Oribe Yahei Kanamaru

The figure depicted in the portrait is one of the 47 ronin. It's a famous legend. In the spring of 1701, daimyō Asano of Akō Castle was entrusted with the ceremonial reception of imperial envoys at the shogun's court. Chief of Protocol Kira Yoshinaka was an old, depraved and greedy man. He constantly lectured and insulted Asan. The Daimyo of Akō was an honorary samurai and one day he could not control his anger and attacked Kira and injured him. Since weapons were not allowed in the shogun's palace, Asano was immediately sentenced to death and committed seppuku on the same day. His family was deprived of their wealth, and his samurai, having lost their master, became ronin and had to find new jobs. Some went into service to other families, others became bandits or settled in the city and took up crafts, and some formed a conspiracy and prepared revenge on Kira. In 1702 or 1703, the ronin attacked Kira's palace with a group of forty-seven people. They beheaded Kira with the sword with which their master had committed seppuku, and then carried it to Asan's grave. Having fulfilled their duty, they handed themselves into the hands of the authorities. The shogun sentenced them to death by seppuku, and the ronin carried out the sentence. They were buried around Asan's grave in the Sengakuji temple. The samurai wearing a kabuto (helmet) with swords is Oribe Yahei Kanamaru, whose real name is Horibe Yahei Akizane. He is dressed in a suit with characteristic white teeth, like that worn by firefighters in Edo. Apparently, the attackers dressed in such outfits to make it easier to attack Kira's headquarters. Oribe was 78 years old and the oldest of the conspirators. He was a spear fighting master and a kendo master. He demonstrated his skills and wisdom. UTAGAWA Yoshitora was active in the years 1850–1880. He was a student of UTAGAWA Kuniyoshi. Yoshitora is best known for yokohama-e, compositions depicting foreigners in Japan. He also designed more conventional depictions of historical and legendary events, as well as bijing-ga and portraits of actors. In the lower left corner there is a signature: YOSHITORA GA, under which there is a kiri seal.