A rare and historically significant Edo period Japanese woodblock-printed book, titled 伊賀越道中双六 (Iga-goe Dōchū Sugoroku) — “The Iga Crossing Revenge Journey.”
This volume recounts the famous samurai vendetta of the Iga province, one of Japan’s most retold tales of loyalty and retribution. Illustrated with expressive woodblock prints depicting samurai duels, landscapes, and dramatic encounters, the book captures the essence of Edo-period storytelling — a fusion of literature, theater, and art.
Originally serialized in the early 19th century, this story inspired countless kabuki and bunraku plays, reflecting Japan’s fascination with bushidō, loyalty, and vengeance.
Printed with crisp black ink on handmade washi paper, the book retains its original blue paper cover, characteristic of mid-Edo binding (fukurotoji).
Title: 伊賀越道中双六 (Iga-goe Dōchū Sugoroku)
Translation: The Revenge Journey of the Iga Crossing
Content: Illustrated samurai story of vengeance and loyalty
Date: Late Edo period (ca. 1840–1860)
Technique: Woodblock printing on handmade washi paper
Format: Fukurotoji (traditional Japanese stitched binding)
Language: Classical Japanese
Illustrations: Detailed woodblock scenes of samurai combat, travel, and crowd gatherings
Provenance: Typical of prints from Osaka or Edo literary presses
This book exemplifies the Edo public’s fascination with samurai ethics and revenge dramas.
The Iga-goe Dōchū Sugoroku became one of Japan’s most enduring moral tales — dramatized in theater, art, and later in cinema.
Collectors value this edition for its hand-printed illustrations, strong linework, and preservation of Edo literary culture before the Meiji reforms.
