About This Print
Military commanders are being entertained at the behest of Emperor Meiji, as a reward for their service in putting down rebellions in Western Japan. While the release of this print corresponds with the suppression of the Satsuma Rebellion, its title seems to also encompass the earlier disturbances in the Saigoku (western area) of Japan in October and November of 1876. Fourteen named senior officers in the Imperial Army are shown in the print, receiving the Emperor's Gift Cup of sake for their contributions. Note the contrast between the officer's stern expressions and those of the geisha serving them.
After the last of the rebel forces were decimated by the Imperial Army in late September 1877, the Emperor made sure to visit and congratulate both officers and soldiers. "The various generals who had participated in the war were acclaimed with triumphal returns, shared by soldiers of humble ranks, and decorations were awarded to the principal agents of the victory."1 All the officers and men were given a two percent bonus, "on the amount of their pay, in commemoration of the suppression of the Satsuma rebellion.”2
| Cartouche kanji | Translation | Full name (when known) | Full name in kanji | Years of existence |
| 山縣中将 | Lt. General Yamagata | Yamagata Aritomo | 山縣 有朋 | 1838-1922 |
| 岩村公 | Prince Iwamura | Iwamura Michitoshi | 岩村 通俊 | 1840-1915 |
| 柳原公 | Prince Yanaghihara | Yanagihara Sakimitsu | 柳原 前光 | 1850-1894 |
| 伏見宮 | Fushiminomiya | Fushiminomiya Sadanaru | 貞愛 宮貞教 | 1858-1923 |
| 三浦少将 | Major General Miura | Miura Gorō | 三浦 梧楼 | 1847-1926 |
| 大山少将 | Major General Oyama | Oyama Iwao | 大山 巌 | 1842-1916 |
| 曾我少将 | Major General Soga | Soga Sukenori | 曾我祐準 | 1844-1935 |
| 岩倉公 | Prince Iwakurai | Iwakura Tomomi | 岩倉 具視 | 1825-1883 |
| 有栖川宮 | Arisugawanomiya | Arisugawanomiya Taruhito | 有栖川宮 熾仁 | 1835-1895 |
| 三条公 | Prince Sanjō | Sanjō Sanetome | 三条 実美 | 1837-1891 |
| 山田少将 | Major General Yamada | Yamada Akiyoshi | 山田 顕義 | 1844-1892 |
| 谷少将 | Major General Tani | Tani Tateki (aka Tani Kanjō) | 谷 干城 | 1837-1911 |
| 川路少将 | Major General Kawaji | Kawaji Toshiyoshi | 川路 利良 | 1834-1879 |
| 福原大佐 | Colonel Fukuhara | Minoru? Fukuhara | ||
| 井田少将 | Major General Ida | Ida Yuzuru | 井田 譲 | 1838-1889 |
1 Emperor of Japan: Meiji and His World, 1852-1912, Donald Keene, Columbia University Press, 2002, p. 285.
2 The Japan Weekly Mail, Vol. 1, No. 38., October 13, 1877.
A Popular Subject
The artist Yōshū Chikanobu (1838-1912) created a number of similar prints as shown below.
 A Depiction of the Commanders Responsible for Pacifying the Kagoshima Rebels Receiving the Emperor's Gift Cup, September 20, 1877 Scripps College SC2003.1.64 |  View of the Gift of the Emperor's Cup to the Commanders of the Pacification of the Western Province (of Japan) 西国鎮静諸将天盃賜ル図 September 1877 |
 A View of the Generals who Pacified Western Japan, Receiving the Emperor's Gift Cups 西国鎮静撫諸将賜天盃之図 July 5, 1877 |  View of the Gift of the Emperor's Gift Cup September 5, 1877 The Metropolitan Museum of Art JP3221, 3222, 3223 |
Print Details
| IHL Catalog | #684 | ||
| Title | Presentation of the Emperor's Gift Cup for the second time to commanders involved in pacifying Western Japan (Saigoku). 西国鎮撫諸将 再度 賜天盃之図 | ||
| Artist | Utagawa Yoshitsuya II (active 1870s) | ||
| Signature |
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| Seal | |||
| Date |  1877 (Meiji 10)1877, 9th month, 24th day | ||
| Publisher |  | ||
| Impression | excellent | ||
| Colors | excellent | ||
| Condition | fair - full-size; three sheets joined and backed; paper losses along top margin and into image in right corner; soiling throughout; several brown stains | ||
| Genre | ukiyo-e; senso-e | ||
| Miscellaneous | |||
| Format | vertical oban triptych | ||
| H x W Paper | 14 5/8 x 29 1/2 in. (37.1 x 74.9 cm) | ||
| Collections This Print | |||
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