About the Book

Since I first encountered Kunichika's striking portrait of Nabeshima praying beneath a waterfall, I have been fascinated by Thirty-Six Good and Evil Beauties. What began as an interest in a single print gradually became a search to understand the entire series – and, more importantly, the remarkable women Kunichika chose to portray.

After months of research, discovery, translation, image preparation, and writing, I am pleased to bring all thirty-six prints together in this book. Each portrait is accompanied by the story of the woman depicted, placing her within the history, literature, legend, or popular culture from which Kunichika drew his inspiration. Some were celebrated for courage, loyalty, sacrifice, or devotion. Others became famous for jealousy, deception, revenge, or violence. And, as I discovered while researching them, many are far more difficult to categorize simply as “good” or “evil.”

Created in 1876, during a period of extraordinary change in Japan, the series also provides a fascinating perspective on how women were remembered and represented in the early Meiji era. Nearly 150 years later, questions surrounding the roles and expectations of women continue to evolve around the world. These stories from Japan's past therefore feel surprisingly relevant: some offer examples of resilience and determination, others serve as cautionary tales, and many reveal women confronting circumstances largely shaped by the society in which they lived.

Above all, this is a book about thirty-six extraordinary stories told through thirty-six extraordinary prints. Kunichika's vibrant portraits provide the starting point, but behind each beautiful image is a woman whose story deserves to be rediscovered.

I hope you will enjoy discovering them as much as I have.

Richard Parr

Mie Gallery