Speculators Talking Amiably from the series Magic Lantern Society: One Hundred Victories, One Hundred Laughs

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Japanese Color Woodblock Print

Speculators Talking Amiably

from the series Magic Lantern Society:

One Hundred Victories, One Hundred Laughs

by Kobayashi Kiyochika, 1896

IHL Cat. #273

About This Print

This print is one of twelve issued as part of the second set of prints from the series One Hundred Victories, One Hundred Laughs, (Hyakusen hyakushō) created by the artist Kobayashi Kiyochika (1847-1915), the writer Nishimori Takeki (1861-1923), alias Koppi Dōjin, and the publisher Matsuki Heikichi (1870-1931).

Four speculators sit around a map of the Taiwanese archipelago (including the Pescadores) figuring out the riches they'd make developing Japan's newest colony.

About The Series One Hundred Victories, One Hundred Laughs

This series One Hundred Victories, One Hundred Laughs was issued in three parts and presented parodies of the enemy, the Chinese in the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 and ten years later the Russians in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. The first part of the series titled Long Live Japan: One Hundred Victories, One Hundred Laughs, consisting of fifty prints, was issued between September 1894 and August 1895. The second part of the series titled Magic Lantern Society: One Hundred Victories, One Hundred Laughs, consisting of twelve prints, was issued between November 1895 and December 1896. Both of these parts parodied (often in a racist manner) the Chinese people, leadership and war effort. The third and last part of the series, consisting of eight-six prints, used the same title as the first part Long Live Japan: One Hundred Victories, One Hundred Laughs. Issued between April 1904 and April 1905, the prints parodied the Russian war effort. For more information about the series see the article One Hundred Victories, One Hundred Laughs on this site.

Inscription - Japanese and English

As with each print in the series, the inscription within the cartouche at the top of the print begins with the title of the print, in this case 山師の笑談, and finishes with the name of the author, Kiyochika's collaborator 骨皮道人 [Koppi Dōjin (“Master Skin and Bones”)], a pseudonym of the writer/journalist Nishimori Takeki 西森武城 (1861-1913).

Source: University of Vienna website http://ukiyoe.univie.ac.at/detail.asp?docid=1032&lang=j&first=1

山師（やまし）の笑談（せうだん）　　骨皮道人

時（とき）に慾張君（よくばりくん）、承（うけたま）はれば君ハ彼（か）の新版図（しんはんと）の台湾（たいわん） / に就（つひ）て、何（なに）か大事業（だいじげふ）の御計画（ごけいくわく）があるさうだが、僕（ぼく） / もまた其考（かんが）へ無（な）きにしも非（あら）ずで、実ハ昨今（さくこん） / 金蔓氏（かねつるし）とも相談（さうだん）中であるが、併（しか）し単独（たんどく）の / 運動よりハ、どうしても協同（きやうどう）の方（はう）が奏効（さうこう）も速（すミや）か / であるから若（も）しお差支（さしつかえ）がなくバ半（はん）口乗（のせ）て貰（もら） / ひ度（たい）ね　慾「君（きみ）にさう星（ほし）を打（うた）れた以上（いじやう）ハ、到底（たうてい）隠（かく）し / ても益（えき）ない事（こと）ぢやからお話し申すが、金儲（かねまふけ）ハ何（なん）ど / も未開（みかい）の地（ち）に限（かぎ）るてかや、今僕（ぼく）に運（うん）が向（むい）て来（き）て / 居（い）るのハ、先づ樟脳（しやうのう）及（およ）び砂糖（さたう）の製造（せいぞう）さ、夫 / から道路（だうろ）の改築（かいちく）鉄道（てつだう）の布設（ふせつ）、其外（そのほか）まだ / 種々（いろいろ）あるけれども取敢（とりあへ）ず此所（ここ）で着手（ちやくしゆ）し / やうと思ふのハ此四大事業（だいじげふ）ぢや、君（きミ）ハ幸（さいわ）ひ金蔓（づる）/氏（し）と御懇意（ごこんい）なら兎（と）に角（かく）此地図（このちづ）を御持参（ごぢさん）で、 / 篤（とく）と御協議（ごきやうぎ）を願（ねが）い度（たい）、勿論（もちろん）御同意（ごどうい）とあれバ、其（その） / 方法（はうはう）や又（また）予算書（よさんしよ）等（とう）も御目に掛けやう。「早速（さつそく）の / 御承引（ごしよういん）で有（あり）がたい、併（しか）し何（なに）をするにも第一（だいいち）先立（さきだつ）　ものハ資（し）金だが、其辺（そのへん）の所ハ?　慾「イヤさう / 素人流（しろとりう）に来（こ）られてハ金（かね）ハねへ

