Tsukioka Yoshitoshi

1839-1892

A Complete Chronicle of the Conquest of Kagoshima: Illustration of the Navy Landing at Sukuchi Village
(Kagoshima seito zenki no uchi: Kaigun Sukuchi-mura joriku no zu)

printed with burnishing on the black boats and a dusting of mica in the dark area near the top edge and in the dark brown bokashi on the rocks in the right sheet; signed oju Taiso Yoshitoshi, the publisher's cartouche of Tsunashima Kamekichi (Tsujiokaya Kamekichi) dated shogatsu nijusanka (April 23rd) and priced roku sen (6 sen), ca. 1877

oban tate-e 14 1/2 by 29 1/2 in., 36.7 by 74.8 cm

One of the most intense battles during the Satsuma Rebellion on Kagoshima began on March 3, 1877 at Tabaruzaka Hill. The rebel forces of 5,000 were eventually hopelessly outnumbered by the Imperial troops which rose to 90,000. Both sides suffered heavy losses, with 4,000 wounded or dead on each side. This composition likely depicts the night landing of Imperial reinforcements behind the rebel lines during the final assault which began on March 19th, forcing the Satsuma army into a retreat from their siege of Kumamoto castle.

Reference:
Roger S. Keyes, Courage and Silence, 1983, p. 422, no. 360
Waseda University Theatre Museum, 201-3470, 201-3471, 201-3472
(inv. no. C-3008)

price: $1,800