草薙剣を振りかぶり雄々しい表情を浮かべる日本武尊（ヤマトタケルノミコト）が、腿から脇腹、肩までをぐるりと広範に使って表現された龍と対峙する、実に雄勁な胸割りの大作。
その迫力もさることながら細緻に彫り込まれた着物の柄にため息が漏れるようだ。なお古代の着物に麻の葉文様は存在しないが、クライアントからのたっての希望によりこれをあしらっている。前面および腕は桜吹雪のみとし、額の魅力を余すことなく伝えている。
This is a truly powerful munewari masterpiece, in which Yamatotakeru no Mikoto, wielding the Kusanagi sword with brave expression in his face, confronts a dragon that is extensively depicted surround the back from thighs to flanks and shoulders.
As well as its power, the intricate patterns of kimono are breathtakingly beautiful. Although the hemp leaf pattern did not exist in ancient era, it was used at the request of the client. The front and arms are covered only with sakura-fubuki (flurry of cherry blossom), conveying the charm of gaku (background of irezumi).
日本武尊は『日本書紀』や『古事記』に伝わる古代日本の皇族であり、智勇に優れた伝説的英雄である。九州から東国まで東奔西走し、各地の豪族や荒ぶる神々を打ち倒し、日本を平定すべく尽力した。
伝承には龍と相見える描写はないようだが、その豪族や神々のメタファー、もしくは相模国で火攻めに遭った際の苛烈な炎を龍になぞらえたという見立てができる。余談だが、刺青のモチーフとして人気のある弟橘媛は日本武尊の妃である。
Yamatotakeru no Mikoto is an ancient Japanese imperial family member and a legendary hero of great wisdom and courage, as told in the story of “Nihon Shoki” and “Kojiki”. He dedicated himself to defeat the powerful clans and raging gods of various regions for pacifying Japan.
There is no episode in the lore that appear to fight against a dragon, but it could be seen as a metaphor for those powerful clans and gods, or as a way to compare the fierce flames of the fire attack in Sagami Province which is told in the lore to a dragon. As an aside, Ototachibana Hime who is a popular motif for irezumi is his consort.
