Asahina, by Totoya Hokkei

An image of Asahina. Hokkei, Totoya (Japanese, 1780-1850). Surimono. Colour print from woodblocks, with metallic pigment and lacquer. 1823. Poetry by Yanegaki Makutsu, Kyokado (at the age of 71). Ukiyo-e. Notes: As a samurai in service to the Genji clan, Asahina is famous for his super-human power and his skill as a swimmer. Many tales were written of his distinguished military deeds, such as breaking down a heavy door to lead fellow samurai into their enemy’s castle, or catching three live sharks with his own hands. In this print he is smoking his pipe and enjoying his morning drink for the New Year while holding down the iron bar of a demon intruder with his foot.

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Asahina. Hokkei, Totoya (Japanese, 1780-1850). Surimono. Colour print from woodblocks, with metallic pigment and lacquer. 1823. Poetry by Yanegaki Makutsu, Kyokado (at the age of 71). Ukiyo-e. Notes: As a samurai in service to the Genji clan, Asahina is famous for his super-human power and his skill as a swimmer. Many tales were written of his distinguished military deeds, such as breaking down a heavy door to lead fellow samurai into their enemy’s castle, or catching three live sharks with his own hands. In this print he is smoking his pipe and enjoying his morning drink for the New Year while holding down the iron bar of a demon intruder with his foot.

Image data

Accession Number: P.353-1937
Photograph copyright © The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.
Aperture: f/19.0
Focal length: 120
Camera: Hasselblad H3DII-31
Photographer name: Michael Jones
Image height: 1025 pixels
Image width: 926 pixels
Processed with: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.0 (Windows)
Filesize: 900.33kB
Exposure time: 1/125
ISO Speed: 100
Fnumber: 19/1
Captured: 2018:10:24 15:30:45

Key words

19th Century Asahina colour printing demons devils Fitz_PDP Genji gofun Japanese lacquer lacquered lacquering male metallic pigment military pigment pipe (tobacco) poetry poets print samurai warrior smoker smoking smoking a pipe soldiers surimono Totoya Hokkei ukiyo-e verses warriors woodblock woodcut

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            The Fitzwilliam Museum (2026)
            "Asahina, by Totoya Hokkei"
            Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/image/media-218457 Accessed: 2026-01-02 18:22:23

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            {{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/image/media-218457
            |title=Asahina, by Totoya Hokkei
            |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2026-01-02 18:22:23|publisher=The
            University of Cambridge}}

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<div class="text-center">
    <figure class="figure">
        <img src="https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/imagestore/pdp/pdp82/p_353_1937_201810_mfj22_dc2.jpg"
        alt="Asahina"
        class="img-fluid" />
        <figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Asahina, by Totoya Hokkei</figcaption>
    </figure>
</div>