Yosha Bunko

Tokyo nichinichi shinbun
No. 111   1872-7-28 (1874-10m)
Sumo firemen

Story in brief

Two muscular sumo wrestlers respond to an emergency. With no water, they have no choice but to tear apart the burning structure in hopes of limiting the fire.

The nishikie appears to be as much about the telegraph poles and wires that dominate the foreground, as about the fire. They symbolized the "civilization and enlightenment" of the Meiji Restoration (Toyo University Library 2003:5). While cities today are spending money to put utilities underground, and outfitting fire departments with state-of-the-art brass polish, the world is going wireless. A house could burn while people walk by, feeling only the heat of their cell phones. (WW)