Onoguchi Tokuji Stands Facing Kinsui Castle which Explodes at Left 1894

Mizuno Toshikata created this print, "Onoguchi Tokuji Stands Facing Kinsui Castle which Explodes at Left," during a period of intense social and political change in Japan. Toshikata lived through the Meiji Restoration, during which Japan opened its borders and modernized rapidly. This print depicts a scene from the Satsuma Rebellion. The composition, split into three panels, contrasts the chaos of war—explosions, smoke, and fallen soldiers—with the stoic figure of Onoguchi Tokuji. He stands firm, embodying the ideals of loyalty and bravery that were central to the samurai ethos. His unwavering stance against the backdrop of destruction speaks to the complexities of identity amid conflict. The use of traditional woodblock printing techniques to depict modern warfare underscores the tensions between the past and the present. The emotional impact of this work lies in its ability to convey both the গৌরব of heroic sacrifice and the brutal realities of war.