The Carpenter Hanshichi of Fukagawa Seizes His Daughter’s Attacker 1875

This woodblock print by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi presents us with a snapshot of societal justice in old Fukagawa. Here we see the carpenter Hanshichi grappling with his daughter’s attacker, a raw display of paternal vengeance and public retribution. Observe the faces in the crowd, a chorus of onlookers displaying a mix of shock and morbid fascination. The act of seizing an aggressor is a universal gesture, echoing through time in countless artistic renditions of justice and revenge. Consider the image of David slaying Goliath, a narrative deeply ingrained in our collective memory. The emotional resonance of these images is powerful; they tap into primal instincts and desires for order and retribution. Such scenes are not merely historical records but are imbued with psychological weight, revealing the timeless human impulse to confront injustice and restore balance.