The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife and Its Influence on Tentacle Erotica
Marijn Kruijff
10/14/2016
41 min
16

The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife and Its Influence on Tentacle Erotica

10/14/2016
41 min
16

The previous translations published on the internet of one of the most coveted erotic prints called ‘The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife‘ (蛸と海女) were not completely accurate. Below you can find the definitive translation and more background info on this shunga masterpiece…

Octopus ravaging diver girl

Fig.1. ‘The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife (c.1814)’ from the series ‘Young Pine Saplings (Kinoe no komatsu)’ by Katsushika Hokusai

Hokusai’s ‘The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife‘ became one of the most celebrated of all Japanese erotic prints partly by Edmond de Goncourt who wrote in his influential book ‘Hokousai‘:

“In these albums we find this frightful image: on rocks green with seaweed lies a naked body of a woman, swooning with rapture, sicut cadaver, such that we know not if she is alive or has drowned, and an immense octopus, its dreadful pupils the shape of black quarter-moons, sucks her nether regions, while a smaller octopus greedily feasts upon her mouth.”

The Most Complete Translation of the Text in The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife

Octopus: “Wondering when to do the abduction, but today is the day. At least she’s captured. Even so, this is a plump, good pussy. A greater delicacy than even a potato. Saa, saa, sucking to complete satisfaction, then take her to be imprisoned  in the Dragons King Palace.

Sounds: “Zuu, zubu, zubu, chu!, chu! chu! Zuu, zuu! Fu, fu, fu, fu!

Diver: “This hateful octopus, fu, fu, fu, fu…rather, aa, aa..sucking on the surface of the inner mouth of my womb until I’m breathless, aa, eee, I’m coming! By that projecting mouth. By that projecting mouth the open vagina is teased. Oh! Oh! Are, are… What to do? Aa, yoo, oo, oo, oo, ooo, aaree, oo, oo good, oo, good, good, good, haa, aa, good, good, haa, good, fu, fu, fuu, fuu. Again! Yoo, yoo, yoo, yoo. Until now, although people have called me aa, fu, fu, fu, fuu, fuu, fuu…Octopus! Oo, fu, fuu, fuu. Why, why? Ee, ee, this, yo, yo, yo, saadeha, aa, aa, aa!

Sounds: “Zuu, zuu, zuu, zuu, hicha, hicha, gucha, gucha, pichchu, chu, chu, chu, guu, guu, zuu, zuu.

Octopus: “Say! How about the feelings of being entwined by eight legs?”

Commentary: “Juices are flowing like hot water. Nura, nura, nura, doku, doku, doku.”

Diver: “Ee, moo. I’m becoming ticklish, zo, zo…One after another until I lose track, fu, fu, fuu, fuu, limits and boundaries are gone oo, oo, oo, I’ve arrived, aa, aa, are, are, there, there, uu, mu, mu, mu, fumu, fumu, uuu, I’m coming! I’m coming!

Small octopus: “After my parent is finished, I too will use my projecting mouth to rub from her clitoris to her ass until [she] loses consciousness, and then I’ll do it again, chu, chu.”

An ama diver being attacked by an octopus

Fig.2. ‘Octopus and ama diver‘ (c.1781) from the series ‘Yokyoku iro bangumi (Programme of Erotic Noh Plays)’ by Kitao Shigemasa

Far-fetched Fantasy

In the catalogue of the British Museum Hayakawa Monta (professor at the International Research Center for Japanese Studies) comments on “The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife” the following:

“This is the shunga image by Hokusai that has always fascinated people the most. Dragging a diving woman into a cleft between two rocks a large octopus is taking its pleasure, using almost all of its eight legs to coil around and play with her arms, legs and nipple.

A second, smaller octopus simultaneously ‘kisses’ her on the mouth. For all that this is an image of far-fetched fantasy, with its powerfully volumetric forms and brilliant coloring, it nonetheless gives the vivid sensation that we are direct witnesses of the scene, as the tentacles seem to slither and writhe before our gaze.

