Ainame- Greenlings

The Ainame, or greenling (Hexagrammos otakii), is a robust bottom-dwelling fish of Japan's rocky northern coasts, prized by anglers for its aggressive bite and by cooks for its firm, flavorful flesh. Bakufu's print from his "Dai Nihon Gyorui Gashu" (Collection of Fish of Great Japan) renders the greenling with the exacting naturalism that distinguished his fish prints from purely decorative marine art: the lateral line, fin ray counts, and body proportions reflect careful observation, while the coloration and setting convey the fish's living environment.