UTAGAWA KUNIYOSHI (1797–1861)

Nitta no Shiro Tadatsune was sent by the Emperor to eliminate the monsters hiding in Mount Fuji. This print depicts him having bravely advanced into a cave within the slope of the mountain, where he encounters the goddess and her dragon. Unlike his retainers (who have dramatically been overcome and collapsed on the right), Tadatsune is not afraid, standing defiantly on rocks whilst drawing his sword ready to defend himself, and the goddess praises him for his bravery.