Print of a diver with octopus that inspired Hokusai

Fig.3. The print that inspired Hokusai Octopus design entitled Diver and Octopuses (c.1786)

Tight Grip on the Tentacles

The diving woman who gives up her body for the octopus to have its way may at first appear ‘lifeless, like a corpse’ (as Edmond de Goncourt wrote); but in fact she has all but lost consciousness with the pleasure that the creature is giving her. This is abundantly clear from her arched back, her tight grip on the tentacles, and her long sighs, cries and exclamations that fill the dialogue text surrounding them.

An octopus is attacking an ama diver from the water

Fig.4. ‘Octopus and ama (abalone) diver’ (c.1773) by Katsukawa Shunsho

Diver Who Stole a Jewel

[…] The idea for the pairing of octopus and diving woman was not original to Hokusai. Some thirty years earlier the artist Kitao Shigemasa (1739-1820) drew a similar combination (see Fig.2.) in his erotic book ‘Yokyoku iro bangumi (Programme of Erotic Noh Plays)’, where the context was the ancient Taishokan tale of the diver who stole a jewel from the Dragon King’s Palace at the bottom of the sea.

Hokusai’s fellow pupil in the Katsukawa school, Katsukawa Shuncho, also depicted a diving woman having sex with an octopus (see Fig.3.) among rocks on the shore in ‘Ehon chiyo-dameshi (Erotic Book: Lusts of Many Women on One Thousand Nights)‘ of 1786.

Even before that, Suzuki Harunobu (d. 1770) and Katsukawa Shunsho (d. 1792; Fig.4.) had both designed so-called ‘risqué pictures’ (abuna-e) – images that titillating but not explicit – on the theme.”

Black and white photo of the dream of the fisherman's wife

Fig.5. Still photo of the film ‘Edo Porn’ (1981)

Tentacles Curl Around

An accurate description of The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife by the shunga expert Rosina Buckland (British Museum) goes as follows: […] ‘Despite the passage of nearly two hundred years, it has lost none of its arresting graphic power. A naked woman lies between to seaweed-covered rocks, her legs spread to accommodate a huge octopus which penetrates her with its mantle. One of its tentacles curls around to stimulate her clitoris. At her head, a smaller octopus cradles her neck as it battens on to her mouth and tweaks her left nipple.’

Carved by Yuuya Shimoi in 2018

Fig.6. Remake of ‘The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife’ (2018) by Yuuya Shimoi

Hypodermic Fat

The woman is one of the female divers (ama or awabi) who gathered abalone shellfish. Women possess more hypodermic fat so have an advantage over men in being able to endure the cold temperatures of the water, and these divers were renowned for their ability to hold their breath for long periods of time.

Cutting Her Breast

Ama had appeared in various archaic stories, in particular Taishokan, the tale of a Buddhist jewel captured along the way from China to Japan and taken to the Palace of the Dragon-King. An ama finally succeeds in rescuing the jewel, but only by cutting her breast open to conceal it, thereby sacrificing her own life.

Barely Clad

This story was turned into a noh play in the early fifteenth century, as well as being adapted for more popular stage plays. The story was represented in woodblock prints, but during the eighteenth century the depiction of the barely clad divers, wearing only a red underskirt, became sensualized and provided suitable subject matter both for ukiyo-e designs of beauties (such as the opening page of the Utamaro’s Poem of the Pillow album), and for explicit images of octopuses penetrating and sucking.

Heroic Diver

In addition, tako, the word for octopus, was argot for vagina, for its ability to suck firmly, and this term is used in the dialogue here. Yet the design lacks obvious references to the tale of the heroic diver, contemporary readers (viewers) of the book would have been familiar with these links, and would have understood the visual play which Hokusai was deploying in his extraordinary design.*

Movie clip of ‘The Octopus scene‘ from ‘Hokusai Manga (aka. Edo Porn)‘, 1981. Directed by Kaneto Shindô.

Click here for a translation of Hokusai’s “Horny Widow” shunga design!

