Yoshiiku - Beautiful Robber-Rapist - Tokyo Nichinichi Shinbun

Utagawa Yoshiiku

This original 1875 sensational news story print by Yoshiiku tells the true story of the "Beautiful robber-rapist". There was a young man named Kinnosuke who was gentle, obedient and handsome by day but at night, with the madness of a wild horse in his heart he robbed homes. One night he snuck into a place where a number of traveling entertainers were staying. He was about to rape one but she got away and the women, started to fight back, He ran away but was later arrested and jailed. Other inmates, following jailhouse customs, took a board and spanked his butt, but the jailers, stopped them. 

Some 115 prints are now associated with the Tokyo nichinichi shinbun series, the majority of them by Ikkeisai Yoshiiku. These were color inserts in certain editions of the newspaper, created in order to boost sales. The prints usually told of unusual, salacious and violent incidents.

Publisher: Gusokuya Kahei 

Size: 35.4 x 23.8 cm 

Condition: Very good color, insect damage on the right border. Stain in middle. Backed with Edo-era paper. 

Date: 1875

Genre: Ukiyo-e