Utagawa Kuniyoshi

This series of portraits by Kuniyoshi depicts the forty-seven rōnin, or masterless samurai, who diligently plotted to avenge the death of their master, Asano Naganori. Asano was humiliated by Kira Yoshinaka, an official at the court of the shogun; after Asano drew his sword against Kira, he was ordered to commit suicide. Two years later, Asano’s loyal retainers stormed Kira’s mansion and killed him. This story is narrated in numerous forms and is known as the Treasury of Loyal Retainers (Chūshingura).