Okabe: The Story of the Cat Stone – Utagawa Kuniyoshi

A ghostly cat appears behind an elderly woman as she confronts a young traveller in this dramatic woodblock print by Japanese artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi. Fine linework, richly patterned clothing, and the enormous feline apparition give the scene an atmosphere of folklore, tension, and supernatural horror.

Created around 1845, the print represents Okabe, one of the stations on the historic Tōkaidō road. It draws on the legend of the Cat Stone, a rock said to contain the spirit of an old mountain cat that once assumed human form and preyed on travellers passing through the area.

The work belongs to Fifty-three Pairings for the Tōkaidō Road, an ambitious series that connected places along the famous route with legends, historical events, and supernatural stories. Kuniyoshi was one of the most inventive artists of the late Edo period, celebrated for his warriors, actors, monsters, ghosts, and bold visual storytelling.

Artwork Details

• Artist: Utagawa Kuniyoshi
• Product title: Okabe: The Story of the Cat Stone
• Original title: Tōkaidō gojūsan tsui, Okabe
• Series: Fifty-three Pairings for the Tōkaidō Road
• Date: Circa 1845
• Period: Late Edo period
• Place of origin: Japan
• Medium: Color woodblock print with pigments on mulberry paper
• Publisher: Ibaya Kyūbei
• Block carver: Sugawa Renkichi
• Original dimensions: Approximately 36 × 24.7 cm / 14.1 × 9.7 in
• Collection: Walters Art Museum, Baltimore
• Accession number: 95.564

Print & Frame Details

• Fine Art Printing: Printed using advanced 12-color fine art printing technology for rich, accurate colors and detailed tonal depth.
• Paper: Smooth, high-quality matte paper with a clean, glare-free finish.
• Paper Weight: 200 gsm / 80 lb.
• Frame Material: Durable pine wood.
• Frame Profile: Approximately 20 mm thick and 10–14 mm wide.
• Protection: Lightweight, shatterproof plexiglass protects the artwork.
• Available Sizes: Offered in a range of sizes to suit different rooms and wall arrangements.
• Responsibly Sourced: Printed on FSC-certified paper and framed with responsibly sourced wood.
• Made to Order: Each piece is produced especially for your order, helping to reduce unnecessary stock and waste.
• Worldwide Shipping: Produced through our international network of trusted print studios and shipped worldwide.