Published: 1893
Description: Actor Onoe Kikugoro 5 in the role of Konoshita Tokichi, in the play Gion Sairei Shinkoki; he has just defeated the character at the top, Matsumaga Daien, in a game of go. The edge of the go board, upside down, just shows on Onoe's shoulder, and unless you know, it does not appear to be a go print.
Series: "100 Roles of Onoe Kikugoro 5"
Comment: This is a deluxe edition, with metallic pigments, some of which have oxidized with time. There are several go prints based upon this story, and Onoe's crossed eyes are part of Japanese theater tradition.
Copyright: Douglas Cable

Description: woodprint (ukiyo-e)
Comment: Several of these Kunichika's show the same play (Temple of the Golden Pavilion) with the same scene (Tokichi presenting the go bowls to Daizen). See Pinckard, at Kiseido, for complete details about the play, and this peculiar go scene.
Copyright: Douglas Cable

Description: Actors in various roles, possibly all concerning roles depicting the Soba Brothers. In some of these go prints you really have to look for the go board.
Copyright: Douglas Cable

Description: Another depiction of Tokichi presenting the go bowls to Daizen. Kunichika must have really loved this scene.
Copyright: Douglas Cable

Published: 1886
Description: Another one of the many "Go Board Tadanobus," this one showing our hero in action, as is the case with most of the Tadanobu prints.
Comment: To see what was happening right before the action started, see the third print by Chikanobu, in this collection. In this print we see him not only clobbering his enemies, but, apparently, also attempting to serve retribution to his unfaithful mistress, Oguruma. The same situation is depicted in one of the Kuniyoshi "Tadanobu" triptychs in this collection. Of all the go prints, this Tadanobu go-board-as-a-weapon scene is depicted more than any other subject matter.
Copyright: Douglas Cable

Published: around the 1840's
Description: A somewhat rare triptych depicting the story of Raiko and the Ground Spider Monster, or Demon. Raiko and his loyal retainers enter the Spider's underground lair to destroy him. The Demon sends goblins and ghosts to do battle, and sometimes appears, himself, as a giant spider. Raiko prints seem to be a little scarcer than most other go prints, and some of them are quite rare.
Comment: Again, see the Pinckard notes for the full story of Raiko.
Copyright: Douglas Cable

Published: 1851-1852
Description: This is from chapter 3 of "The Tales of Genji," another subject matter that appears in a number of prints, especially by Kunisada/Toyokuni III. Genji is peeking from behind a screen, at the woman whom he desires. There is another go scene, as well, in the Genji novel.
Comment: The artists sometimes changed their names, and after the death of Toyokuni the first, Kunisada (related by marriage) changed his name to Toyokuni the third. This particular print, in fact, is signed as Toyokuni the third.
Copyright: Douglas Cable

Published: 1847-48
Title: "Poet"
Description: This is a very small print, measuring only 6-3/8" x 4-3/8" and may have been a bookplate. Most single sheet prints are "oban" size, which is 10" x 15" full size, including margins. But the margins are often trimmed-down to the design, or even into the design, so measurements vary. Thus, a 3-panel triptych would measure around 15" x 30" if untrimmed.
Series: "100 Poems by 100 Poets"
Copyright: Douglas Cable

Published: around 1843-1845
Title: Genji Koari no Zu," from chapter "Yadorigi"
Comment: This is another print from "The Tales of Genji"
Description: This print is "chuban" size, measuring a little over 7" x 10".
Copyright: Douglas Cable

Published: 1849-1850
Description: A triptych version of Genji, chapter three, peeking through the screen.
Copyright: Douglas Cable