Utagawa Kunisada/Toyokuni III (1786-1865) The Acrobat Hayatake Torakichi and the Thunder God Raijin, 1857. Oban.
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Here is a rarity. This print by Kunisada represents one of the incredible stunts by the Osaka based acrobat, Hayatake Torakichi. Hayatake Torakichi (died 1868) became immensely popular in Japan during the 1850’s. His troupe of acrobats and illusionists began performing in Osaka, then toured Japan and Edo to great acclaim. It seems that he was best known for balancing increasingly elaborate and unusual objects - ladders, trees, giant spinning tops and his own children - from his feet or teeth… his signature act was balancing his young apprentices Tokuzō and Fukumatsu on top of bamboo poles with his feet. The print is one of several designs issued by commercial publishers seeking to capitalise on the popularity of Torakichi’s performances in Edo (present day Tokyo) in 1857.
In 1867, Torakichi and his troupe sailed from Yokohama to San Francisco. They performed at the Metropolitan Theatre to much acclaim, notwithstanding critics’ complaints about the “horrible noise” produced by Torakichi’s musicians. The troupe then travelled to New York, where Torakichi fell ill and died, causing the troupe to disband. There are very many prints that advertise or commemorate his elaborate performances; this one is perhaps unusual in as much as it suggests that he has a relationship to the deity Raijin… the notorious and terrifying thunder god. I assume that this may have been a part of his act. The unusual wheels that he balances upon appear in several prints by various artists at the time and must be part of his increasingly elaborate stage gear.
The print is unbacked and in excellent condition. There is a small area of thinning, colour and impression are all fine. Note the octopus emerging from the waves below where Torakichi makes his perilous journey!
25 x 37 cm.
