Wrestlers at Yokuhama
Type II, small format

Click the picture for image
of complete lithograph

Once the treaty was concluded, the Japanese presented gifts to the US party and provided entertainment. This occurred on March 24, 1854. The Narrative notes:

While contemplating these substantial evidences of Japanese generosity, the attention of all was suddenly riveted upon a body of monstrous fellows, who tramped down the beach like so many huge elephants. ... They were some twenty-five in number, and were men enormously tall in stature, and immense in weight of flesh. ... Some two or three of these huge monsters were the most famous wrestlers in Japan.... Koyanagi, the reputed bully of the capital, was one of them, and paraded himself with the conscious pride of superior immensity and strength.

I have recorded two variations of this image. I call this one Type II. In Type I, the smaller figure at the left of the group of figures in the right foreground has his left hand raised but has no pole in it. In Type II, the figure has a pole in that hand. There are also minor design differences between the two types. In Type I the inscription on the left reads "From Nature by Heine" (probably correct artist). In Type II the inscription reads "From Nature by Peters" (probably incorrect artist name). To see the difference between Type I and II, click here.

The titles/lettering read:

• From Nature by Peters


• Lith of SARONY & Co. New York


• WRESTLERS AT YOKUHAMA

Condition. Very rough bottom margin, off-center to right, corners broken/rounded, image area clean.

Landscape Format

Page Size (cm): 28.2 x 21.6

Image Size (cm): Width-23.7, Height-16.8, Diagonal-29