Japanese Sumo Wrestler Print

This print was made by Toshimasa, its creation date is between 1890-1901; It is in excellent condition .

It represents a sumotori named Asashio Tarō I (November 28, 1864 – August 26, 1920) was a sumo wrestler from Ehime Prefecture (formerly Iyo Province). He wrestled professionally from 1890 until his retirement in January 1908. The highest rank he achieved was ōzeki.

Utagawa (Shunsai 春斎) Toshimasa 歌川年昌 (1866-1913) also known as Eda Toshimasa 枝年昌 Little has been written about this student of the great Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892), who is best known for a single work, Origin of Music and Dance at the Rock Door, presented below. Too poor to enroll as a student, Toshimasa lived with Yoshtoshi and served as his rickshaw driver and personal servant in exchange for lessons; Yoshitoshi helped arrange for his adoption by Utagawa Kunitama (Hōsai), an older artist, and he left Yoshitoshi's residence in May 1890. Most of Toshimasa's works were signed Shunsai 春斎 or Shunsai Toshimasa 春斎年昌 and his drawings consisted mainly of sumo-e (wrestling prints), kaika-e (modernity prints) and senso-e (war prints) from the Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895)