Rooster threatening a painted cockerel

The term surimono means 'printed object' and refers to privately published Japanese woodblock prints issued to mark special events, such as musical or theatrical performances. They were also distributed to friends as gifts on festive occasions, particularly at the New Year, when they often featured the appropriate animal from the Chinese-Japanese calendar year cycle. This surimono was commissioned by poets for distribution as a New Year's gift at the beginning of 1825, year of the rooster.