Author: Utagawa Yoshitora (歌川芳虎).
Subject: Yazama Kinai Fujiwara no Mitsunobu (矢間喜内藤原光延).
Series: Biographies of the loyal retainers (chūshingishi meimei den, 忠臣義士銘々伝).
Number: 12/50 (the syllable nu, ぬ).
Genre: mushae (武者絵), chūshingura (忠臣蔵).
Size: medium (chūban, 中判) 25cm x 17,9cm (9,84 x 7,04 inches).
Publisher: Wakasaya Yoichi (若狭屋与市) here as Shiba Jakuyōhan (芝若与板).
Period: c. 1864.
Trimmed: no
Backed: no
Fixing: yes
Code: UTY01004
Condition: color is well preserved, and the print doesn't appear to have been trimmed or backed.
There are no significant folds or stains, but it does have multiple repairs (as can be seen in the photos).
Mitsunobu was a loyal retainer serving as a magistrate in a remote area receiving a stipend of 200 koku and a fee
of seven ryō. He excelled in the spear technique and espite being considered an old man, his performance in martial
contests during his later years was not inferior to the vigor of younger men. He faced his opponents courageously and
caused them great trouble.
Upon achieving his lifelong goals, he retired to the Sengaku-ji (千覚寺) Temple. At the gate of the estate where he resided,
there was a poem engraved next to a discarded spear, which read: 'Having lived without regrets, I now enjoy the pleasures of old age.'
It is known that Mitsunobu resided in Gamo, Echizen Province, and was from the Fujiwara (藤原) lineage. He had two sons, both of
whom also stood as valiant warriors. At the time of the event he was 69 years old but as a true loyalist, he is worthy of being counted among them.