The following exciting video features some other interesting designs on the Octopus theme:

After its release Hokusai’s famous ama diver design has inspired many artists over time. Below you can find some exciting examples:

Modern painting of a red octopus with an ama diver

Fig.7. ‘Ama’ (2016) by the Taiwanese American artist James Jean (1979)

sketch of an octopus grabbing a female beauty

Fig.8. ‘Animalz #7’ by Giuseppe Petrilli (1970)

Illustration of an octopus teasing a greek female

Fig.9. Illustration from the magazine Mayfair’s 1975 edition by Angus McBride

Sleeping woman being attacked by an octopus through a window

Fig.10. Etching of ‘The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife’ by seriykotik1970

Gay variation of the dream of teh fisherman's wife

Fig.11. Gay variation by the Japanese artist Naomichi Okutsu (title and date unknown)

Painting by Lisa Riordon

Fig.12. ‘The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife’ by Lisa Riordon

Modern painting of an octopus and ama diver

Fig.13. ‘Ama diver and octopus’ by Marie Makowski

On a beach the octopus is pleasing an ama diver

Fig.14. ‘At the beach a giant octopus is performing cunnilingus on an ama diver ‘ (c.1860) by a member of the Utagawa school

sticthing on jeans including the great wave

Fig.15. Jeans with pink octopus and ama diver with Great Wave

Segment from the acclaimed animation movie

Fig.16. Segment from the acclaimed animation movie ‘La Petitie Mort (The Little Death)’ by Carla Veldman and Jennifer Linton (1968)

Tryptich of three girls

Fig.17. Girls pleasing themselves by Yuji Moriguchi

Two cartoons in different colors

Fig.18. Cartoon ‘The Dream of the Fisherman’s Daughter’ by Tenugui

Painting on a round plate

Fig.19. 8 horny maidens with one octopus by Yuji Moriguchi

Mock print including the dream of teh fisherman's wife

Fig.20. Goldman Sachs

Gay art

Fig.21. Gay art with young male and octopus

Illustration by Jean de Villiot

Fig.22. Octopus Illustration by Jean de Villiot

A Lovely Garland

Fig.23. A Lovely Garland – female with knife fighting a gian octopus by Kuniyoshi

triptych with ama divers and octopuses by Chikanbou

Fig.24. Ama divers and octopuses by Toyohara Chikanobu

'Shizu no ama otome Daishokan' by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861)

Fig.25. Dragon King and his retainers and a giant octopus

by Brooke Steele

Fig.26. Tattoo art of the dream of the fisherman’s wife by Brooke Steele

Paiting by Fabio Barbon

Fig.27. Red octopus with geisha by Fabio Barboni

Painting by Kobayashi Eitaku

Fig.28. Painting with Octopus and shell diver by Kobayashi Eitaku

Hentai version of Hokusai's iconic image

Fig.29. Hentai art with a red octopus and blue-haired girl

Tattoo design

Fig.30. Tattoo design of a blue yellow speckled octopus performing cunnilingus on a corpulent female

Funny paiting of an octopus with phallus shaped temtacles

Fig.31. Octopus with phallus tentacles

Paiting by Randy Hall

Fig.32. Tattooed female with orange octopus by Randy Hall

Painting on round plate by fernando bellver

Fig.33. Octopus and two females on round plate by fernando bellver

red sky by Tristan Elwell

Fig.34. Female surrounded by octopus tentacle

Figurine displaying an interpretation of The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife

Fig.35. Figurines from Hokusai’s the dream of the fisherman’s wife

Painting by Tsubaki Anna

Fig.36. Octopus and woman shell diver by Tsubaki Anna

Octopus making love to ama diver

Fig.37. Sensual purple octopus on the back of an ama diver

cunnilingus on a pearl diver with knife

Fig.38. Octopus performing cunnilingus on a pearl diver with knife

Drawing by Dyna Moe

Fig.39. Vector redrawing of the dream of the fisherman’s wife by Dyna Moe

Purple octopus ravaging hentai girl

Fig.40. Hentai art featuring The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife

cover of Weird Tales by Rowena Morrill

The Unknown Five (cover of Weird Tales) depicting a ‘Mutated octopus attacking woman‘ (2009) by Rowena Morrill

Tentacle Hentai porn 'Double penetration' pink octopus

Tentacle Hentai porn ‘Double penetration

Surrealistic painting with nude female in the water with octopus tentacles by Daria Petrilli

