Color woodcut, ink, paper, 37x25 cm, yellowing of paper, minor edge damage
Portrait of a young sumo wrestler standing in the ring. He is wearing a traditional ceremonial apron trimmed with yellow tassels. The dynamic movement of the figure indicates that the wrestler was captured during the opening ceremony of the competition.
The ancient sport of Japanese sumo wrestling proved to be a popular subject for woodblock print artists in the Edo and Meiji eras. Portraits of individual wrestling champions often depict them during the ring entry ceremony, wearing a ceremonial belt and apron trimmed with tassels. Other designs show athletes in action during matches, with the referee and judges and the audience. Competitions were sometimes held on temple grounds to raise funds for the temple, with temporary arenas erected especially for the event.
Sakaigawa Namiemon (1841-1887) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from the Katsushika district of Shimosa. He made his debut in November 1857 and wrestled for the Sakaigawa crew. In April 1864, he was promoted to the makuuchi division and won five championship titles in the top division. He was the fourteenth yokozuna and ended his career in January 1881.
Kuniaki II, also known as Hachisuka Kuniaki, was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist active during the late Edo period and early Meiji era. He was a pupil of Utagawa Kunisada and later took the name Kuniaki II. He is known for his bijin-ga (paintings of beautiful women), Yokohama-e, Yakusha-e (engravings depicting kabuki actors) and engravings of sumo wrestlers. His works are characterized by vibrant colors and dramatic composition, reflecting the extravagant and popular style of the Utagawa school. His prints, like the works of many ukiyo-e artists, are collected and studied for their artistic and historical value, contributing to our understanding of Japanese art and culture during a period of significant change.
