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「日本万歳 百撰百笑」「首っ引 骨皮道人」 by Kobayashi Kiyochika — Japanese Woodblock print

「日本万歳 百撰百笑」「首っ引 骨皮道人」

by Kobayashi Kiyochika

Medium:
Woodblock print
Image courtesy of
Waseda University

Description

"Kubippiki" (Neck-Pulling, or Head-to-Head) is a colloquial term for figures locked in close physical struggle or, metaphorically, for being deeply engrossed in a contest. In the context of the Nippon Banzai Hyakusen Hyakushō series, the title most likely refers to a grappling scene between Japanese and Chinese figures, with the Japanese combatant subduing or physically overpowering the opponent. Kiyochika's composition probably captures a moment of close physical confrontation rendered as caricature, using exaggerated bodily proportions informed by Western illustrated journalism rather than the ukiyo-e figure tradition. The series consistently used physical humor and grotesque bodily exaggeration to reduce the Chinese military threat to comedy. Verses by Kotsuhi Dōjin introduce layers of wordplay. The ōban-format print was produced rapidly to meet public appetite for wartime satire, with a limited color palette from multiple woodblocks emphasizing clarity of caricature over tonal refinement.

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Frequently Asked Questions

「日本万歳 百撰百笑」「首っ引 骨皮道人」 was created by Kobayashi Kiyochika (小林清親).