As seen commonly in many famous Japanese artworks, a Shoki is a cultural warrior usually associated with the supernatural. In this woodcut print entitled “Shoki Creeping Up on a Sleeping Demon” by Yoshitoshi Ryakuga a monstrous fish demon appears to be literally sucking the life out a Shoki warrior. Created in 1882 this painting portrays another example of how common ghostly monsters were and still are are in Japanese culture. The supernatural play an important part in japanese art for they were thought to be spirits trapped on earth so they can avenge the tragic circumstances of their deaths. The artist used a woodcut print to portray the tragic outcome of what happened to the japanese warrior when he attempted to bravely slay the fearful
