The Coal Pit (Yama) and the Fox (The Fox Hunting Expert)
1958 - 1963

Yama to Kitsune (Kitsune-tori no Meijin)
[The Coal Pit (Yama) and the Fox (The Fox Hunting Expert)]
20.9 x 30.0 cm Ink Painting

A fox hunting expert appeared in K Coal Pit in the autumn of 1900. The pit did not take the trouble to seek and employ him to get rid of the foxes. He was one of the migrant miners. Since he usually caught one fox a day in a trap, the foxes around the pit must have been discouraged. It was said that he caught dozens of foxes in total. In spite of his efforts, foxes were never exterminated, though they were partly reduced in number. They naturally disappeared around the pit in the end of the Meiji era (1868-1912) because the pit began to use electric lamps and their natural habitat was narrowed by the cutting of the dense forests surrounding the pit. No one in the pit knew the mechanics of his trap, and neither did I.
It was said that he used to say to the fox struggling to get free from his trap, "Oh, I'm sorry I caught you. I actually wanted to catch a raccoon dog."


Translation Assisted by Mr. Nathan Johndro

<<Last pictorial record    Next pictorial record>>

<<Last 10 items  191 | 192 | 193 | 194 | 195 | 196 | 197 | 198｜199 | 200 |   Next 10 Items>>

198／585