The following design is inspired on the joruri puppet play Itozakura honcho-sodachi. This story tells about the story of the triangular relationship among Ofusa and Koito, the daughters of a thread-maker in Honcho-nichome, and the servant Sashichi.
Military Horses
According to ukiyo-e expert Hayashi Yoshikazu the print’s composition is unremarkable. Striking is the inclusion of military horses on the screen. This could indicate that this print was published at New Year’s in a Year of the Horse, which would date it to Bunsei 5 (1822).
‘Threesome‘ (late 1820s) Plate 6 from the series ‘Willow Storm (yanagi no arushi)‘ by Yanagawa Shigenobu (1787-1833)
Older Ofusa
Some readers may be worried about the consequences of the relationship of this threesome because it involves two sisters, but one should not worry. After many a quarrel the older Ofusa became Sashichi’s principle wife and Koito his concubine, and they enjoyed themselves very much. A conventional Edo (nowadays Tokyo) love story, where worries won’t get you anywhere.
Click HERE for descriptions of more appealing designs from the ‘Willow Storm‘ -series!
Source: Vol.4 of ‘Teihon ukiyo-e shunga mrihin shusei (The Complete Ukiyo-e Shunga), 1997′ by Hayashi Yoshikazu
