When Goldfish Faced the Sea Serpent

Part of Kuniyoshi’s Goldfish · Episode 5

An armed goldfish confronts a dark creature underwater in a print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi. The scene takes inspiration from Susanoo, the deity associated with one of Japan’s famous serpent legends. How does a mythic confrontation become a miniature fish drama? Explore the visual puns and familiar storytelling conventions that let Edo viewers recognise a grand legend in an unexpected form.