80s Kintaro Wrestling Carp Japanese Ukiyo-e t-shirt Medium

Chest 19.5 in.

Length 25.5 in.

Content: 75% Cotton, 25% Polyester

Tag Brand: Hanes

This cool vintage ringer shirt was made back in the 1980s and it features a graphic depicting the legendary Japanese folk hero Kintaro, also known as the Golden Boy. Kintaro was a young boy who possessed superhuman strength, and was said to have been raised in the wild by a mountain witch. Kintaro's adventures have been the subject of multiple Japanese woodblock prints and ukiyo-e paintings, and he is often identified in art by his signature apron, which is emblazoned with the kanji for gold. The graphic on this tee resembles a very famous piece of ukiyo-e art titled Oniwakamaru and the Giant Carp Fight Underwater, which was created by Utagawa Kuniyoshi during the Edo Period.

Kuniyoshi's painting has been referenced and parodied multiple times throughout the ages. It's been the inspiration behind everything from tattoos to street art to contemporary fine art. There isn't a lot of information hinting at where this particular take on Kintaro and the giant carp might have come from, but one thing that does make this interpretation stand out is the fact that Kintaro is drawn wearing a pair of shorts and some blue sneakers. Given that the folk hero is rarely seen wearing anything other than his signature apron, there's a chance that this t-shirt might have been produced for a clothing brand in the 1980s.

The design of Kintaro's bright blue sneakers does somewhat resemble a popular athletic shoe from the 80s. The shoes look a little like a pair of Asics running shoes, and there's a chance that they could be intended to be just that. Asics was started in 1977, the company was the successor of the Onitsuka Tiger sports brand, which was founded in Japan back in 1949.

The tag says large but this shirt fits like a modern unisex adult medium






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