“‘A Boat Cast Adrift’ (Ukifune): Omatsu and Akabori Mizuemon,” from the series Scenes amid Genji Clouds Matched with Ukiyo-e Pictures (Genji-gumo ukiyo e-awase)

Utagawa Kuniyoshi Japanese

Not on view

A battle takes place between the villainous samurai Akabori Mizuemon and the female warrior Omatsu. The source may be a scene from a Kabuki play by Chikamatsu Monzaemon (1653–1725). At first glance, the only connection with Genji’s Chapter 51 is that they both take place on board a boat, which in Genji contains Ukifune and Niou, headed toward the Isle of Orange Trees. Given Ukifune’s role as a demure, helpless girl in that episode, it is humorous to see a figure in a comparable setting rise up to attack the man in the boat.

“‘A Boat Cast Adrift’ (Ukifune): Omatsu and Akabori Mizuemon,” from the series Scenes amid Genji Clouds Matched with Ukiyo-e Pictures (Genji-gumo ukiyo e-awase), Utagawa Kuniyoshi (Japanese, 1797–1861), Woodblock ōban print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper, Japan

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