Oniwakamaru (‘Little Devil’) was the childhood name of the twelfth century warrior-monk Saitô Musashibô Benkei, a popular figure in Japanese folklore. Here he is shown as a boy, about to avenge the death of his mother, who was supposedly killed by a giant carp.

This pair of prints are examples of surimono. Whereas most full-colour prints were mass produced, surimono were privately published luxury items. As such, lavish decorative techniques were often employed. On this particular print for example, Hokkei uses gold and silver to sumptuous effect.