Source: University of Vienna website http://ukiyoe.univie.ac.at/detail.asp?docid=1032&lang=e&first=1
Yamashi no shōdan Koppi Dōjin
“Toki ni Yokubari-kun uketamawareba kimi wa kano shinhanto no Taiwan / ni tsuite nani ka dai-jigyō no go-keikaku ga aru sō da ga, boku / mo mata sono kangae naki ni shi mo arazu de, jitsu wa sakkon / Kanezuru-shi to mo sōdan-chū de aru ga, shikashi tandoku no / undō yori wa dō shite mo kyōdō no hō ga sōkō mo sumiyaka / de aru kara moshi o-sashitsukae ga nakuba hankuchi nosete moraitai ne.” Yoku “Kimi ni sō hoshi o utareta ijō wa, tōtei kakushi/te mo eki nai koto ja kara o-hanashi mōsu ga, kanemōke wa nande/mo mirai no chi ni kagiru te ka ya, ima boku ni un ga muite kite / iru no wa, mazu shōnō oyobi satō no seizō sa, sore / kara dōro no kaichiku tetsudō no fusetsu, sono hoka mada / iroiro aru keredo mo toriaezu koko de chakushu shi/yō to omou no wa kono yon-dai-jigyō ja, kimi wa saiwai Kanezuru-/shi to go-kon’i nara tonikaku kono chizu o go-jisan de, / toku to go-kyōgi o negaitai, mochiron go-dōi to areba, sono hōhō ya mata yosan-sho tō mo o-me ni kake yō.” “Sassoku no / go-shōin de arigatai, shikashi nani o suru ni mo daiichi sakidatsu / mono wa shikin da ga, sono hen no tokoro wa…” Yoku “Iya sō shirōto-ryū ni korarete wa kane wa nē (kanawanē)”

Source: Conflicts of Interest: Art and War in Modern Japan, Philip K. Hu, et. al., Saint Louis Museum of Art, 2016, p. 197

Speculators Talking Amiably [by] Koppi Dōjin

SOMEONE: "Hey, Mr. Greedy! I've heard that you are planning big business in the new territory of Taiwan. I have an idea too and recently I'm in consultations with financial supporters. If you don't mind, maybe it's better to make a joint project to be successful. What do you think about working together."

MR: GREEDY: "If you are already informed, it will be futile to conceal anything...I'll tell you about my plans. It's always profitable to invest in undeveloped areas. In the beginning, I'll produce moth repellents and sugar there, later I'll build trams and trains. There are lots of possibilities, but I'll start with these four projects. If you've established a good understanding with your financial supporters, at least bring them this map and discuss the details with them. If they agree, of course, I'll give them insights into the progress we've already made and - later - our budget plan."
SOMEONE: "Thanks for your immediate commitment! But we can't do anything without having money first...What's your plan?
MR. GREEDY: "I say! Such a thing is asked only by an amateur. Money is not an issue!/We don't have the money!"

Print Details

IHL Catalog	#273
Title or Description	Speculators Talking Amiably 山師の笑談 Yamashi no shōdan
Series	Magic Lantern Society: One Hundred Victories, One Hundred Laughs [also translated as Magic Lantern of Society: One Hundred Selections, One Hundred Laughs] Shakai gentō: Hyakusen hyakushō 社会幻燈百撰百笑
Artist	Kobayashi Kiyochika (1847-1915)
Signature	unsigned
Seal	Kiyo and Chika 清親
Publication Date	January 23, 1896 (Meiji 29)
Publisher	Matsuki Heikichi (松木平吉) proprietor of Daikokuya
Impression	excellent
Colors	good
Condition	poor - left and top margin trimmed to image; light soiling throughout, transfer stains, paper thinning and separation
Genre	ukiyo-e; senso-e (Sino-Japanese War); giga; fūshiga
Miscellaneous
Format	vertical oban
H x W Paper	14 1/8 x 9 1/4 in. (36 x 23.7 cm)
H x W Image	14 1/8 x 9 1/4 in. (36 x 23.7 cm)
Literature	Conflicts of Interest: Art and War in Modern Japan, Philip K. Hu, et. al., Saint Louis Museum of Art, 2016, p. 197, pl. 79.4
Collections This Print	Saint Louis Museum of Art 903:2010.9; National Diet Library Call Number 本別7-295

last revision:

4/15/2020

3/9/2020