian Carlo Calza