The impersonator Utamaro leaves Tsutaju in search of his own paintings and goes to his master Sekien. The political situation becomes turbulent as the battle between Tanuma Okitsugu and Matsudaira Sadanobu begins.

Image: Matsudaira Sadanobu, Source: National Book Database

Kitagawa Utamaro studied under his master, Toriyama Sekien. Episode 30 of the historical drama “Berabou” depicted Utamaro being tormented by visions of his painful past. In the drama, Utamaro became known as the “Utamaro impersonator” and began to gain recognition. Tsutaju decided that now was the time to sell Utamaro. Around this time, Tsutaju was enjoying a booming business thanks to the popularity of yellow-covered books. He took a further step by promoting a project called “Irigin Kyoka Ehon,” which allowed people to publish their kyoka poems in picture books for just one minute. He selected Utamaro as the artist and commissioned him to create a portrait of Kitao Shigemasa. The artwork was a huge success, further increasing the reputation of the “Utamaro impersonator.” Tsutaju decided that the time had come for him to make a breakthrough, and strongly encouraged him to create an original illustration unique to Utamaro. However, childhood trauma resurfaced, sending Utamaro into a deep slump. Utamaro’s mother was a low-ranking prostitute who was unable to abort the baby, and as a result, Utamaro grew up being abused by her and her lover from an early age. Furthermore, during the Great Meiwa Fire, Utamaro abandoned his mother when she was crushed under a building and fled. His mother and her lover appeared as ghosts every time he painted a picture, tormenting him. Finally, he confessed his anguish to Tsutaju, asking his mother’s ghost, “Who would want to look at a picture of a murderer?” At this time, Toriyama Sekien, a master of yokai painting who taught Utamaro as a child, visits Koshodo.

Tsutaju shows Sekien a painting that Utamaro had painted and then painted over while tormented by the ghosts. Sekien stared at the painting and commented, “It’s painted with demons. They’re moaning, begging to be let out. They’re trapped, angry and sad.” He then encouraged Utamaro, saying, “For some reason, you (Utamaro) seem lost. There are things that only those with three eyes can see. An artist need only copy them. It is the duty of those born to be artists to reveal what only your eyes can see.” Utamaro then, with tears in his eyes, said, “Please take me as your apprentice. I want to paint my picture. Please keep me by your side,” and finally left Tsutae. Meanwhile, in the political world, Matsudaira Sadanobu, Tanuma Okitsugu’s rival, returned to the center of the shogunate. Matsudaira Sadanobu was the grandson of the 8th Shogun, Tokugawa Yoshimune, and was close to becoming Shogun, but due to the machinations of Okinobu, he was ordered by the Shogunate to be adopted by Matsudaira Sadakuni, the lord of Shirakawa Domain, and was kept away from the core of the Shogunate. Therefore, we will be keeping our eyes on the battle between Tanuma Okinobu and Matsudaira Sadakuni from now on. And this battle will have a major impact on Tsutaju. This is likely to be the biggest highlight from now on.