Surrealistic painting by Daria Petrilli (1970)

purple tentacles touching aroused nude female - tenta time

octopus with hearts and young girl by Somefield

Image by Somefield

Sumi-e drawing 'Inspired by Hokusai's The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife' (2019) by Gabackokorabac

Sumi-e drawing inspired by ‘Hokusai’s The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife‘ (2019) by Gabackokorabac

white female in a Japanese kimono embraced by tentacles and with red sun in the sky Takoyaki

Takoyaki Inspired by japanese illustrator, Takako Yamamoto & Yuji Moriguchi

crossbreeding - s.f. porn -alien octopus with ama diver

Crossbreeding‘ by beytaro_0912

black and white painting of the dream of the fisherman's wife by pink-porcupine

The dream of the fisherman’s wife‘ (2013) by pink-porcupine

the dream of the fisherman's wie

A female abalone diver wrestling with an octopus‘ (c.1870s) by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892)

Boy Diver and Octopuses or The Dream of the Fisherman's Husband by Nikita Sho

Boy Diver and Octopuses or The Dream of the Fisherman’s Husband‘ by Nikita Sho

sketch with young girl suckling the tentacle of an octopus

Sketch by Maryam Gohar

octopuses caressing an attractive boy - gay - broken samurai sword

gay variation on the dream of the fisherman's wife - pop art

Another gay variation by an unknown artist

Japanese erotic print octopus making love to mermaid

‘Octopus making love to a mermaid’ (c.1830) attrib. to Keisai Eisen (1790-1848)

pin up girl lying on a giant black octopus by Somefield

Octopus painting by Somefield

octopuses sucking on the back of a nude girl by Daikichi Amano

Octopuses and women‘ from the book ‘Human Nature‘ (2010) by Daikichi Amano

senusal mermaid with giant octopus by Michael Cottage

The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife‘ by Michael Cottage

sweaty octopus and pin up girl behind screen with silhouettes

octopus embracing nude long-haired nude girl by Maria B.M.

The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife‘ (2019) by Maria B.M

computer game of The Dream of the Octorok's Wife

The Dream of the Octorok’s Wife

book cover erotic novella the dream of the fisherman's wife by Krissy Kneen

Erotic novella ‘The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife: Triptych 2‘ by Krissy Kneen

angry octopus with nude female on sofa by Ernesto Jorge Ferriol Perez

Triple Attack Hokusai XL 008‘  (2008) by Ernesto Jorge Ferriol Perez

carving with Dreams of the fisherman's wives by I Made Cekeg

Dreams of the Fishermen’s Wives‘ by the Indonesian artist I Made Cekeg (1964-) (Private collection)

hemtai image depicting a fusion of Hokusai's the great wave and the dream of the fisherman´s wife

picture of an octopus girl with octopus on her head from Human Nature by Daikichi Amano

Octopus girl‘ from the book ‘Human Nature‘ (2010) by Daikichi Amano

the dream of the fisherman's wife - orange octopus with diver by Mike Dorsey

The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife Print‘ by Mike Dorsey Tattoo

tied tattooed girl on the beach with a black octopus by Mike Dorsey

The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife Print‘ by Mike Dorsey Tattoo

The Fishermans Wife‘ (2019) by Mike Dorsey

illustration Mars attacks meets Hokusai with brainy alien and ufo's by Zug art

Mars attacks meets Hokusai’ by Zug Art

Silkscreen print '<em>A Perfect Lover, a woman and an octopus on the beach in the moonlight (after Hokusai by Joost Veerkamp

Silkscreen print ‘A Perfect Lover, a woman and an octopus on the beach (after Hokusai)‘ (1997) by Joost Veerkamp

orange octopus fondling a nude geisha in the waves by Naoko Matsuda

Tattoo design by Naoko Matsuda

red octopus with geisha heads

Hokusai exposed (Re-Create)‘ (2013)

animation inspired by Hokusai's the dream of the fisherman's wife

painting of an octopus and shell diver in the style of Kobayashi Eitaku

Octopus and shell diver‘ (c.1870s) in the style of Kobayashi Eitaku

Tattoo design of Hokusai Octopus print by Stagnio

Tattoo design by Stagnio

modern variation on the dream of the fisherman's wife

the dream of the fisherman's wife by Paulo Javier

The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife‘ (2018) by Paulo Javier

