"Minamoto Tameyoshi's son Tametomo (1139-1170), from the series Episodes from Unknown Japanese History (Nihon gaishi no uchi), Meiji period, dated 1884"

Minamoto no Tametomo (1139–1170) was a legendary archer of the late Heian period, celebrated in historical romance for his prodigious physical strength — reportedly so great that his left arm was longer than his right to accommodate his powerful draw — and for his role in the Hōgen Rebellion of 1156. This print from the series Nihon gaishi no uchi (Episodes from Unknown Japanese History), dated 1884, presents Tametomo in the heroic mode common to warrior portraits ([musha-e](/glossary/musha-e)). Kiyochika's depiction likely shows Tametomo in full ō-yoroi armor, his bow presented as an attribute of heroic identity. The series draws on Rai San'yō's celebrated history Nihon gaishi, presenting dramatic moments from Japanese martial history for a Meiji audience engaged in constructing national historical consciousness. The 1884 date places this among Kiyochika's mature figure-print production, when his compositional confidence allowed for stronger spatial depth than earlier work in the genre.