Benkei by Tsuruya Kokei. Woodblock print on gampi paper, basically tissue paper.

Ishikawa goemon is a semi-mythical Japanese historical figure comparable with Robin Hood. I gave it to my friends as a gift.

Hi, I recently found this in a folio that belonged to my grandmother and want to identify it. I tried an image search on the ukiyo-e website but could not find a match. Also tried a Google reverse image search and found slightly similar images, but no actual match. Does anyone recognize the artist or picture?

https://preview.redd.it/ii55gxg76w2e1.jpg?width=2273&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f8d202f8a8e9d6a040e92c811736a989dc9d22a8

I know it’s Kunisada II, printed around ~1857. Is this a Yakusha-e print? If so, I would like to know the Kabuki actors and play’s name. If not, what series is this from?

Thank you very much

Utagawa Kuniyoshi's portait of Oiwa

Hi everyone, first-time poster here! Over the past 72 hours, I’ve been searching on and off for a specific and complete print depicting the tale of Oiwa done by Utagawa Kuniyoshi. Most options I’ve found are either a different variation, prohibitively expensive, sold out, or incomplete—often only showing the right side of Oiwa. Aside from a few print-on-demand sites, I’m wondering if I might have overlooked a better source. As a last resort, I’ll contact a local print shop to make one for me, but I’d greatly appreciate any advice or leads!

THE TALE OF OIWA

Long ago, in Edo there lived a samurai named Iemon, a man consumed by ambition and greed. Once a proud warrior, Iemon’s pride and desperation led him down a path of betrayal and cruelty. His wife, Oiwa, remained devoted to him, enduring poverty and hardship with unwavering loyalty, even as Iemon’s resentment toward her grew. One day, fortune appeared to favor Iemon. A wealthy and influential family introduced him to their daughter, Oume, who had fallen deeply in love with him. For Iemon, Oume represented a chance to escape his struggles and regain the status he had lost. But one obstacle stood in his way—his wife, Oiwa.

Blinded by his ambition, Iemon conspired with Oume’s family to rid himself of Oiwa. Together, they devised a sinister plan. They sent Oiwa a topical ointment, claiming it would heal her ailments and restore her beauty. But the concoction was laced with poison. Slowly, the poison disfigured Oiwa’s once-beautiful face. Her skin swelled grotesquely, one eye drooped unnaturally, and her thick, black hair fell out in clumps. Despite her pain and her deteriorating appearance, Oiwa clung to the hope that she could recover and win back her husband’s love, but Iemon’s cruelty had no bounds. Repulsed by Oiwa’s disfigurement and eager to free himself, he devised an even more despicable plan. He ordered a man named Takuetsu to dishonor Oiwa by forcing himself upon her, intending to use the act as grounds for divorce. Yet when the time came, Takuetsu could not carry out the vile act.

Overcome with guilt, he instead showed Oiwa her reflection in a mirror.

The sight broke her. The woman staring back at her was no longer the radiant Oiwa she once was. She saw only a grotesque, broken shell of herself and in that moment, horror turned to rage, and rage to despair. She realized the full extent of her husband’s betrayal and cruelty. Gripping a sword, Oiwa stormed toward the door, determined to confront her tormentors. But in her grief and haste, her strength gave out. She stumbled, and the blade pierced her own throat. As her blood pooled beneath her, she used her final breath to curse Iemon and all those who had wronged her. Her pain, anger, and sorrow bound her spirit to the mortal world, transforming her into an onryō—a vengeful ghost, incapable of rest until justice was served.

Death was not the end for Oiwa. On the night of Iemon’s wedding to Oume, her curse began. As Iemon turned to his new bride, he was struck by terror—Oume’s face had morphed into Oiwa’s disfigured visage. Her swollen features, her hollow, sunken eye, and her tangled black hair loomed before him. Overcome with fear, Iemon lashed out, killing Oume in a frenzy. When the illusion faded, he realized the horrifying truth—he had murdered his new wife. From that moment, Iemon’s life spiraled into chaos. Oiwa’s ghost haunted him relentlessly. Her disfigured face appeared in lanterns, mirrors, and shadows. Her laughter echoed in the darkness, her voice whispered his name, and her presence invaded his dreams. Those who had aided Iemon in his betrayal—Oume’s family, the doctor, and his co-conspirators—met grisly fates. Some died in horrifying accidents, others were driven mad by the relentless presence of Oiwa’s ghost.

Her spirit would not rest until every last one of them had paid for their crimes.

As for Iemon, his torment only grew. No matter how far he fled, Oiwa followed, her ghost ever present, lurking in the shadows and creeping into his thoughts. His sanity unraveled, his once-proud demeanor reduced to a hollow shell of fear. In the end, Iemon was left desolate and alone. Haunted, broken, and tormented, he wandered aimlessly, unable to escape Oiwa’s ghost. Her disfigured form loomed in every corner of his vision, a constant reminder of his betrayal.

Some say she appeared one final time, her tangled hair wrapping around him as she dragged him into the afterlife.
Others claim he succumbed to madness, consumed by guilt and terror until his dying breath

I bought this at the toji market, e need to know the year, the artist and the value.

Hi would like any info on this beautiful piece of art I have here. Is it a real utagawa kunisada?? Thanks

https://nga.gov.au/events/artist-talk-with-masami-teraoka-1/

https://www.masamiteraoka.com/recent-work

I will go to Japan in early December will spend 3 days in Tokyo.

Where or which shop worth to have a look ? See if any luck to find some good hangs.

Watanabe Ginza shop is a must, as a fan not a custoner, won't buy anything here.

I fond this item in yamada's site

https://www.yamada-shoten.com/onlinestore/detail.php?item_id=72080

It missed part of edge, so cannot see the print year and title, it will greatly reduced its value and hard to re-sell. and yamada's price always stick with market or bid higher but only selling authentic items. Am I correct ?

How much you will offer ? if your target is resell it 2 years later

You all are so great on identifying these. Here’s another print I own, I’d love to know more about it. I found similar prints on a Russian site, but I couldn’t read what it said. Thank you for your time.

This I purchased 30 years ago in a flea market in New York City. I think I paid $30 for it, which was a lot for me at the time. Gold, metallic ink in the smoke, something I’ve never seen before. It is unsigned, if anyone can identify who the artist is, etc, I’d be grateful.

I found its prices are weirded. Hard to believed some woodblock prints can sold for so high.

A Reiwa re-carved Kawase Hasui can bid over 100 euro ?

Can tell me why ?

I love the way landscapes are done in Ukiyoe art and want to study some pieces but cant seem to find sites that have them. Anyone know of some sites that have a gallery of Ukiyoe art?

I think it is most important and hardness part in identifying Ukiyo-e, any methods or resources to identify or learn to identify the paper year ?