Description: Women engaged in the tea ceremony and playing go.
Comment: There are a number of prints showing the "acceptable" pursuits of women, and this one is typical. Activities of the Yoshiwara were not included although many "establishments" in the Yoshiwara had go boards for their patrons.
Copyright: Douglas Cable

Published: 1883.
Description: Futomaki & Ariwara of Tsunebi-Ro playing Japanese backgammon, with a go board in the background.
Series: Honored Courtesans: #3"
Comment: I would like to think that the green table in the back is a billiard table, but I just can't convince myself.
Copyright: Douglas Cable

Published: 1881.
Title: "Shogi & Go Players."
Description: Triptych of the Empress Meiji looking at the activities of court ladies.
Comment: Another "lush" print. After the early to mid 1860's, when aniline die from Europe became available, colors (especially reds & greens) became much stronger, with a different tone. Before that only vegetable, and other natural, dyes were available, which were more subtle, although they were more susceptible to fading. Some critics accuse the newer prints to be harsh and clashing, unless the colors were handled with some delicacy.
Copyright: Douglas Cable

Published: May of 1880.
Comment: Nice example of a tastefully done print, despite plenty of aniline red.
Copyright: Douglas Cable

Published: circa 1835.
Comment: Hokuga was a pupil of the famous Hokusai. This print shows Shoki, on the right, and an oni (demon) playing go at Onamiyama. It's unusual in that it depicts the scene on the folded-over page of a book. Shoki, a demon killer, is a familiar Japanese figure with an often comic aspect.
Copyright: Douglas Cable

Published: circa 1900
Comment: Instead of an ukiyo-e, this is a "kuchi-e" (magazine insert), showing a woman bringing tea to two men playing go. It has two vertical fold marks, because of the magazine insertion. Such illustrations generally have something to do with one of the stories in the magazine, and this one is very unusual, illustrating the game of go.
Copyright: Douglas Cable

Published: January 1872
Description: Courtesan Nagahama of the Owari House enjoying Playing Go.
Series: "Mitate Juroku Rakan No Ouchi" - 16 Enjoyable Pastimes.
Comment: The print doesn't indicate where go stacks up on that list. We hope it's in the top 4 or 5. This print is an example of a somewhat garish juxtaposition of aniline red and green in close proximity.
Copyright: Douglas Cable

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