Kintarō Throwing Beans at the Setsubun Festival - Torii Kiyonaga

A traditional Ukiyo-e woodblock print by Torii Kiyonaga depicting the legendary Kintarō performing the Setsubun bean-throwing ritual to ward off demons.

This woodblock print by Torii Kiyonaga depicts the legendary figure Kintarō, or Golden Boy, participating in the Setsubun festival. Setsubun is a traditional Japanese event held on the eve of the beginning of spring, where participants scatter roasted soybeans to drive away malevolent spirits and invite good fortune for the coming year. Kintarō is shown in a dynamic pose, mid-motion, as he tosses the beans from a wooden box. Below him, several small oni, or demons, scramble to gather the scattered beans, creating a scene that balances folklore with domestic ritual.

Kiyonaga is recognised for his tall, graceful figures and his ability to compose scenes with clarity and balance. In this work, the artist employs a clean line quality that defines the forms of the figures against the paper. The colour palette is restrained, relying on deep reds and muted blues to provide structure to the composition. The hexagonal pattern on Kintarō's garment adds a decorative element that contrasts with the more fluid, organic shapes of the demons below. The print captures a moment of lighthearted mythology, reflecting the popular culture of the Edo period where such legends were frequently adapted into visual art.

As a master of the Torii school, Kiyonaga moved away from the more exaggerated styles of his predecessors, opting instead for a sense of realism in his human subjects. This print demonstrates his skill in balancing narrative action with a stable, well-ordered composition. The inclusion of the shimenawa, or sacred straw rope, at the top of the frame provides a subtle nod to the religious context of the festival, grounding the playful scene in its traditional origins. The work remains a clear example of the technical precision achieved by Ukiyo-e artists during the late eighteenth century.