Urashima Taro Going Home on the Back of a Tai Fish, the King of the Sea Seeing Him Off - Totoya Hokkei

A fine surimono woodblock print by Totoya Hokkei depicting the legendary fisherman Urashima Taro departing the undersea palace on the back of a giant fish.

This woodblock print by Totoya Hokkei depicts a scene from the Japanese folktale of Urashima Taro. The narrative follows a fisherman who, after saving a turtle, is taken to the undersea palace of the Dragon King. In this composition, Taro is shown departing the underwater realm, riding upon the back of a large tai fish (sea bream). The Dragon King stands upon the waves, gesturing a farewell to his guest.

Hokkei, a student of Katsushika Hokusai, was a master of the surimono format. These prints were privately commissioned, often for poetry circles, and were produced with high-quality materials and printing techniques. The work displays the characteristic refinement of the genre, with delicate line work and a subtle application of colour. The waves are rendered with rhythmic, repetitive patterns that suggest movement without disrupting the overall balance of the image.

The figures are dressed in elaborate robes, reflecting the fantastical nature of the undersea setting. The tai fish is depicted with a degree of stylisation, its scales and fins contributing to the decorative quality of the print. The inclusion of calligraphic text in the upper left corner is typical of surimono, where the image and the accompanying poem form a unified aesthetic experience. This print captures a moment of transition in the story, balancing the mythological subject matter with the technical precision expected of early nineteenth-century Japanese printmaking.