orange octopus grabbing an almost nude girl

acrylic gouache the dream of the fisherman's wife by Sisyu - colorful octopus

Iron, acrylic gouache on canvas ‘The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife‘ (2018) by Sisyu

painting with sensual female accompanied by two octopuses by Elly Smallwood

Oil on canvas ‘The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife‘ (2016) by Elly Smallwood

photograph with orange octopus and orgasmic nude female by Shazycrit

Suck attack‘ (2018) by Shazycrit

photograph with sensual girl and tentacles

Tank Girl Reloaded‘ (2018) by Shazycrit

female surfer and giant octopus (Jaws) by Andy Fairhurst

Female surfer and octopus‘ by Andy Fairhurst

painting with Octopus And Ama Diver from the Meiji era

Painting. Ink and color on silk ‘Octopus And Ama Diver‘ (c.1900) by an unknown Meiji artist

octopuses in bubbles with female in a fishnet dress at sea by Judith Schaechter

Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife‘ (2004) by Judith Schaechter

triptych stained glass window with floating octopuses with female in a fishnet dress at sea by Judith Schaechter

Stained glass window ‘Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife‘ (2004) by J. Schaechter

sketch by Muhamed Kafedžić of Hokusai The dream of fisherman's wife

Sketch of ‘Ama and Octopus after Hokusai‘ by Muhamed Kafedžić – Muha

painting with a new fantasy of Hokusai's The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife by Muhamed Kafedžić – Muha

Fnished painting of ‘Ama and Octopus after Hokusai‘ by Muhamed Kafedžić – Muha

mural design with black female figures in the waves with red octopus

Mural design for Gama Gallery in Mexico City

Nude female on the beach with an octopus and three tengu demons and Great Wave

Hokusai’s Great Waves of Ecstasy‘ by Timothy White

Girl with octopus by Daikichi Amano

Girl with octopus‘ by Daikichi Amano – From the book ‘Human Nature’  (2010)

black and white drawing of Japanese girl and funny octopus

From the ‘Squids and Octopus‘ series (2011) by Neoteny

One Hundred Girls And One Hundred Octopuses by Zak Smith

From the series ‘One Hundred Girls And One Hundred Octopuses‘ by Zak Smith

painting with pink pigment of the Dream of the Fisherman's wife by Penny Siopis

Ambush‘ (2008) by Penny Siopis

octopus holding parts of a mannequin by Sergio Teran

Woodblock print ‘The Octopus’s Wife‘ (2012) by Sergio Teran

Intimate octopus and ama diver in the surf by Hokusai pupil

Intimate octopus and ama diver in the surf‘ (late 1810s) by a pupil of Hokusai

3D version of The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife

3D version of ‘The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife‘ on Widewalls.ch

B&W picture of the dream of the fisherman's wife After Hokusai

The Dream of The Fisherman’s Wife, After Hokusai‘ (2009)

sleeping nude girl surrounded by tentacles by Mme S

Octopus N°36‘ (2017) by’ Mme S

long horizontal painting with octopus caressing a nude women by Arjan Winkelaar

An uncertain animal aspiring to an empty gesture‘ (2018) by Arjan Winkelaar

dancing nude female with towering octopus behind her

Tentacles‘ by Ellie Grey

giant red octopus caressing the boobs and vulva of a smoking pin-up girl

Pin up girl sitting on an octopus by Katie Dutch

Over Thinking – Octopus Lady‘ by Katie Dutch

nude female with long hair and a venus rose with red octopus

Giant pink octopus wearing a crown peeking underneath the dress of a female sailor

Squid King‘ (2011) by Ben Newman

nude seducing girl with glowing octopus

The Visitor‘ by Pete Tapang

Tattooed Japanese girl in the waves embracing a giant octopus

From Here to Eternity‘ (2017) by Reynolds and Rose

shoes portraying Hokusai's the dream of the fisherman's wife

Aroused nude female surrounded by numerous tentacles by Adriano de Vinsentiis

Adriano de Vinsentiis

koban print Octopus wearing a head-scarf copulating with an ama diver by Kunisada II

