One of the most popular writers in 19th-century Japan was Bakin, who lived from 1767 to 1848. His most famous book, The Tale of the Eight Dog Heroes of Satomi, was published in 106 installments from 1814 to 1842. Fans waited eagerly for the publication of each new chapter of the exciting story, which tells of eight heroes, who are as brave and loyal as faithful dogs. They use a combination of sword fighting, magic, and strategy to defeat their enemies until they are finally successful. The story was staged as a Kabuki play that was produced many times with different actors. The drawings in this book are taken from portrayals of the actors, created by many artists. Reproductions of the original samurai prints are shown in miniature in full color on the inside front and back covers, so that you can follow their color palettes, if you wish.
