Shibaensetsu-shichininkarō (published Bunsei 4; 1821) is a “yomihon” of 5 kan / 6 satsu and is an Oie-sōdōmono (stories of feuds within samurai families) based on Sugawara-denju-tenaraikagami, etc. Although its frog monster draws attention, it has received low acclaim to date.
However, the true villain is concealed until the last part (kan) of the story, and this device of a surprise ending could be called a new departure in “yomihon”. I investigate how initially, this work was scheduled to be published by a different publisher in a total of 9 kan, and due to the sudden change, the 5 kan were written hurriedly. Next, I focus on the illustration and Chinese poem placed at the beginning of the 4th kan, and demonstrate how the “Sewing corpus” of 7-5 meter is used in the scene that corresponds to the illustration, and how the Chinese poem is cited from Qing poem Nulang-ci, etc., seeing a perspective toward women. The advertisement at the end of the work for “Senjokō” fragrance, of the shop of Ōshima Den’emon, one of the publishers, also suggests an awareness of female readers. It also introduces Tamenaga-Shunsui’s critique of Kokuga, indicating the artistic contact between the two of them. In these ways, I show this work to be an ambitious work by Kokuga seeking new expression, and planning an expansion of readership.
