Which ukiyo-e print depicts a ghostly skeleton looming over the warrior Takiyasha?

Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Spectre depicts the sorceress Takiyasha summoning a giant skeleton.

Utagawa Kuniyoshi designed this dramatic triptych in the nineteenth century. Its subject comes from the medieval Japanese tale of Taira no Masakado’s daughter Takiyasha, who uses magic while defending her father’s palace. The enormous skeleton is based on the appearance of a spectre in the story and dominates the composition with its curved ribs, skull, and outstretched arm.

Kuniyoshi was especially known for warrior prints, supernatural subjects, comic images, and energetic compositions. His skeleton image became one of the most recognizable examples of his fascination with monsters and theatrical storytelling.

The title is sometimes shortened in English, which can cause confusion with other Kuniyoshi prints involving ghosts or witches. It is a triptych, meaning that the complete design is formed from three joined sheets rather than one rectangular print.