Explore genres in ukiyo-e that reveal the erotic secrets of ancient Japan on emotional cruises

During the middle and late Edo period, the use of a pleasure boat was pretty common among the geisha

During their training, before becoming a competent and accepted geisha, the young maidservants (aka. maiko* or kamuro** ) learned the trade by attending the geishas of the highest class ( oiran ). The relationship..

and a favored client, for a private moment, away from the hectic of the Yoshiwara brothels. Boats played a crucial role in the workings of the Yoshiwara, as they were the primary means of transport to the district. Trips on pleasure boats were also a favorite pastime during the hot summer months.

Recurrent Theme

That is why it is not surprising that sex

Betty Dodson (born 1929) was trained as a fine artist in the 1950s, and in 1968 had her first show of erotic art at the Wickersham Gallery in New York City. In the 1970s, she quitted her art career and began studying..

aboard a boat is a recurring theme in shunga

Shunga, a genre within ukiyo-e displaying the erotic secrets of ancient Japan. These prints where commonly created by using woodblock printing.

. Below you can find a collection with some striking examples by Kunisada

Below you can check out the sensual images of a rare complete book series by Utagawa Kunisada. The title is ‘ Aki no Nanakusa (The Seven Flowers of Autumn)’ and the year of production is 1832. Size (book..

(1786-1865), Keisai Eisen

After Hokusai , undoubtedly the most striking figure among the later shunga artists is Keisai Eisen (1790-1848). Eisen was to prove one of the most prolific (together with Kunisada ) of all ukiyo-e shunga masters…

(1790-1848) and Kuniyoshi

Kuniyoshi (1797-1861) famous for his Suikoden Heroes series was also gifted at representing erotic imagery. He is responsible for designing some of the boldest examples in subject and form. The Kuniyoshi prints for..

(1797-1861).

Fig.1. ‘Getting ready for intercourse on a pleasure boat‘ (c.1827) from the series ‘Shunka shuto shiki no nagame’ (Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter: Prospects for the Four Seasons)‘ by Utagawa Kunisada

Fig.2. ‘Geisha On the Sumida River (Sumidagawa Yoseru no Geisha)‘ (c.1825) from the series ‘Grass On the Way Of Love (Koi no Michikusa)‘ by Keisai Eisen

Fig.3. ‘Couple on a pleasure boat‘ (c.1822) from the series ‘A Light Spring Snow’ (Haru no usuyuki)‘ by Keisai Eisen

Fig.4. Abuna-e of ‘a courtesan and a client on a pleasure boat‘ (c.1820s) by Keisai Eisen

Fig.5. Oban-sized print ‘Pleasure boat fun‘ (c.1838) by Keisai Eisen

Fig.6. Koban-sized print ‘Kissing couple on a pleasure boat‘ (c.1840) attributed to Kunisada

Fig.7. ‘Geisha’s and a client about to get on board of a pleasure boat‘ (c.1850) from the series ‘Shunka otogi bunko‘ by Utagawa Kunimori (act. ca.1818-1843)

Fig.8. ‘Geisha on a pleasure boat washing one of her feet‘ (c.1855) from the series ‘Nezamedoko ikuyo no mutsugoto‘ by Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865)

Fig.9. ‘Geisha on the pier‘ (c.1837 from the series ‘Shunshoku irifune cho’ by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Although I dived deep into my shunga library (which lacks very few books on the subject) and also thoroughly researched the internet about the ehon (book) below, I unfortunately could not find much background..

pleasure boat: Noble couple making love on a boat by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Fig.10. ‘Noble couple making love on a boat‘ (c.1840) by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

pleasure boats A couple in a pleasure boat: are being spied upon by the tattooed boatman, who himself sports an erection

Fig.11. ‘A couple in a pleasure boat are being spied upon by the tattooed

The extremely talented and prolific Japanese artist Ozuma Kaname, born in Niigata in 1939, was trained in classical Japanese painting by his uncle Sakai Soushi. From all artists from the ‘Golden age’ SM..

boatman, who himself sports an erection‘ (c.1802) from the series ‘Ehon karanishiki (Picture-book of Chinese

The whirlpool of activity in Shanghai during the 1920s and 1930s was unmatched in the Far East. In the booming port city, there was a mixture of the decadence of old China and the crudeness of the new culture. The..

Brocade)‘ by Kitagawa Utamaro

Kitagawa Utamaro (1753-1806) is among the five greatest ukiyo-e masters. His refined portrayal of female beauty is virtually unmatched. At the end of his career his work suffered from an artistic decline except for..

pleasure boat: utamaro's tattooed peeker

Fig.12. B&W edition of the previous Utamaro design (Fig.11)

pleasure boat:'Boatman and geisha' (c.1820) from the series 'Tamakazura (The Jewelled Wig)' by Katsushika Hokusai

Fig.13. ‘Boatman and geisha‘ (c.1820) from the series ‘Tamakazura (The Jewelled Wig)‘ by Katsushika Hokusai

Japanese greatest artist in history Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) excelled in all ukiyo-e genres. He produced his most iconic designs in the landscape ( The Great Wave ) and the shunga ( The Dream of the..

Defenseless

In this print (Fig.13), the woman seems little interested in the sexual intentions of the man, and she tries to put an end to it. Is he the boatman taking advantage of the situation, perhaps if she is alone and defenseless?

Fig.14. ‘Two males molest a prostitute on a boat‘ (c.1826) from the series ‘Ise monogatari‘ by Utagawa Kunitora (act. early 19th c)

Fig.15. ‘Couple making love in the corner of a pleasure boat‘ (c.1820) from the series ‘Tamakazura (The Jewelled Wig)‘ by Katsushika Hokusai

Fig.16. ‘Lovers aboard a Yanebune‘ (c.1850) by Utagawa school

Fig.17. ‘Intimate lovers aboard a pleasure boat‘ (c.1850) from the series ‘Egao no ume (Plum of the Smile)‘ by Koikawa Shozan

Koikawa Shozan (1821-1907) was a prolific artist* and was active in both the Edo period as the Meiji period. Although his shunga work relies heavily on that of his contemporaries, he created a lot of imaginative..

Fig.18. ‘Purple (The Color of Affinity)‘ (c.1850) from the series ‘Comparison of the Colors of the Flowers in the Twelve Months‘ by Utagawa School