NHK's educational program "Ukiyo-e EDO-LIFE" will feature ukiyo-e prints linked to the story every week to help viewers enjoy the station's historical drama "UNBOUND (Berabou)" more deeply. On December 26th, "UNBOUND's World: Death Prints - Extremely Popular in This World and the Afterlife!?" will be broadcast on BS Premium 4K from 6pm and on NHK Educational TV from 11:50pm.
In honor of the farewell to Tsutaju depicted in the final episode of "UNBOUND," this time we will be introducing "Shinie," or death paintings. These paintings convey news of the death of a famous person and mourn their passing, and also have a sense of Edo-style humor.
Utagawa Kuniyoshi's "Shie (Death Picture) of Ichikawa Danjuro VIII" was painted in 1854. The woman in the painting is pushing and shoving to cling to Ichikawa Danjuro VIII, a 1,000-ryo actor of the time who died at the young age of 32. He is being pulled by demons, as well as by dogs and cats. He is in high demand both in this world and the next.
This photo mourns the death, but also bids farewell with a touch of Edo-style humor.