Koban sized print featuring ‘Octopus wearing a head-scarf copulating with an ama diver‘ (c.1855) from the series: ‘Shunkyo karami-dako (Spring Games: Grappling Octopus)‘ by Utagawa Kunisada II (1823-1880)

tattooed bearded male with two octopuses - aquaman by Inannani

Hokusai x Aquaman‘ (2019) by Inannani

painting after Scarfed Octopus and ama diver by Kunisada II

Shunga painting after Kunisada II with ‘Octopus and ama diver‘ (c.1860)

b&W tattoo design with octopus and horny female by Hiten Damodar

The Fisherman’s Wife‘ by Hiten Damodar

photograph with a modern variation of the dream of the fisherman's wife nude female embracing octopus by Hajime Satawari

Photograph with a modern visual translation of The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife by Hajime Satawari

A gigantic octopus is performing cunnilingus on an awabi diver using its beak‘

A gigantic octopus is performing cunnilingus on an awabi diver using its beak‘ (c.1920)

hentai version of the dream of the fisherman's wife with orange octopus and Western lady

Dream of the Fisherman’s Floozy‘ by WolfStudiosArt

The Giant Member Fuji versus King Gidora by Makoto Aida

The Giant Member Fuji versus King Gidora‘ (1993) by Makoto Aida

painting with gold tentacles and nude girl

Painted by Rebecca Leveille-Guay

tattooed arm with purple octopus and nude girl

Tattoo design by Jimmy Gobeil

Tattoo inspired by ‘The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife‘ by Nicholas F. Chandrawienata

Redux of ‘the dream of the fishermans wife‘ by Franvolio

The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife‘ by Emily Perozzo

daguerreotype b&w picture with nude girl on sofa embraced by giant tentacle Ode to the Fisherman's Wife by Shane Balkowitsch

‘”Ode to the Fisherman’s Wife” (2017) by Shane Balkowitsch

manga hentai with girl bunny head and giant purple octopus

Class Destroyer‘ by Erotibot

girl with sword fighting octopus in the waves

Cover for a soundtrack of a manga movie

octopus by Hajime Sorayama

Octopus‘ (1994) by Hajime Sorayama

Ode to Hokusai's the dream of the fisherman's wife by Ashley Wood

Interpretation of Hokusai’s design (2008) by the Australian comic book artist Ashley Wood

painting inspired by Hokusai's octopus design mid 19th century

Japanese shunga painting inspired by Hokusai’s octopus design (mid 19th century)

tattoo of A Young geisha and her octopus lover

Tattoo featuring ‘A Young geisha and her octopus lover’ by Lenka Cechura

three pics of tattoos with octopus and naked female

Picasso's drawing inspired by Hokusai's the dream of the fisherman´s wife

Drawing by Picasso

nude Asian girl laying on her belly with blue octopus performing cunnilingus

painting with sensual girl and octopus and white flowers by Kojima Ayami

Octopus‘ by Kojima Ayami

the dream of the fisherman's wife

Kraken‘ by Pigo Lin

Octopus assaulting boatsman by Kuniyoshi

Octopus assaulting boatsman‘ (c.1847) from an important album of 26 original sumi shijo-style drawings by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861) (Richard Kruml)

harpoon girl with angry octopus by Serge Birault

Harpoon girl ‘ by Serge Birault

tattooed Japanese girl embracing sensual octopus

Tentacle love from the secret garden book by Apollonia Saintclair

Tentacle love‘ by Apollonia Saintclair

Hokusai's octopus fondling two nude males - gay art

Another gay version of Hokusai’s design: “Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife

'The Dream of the Calligrapher's Wife' by Jonathan Cuervo Cisneros

The Dream of the Calligrapher’s Wife‘ by Jonathan Cuervo Cisneros

'The Fishman's Wife' by oh8

The Fishman’s Wife‘ by oh8 (Source: DeviantArt)

Female Bangle bracelet silver cuff Shunga Japanese Fable Hokusai the Dream of the Fisherman's Wife

Female Bangle bracelet silver cuff – Shunga Japanese Fable Hokusai the Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife

