Background
The illustrated book Hokusai gashiki, published in Nagoya after Hokusai’s visit there in 1818, lists the artist Shunyôsai Hokkei as one of three pupil-copyists. There was also an artist named Kintarô Shunyô among those of the early Hokushû school, changing his name to Hokkei after Hokushû moved from the publisher Shioya Chôbei to Honya Seishichi in 1816.
Ane imôto date no ôkido (姉妹達大礎), premiering in 1795, was a Kamigata adaptation of the Edo-based play Go taiheiki shiroishi banashi (Story of Shiraishi and the chronicles of peace: 碁太平記白石噺) of 1780. The Edo version was a mixture of two dramas, one based on a failed rebellion in 1651 led by Yui Shôsetsu (1605-51) against the ten-year-old shogun Ietsuna, and the other a vendetta in 1723 carried on by two sisters. Onobu and her courtesan sister, Miyagino of the Daikokuya in Shin Yoshiwara, vow to avenge their father's murderer, a village magistrate named Daishichi Shiga, whose villainy also caused their mother to die from grief. The brothel proprietor, Soroku, urges them to learn martial arts from Uji Jôsetsu (the theatrical stand-in for Yui Shôsetsu). Onobu studies fencing and changes her name to Shinobu. Aided by Jôsetsu, the sisters exact their revenge.
Design
The hosoban sheet was the standard format for early kamagata-e. The heyday of the ôban sheet would follow circa 1813-15, lasting until the Tenpô reforms of 1842-47. After that, the chûban format would dominate print production in Kamigata. Our example is the same impression illustrated as figure no. 66 in Kamigata-e ichiran (Review of Kamigata Pictures). Kuroda, Genji. Kyoto, 1929 [from the Okada Collection].
Provenance
Okada (a celebrated private Japanese collection not seen in public for more than 70 years until its recent dispersal ― a blockbuster event in the world of kamigata-e; see KAM below)
摺り非常に良い。落ち着いた色調（朱色部分に多少色褪せ）保存状態良（裏打ちなし、中央水平に折りあとと多少のしわ）
References: KAM, no. 66; WAS I-4, no. 64; NKE, p. 135-136
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