Sakai Kyūzō Hurling a Spear 1868

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi created this woodblock print showing Sakai Kyūzō hurling a spear. Note the blue and white makeup on Kyūzō’s face, as well as the blood trickling from his mouth. This iconography signals not just a warrior, but a figure deeply immersed in the throes of battle, embodying a kind of raw, untamed energy. Consider the motif of blood itself. It is a universal symbol of life, but here, mixed with the blue makeup, suggests a blurring of the lines between the human and the supernatural. This recalls the ancient rituals of sacrifice and transformation, where blood acts as a conduit between worlds. We might also consider the tattoos adorning Kyūzō’s arms, symbols of identity and belonging that speak to a deeply ingrained sense of honor and duty. These tattoos, like the blood and makeup, transcend mere decoration, serving as powerful emblems of cultural memory and psychological identity. Ultimately, this print serves as a potent reminder of the cyclical nature of human experience. It shows us that symbols persist, evolve, and re-emerge, carrying with them echoes of the past and shaping our understanding of the present.