Hentai image with Kitsune girl and three octopuses

Hentai image with a young girl (looks like a kitsune) and three octopi by Jaster K.

t-shirt with b&w illustration of the dream of the fisherman's wife

Black t-shirt  FISHERMAN’S WIFE

color photograph with nude Japanese girl and octopus by Kazan Yamamoto

Girl and octopus‘ (2016) by the photographer Kazan Yamamoto

Sarah and the Octopus/ Seventh Heaven by Masami Teraoka

Sarah and the Octopus/ Seventh Heaven‘ (2002) by Masami Teraoka

female surrounded by condoms and octopus by Masami Teraoka

Watercolor on paper,  ‘Eight Condom Fantasy‘ (1992) from the  ‘New Wave Series‘ by Masami Teraoka

Pearl diver and octopus in the sea by Masami Teraoka

Pearl diver and octopus‘ (1986) from the ‘New Wave‘ series by Masami Teraoka

Sarah and writhing octopus from the New Wave series by Masami Teraoka

Sarah and writhing octopus‘ (1992) from the ‘New Wave‘ series by Masami Teraoka

Sarah and dream octopus by Masami Teraoka

Sarah and dream octopus‘ (1992) from the ‘New Wave‘ series by Masami Teraoka

Tattooed woman Tattooed Woman at Kaneoche Bay I by Masami Teraoka

Tattooed woman Tattooed Woman at Kaneoche Bay I ‘(1984) from the ‘Wave series‘ by Masami Teraoka

Tattooed woman and octopus by Hiroshi Hirakawa

Tattooed woman and octopus‘ by Hiroshi Hirakawa

Mermaid and octopuses by Hiroshi Hirakawa

Mermaid and octopus‘ by Hiroshi Hirakawa

Octopus mandala - Eight Maidens by Yuji Moriguchi

Detail of a painting called ‘Octopus mandala – Eight Maidens‘ by Yuji Moriguchi

Version of ‘The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife‘ by Birdsnatcher

the dream of the fisherman's wife

The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife‘ (2009) by Loannis Kapoulas

child drawing of the the dream of the fisherman's wife

“Child” drawing of The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife

the dream of the fisherman's wife: Digital sculpture 'Kinoe no komatsu' (2019/2020) by Jeremie

Digital sculpture ‘Kinoe no komatsu‘ (2019/2020) by Jeremie

'Dream of the Fisherman's wife' by Tatlew

Dream of the Fisherman’s wife’ by Tatlew (Photo from Hentai Foundry)

Hentai interpretation of 'The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife' Octopuses with phallic beacons

Hentai interpretation of ‘The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife

Gay version of ' The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife'

Gay version of ‘ The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife‘ (Photo from rule34.paheal.net)

Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife Revisited‘ by Jeff Cornish (Saatchi Art)

sculpture of the dream of the fisherman's wife

Sculpture by Mushibuchi

Andrey Surnov the dream of the fisherman's wife

The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife‘  (2020) by Andrey Surnov

the fisherman's wife peter fortin'The Fisherman's Wife' (2008) by Peter Fortin

Life-size statue of the dream of the fisherman´s wife

Life-size statue of the the dream of the fisherman's wife in the open-air

Octopus and woman‘ (2015) by Ding Min

Amusing Japanese commercial from the 1980s targeting housewives:

pre-production of the remake of the dream of the fisherman's wife

Pre-production of the 2018 remake of ‘The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife‘ by Yuuya Shimoi (Click here to obtain this rare piece!)

At the moment we are offering a nice opportunity to obtain a genuine woodblock print remake of ‘The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife‘ print. Click HERE for more info….!!

Do you also share the fascination for Hokusai’s ‘The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife’ image? What is your favorite artwork depicted in this article? 

Sources: ‘Erotic Japonisme, the Influence of Japanese Sexual Imagery on Western Art‘ by Ricard Bru.
Shunga, Sex and Pleasure in Japanese Art‘ (Edited by Timothy Clark, C. Andrew Gerstle…etc.)

* ‘Shunga, Erotic Art in Japan‘ by Rosina Buckland

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