Back in the 80's , I played big brother/dad to a 10 year old. He wanted to rent an anime video and I had no clue at that time what was available. We went to the video rental store and he found one with a picture of an octopus that looked interesting. So we get back to his house and his mom and I started watching it with him. It was kind of a shocking way to discover "tentacle porn" , LOL. Never did get to see the end of that one.
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It is widely believed that the first person in Japan to depict "tentacle-like imagery" (such as an octopus with a woman) was Katsushika Hokusai.
Iti s said that Katsushika Hokusai first created an erotic image involving tentacles when he was around 55 years old.
By the way, his most famous work worldwide is The Great Wave off Kanagawa (Fugaku Sanjūrokkei: Kanagawa-oki Nami Ura), from the series Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji (1760–1849).
蛸と海女 (often translated as "The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife") is a famous
woodblock print by 葛飾北斎, created in 1814 as part of his erotic art collection (shunga).
In this work, Hokusai depicts a female diver (ama) entwined with two octopuses—one large and one small—in a highly stylized and imaginative scene. The image is not meant to represent a literal event but rather a fantasy. The composition emphasizes flowing lines, intricate textures, and a sense of movement, which are characteristic of Hokusai's artistic style.
The print is often discussed in the context of Edo-period attitudes toward sexuality. During this time, shunga was a common and socially accepted art form, enjoyed by various classes. These works frequently explored themes of desire, humor, and exaggeration, sometimes involving mythical or impossible scenarios like this one.
Today, this artwork is also notable for its influence on later interpretations of erotic imagery, sometimes being cited as an early example of tentacle-themed fantasy in visual culture. However, art historians generally focus on its cultural and historical context rather than modern interpretations.
In summary, "The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife" is a significant example of Edo-period erotic art, reflecting both the artistic mastery of Hokusai and the imaginative, often playful nature of shunga.
内野聖陽主演、映画『春画先生』葛飾北斎の春画「喜能会之（きのえの）故（こ）真通（まつ）」"蛸と海女"鑑賞シーン（自主規制音入り本編映像）【2023年10月13日公開】