Inukawa Sosuke is a Dog Warrior, introduced in Chapter 18 of Hakkenden. When first introduced, he is a servant of Hikiroku’s known as Gakuzō. In Chapter 20, he renames himself Inukawa Sōsuke Yoshitō. His bead character is Gi (義), righteousness, honesty, integrity. ~ from Eight Dogs or Hakkenden, Part Two: His Master’s Blade, Translated by Glynne Walley.
| Alias Inukawa Sosuke (Eight Dog Warrior) |
| Real Names/Alt Names Inukawa Sōsuke Yoshitō (犬川 荘助 義任), Inukawa Shôsuke (犬川荘助), Gakuzō |
| Characteristics Hero, Samurai, Eight Dog Warriors, Literary Characters, Medieval Age, Japanese |
| Creators/Key Contributors Kyokutei Bakin |
| First Appearance Nansō Satomi hakkenden (南総里見八犬伝), serialized in 106 volumes from 1814–1842. |
| First Publisher Tōyō Bunko (東洋文庫), Various |
| Appearance List Nansō Satomi hakkenden (南総里見八犬伝), serialized in 106 volumes from 1814–1842. Reprints: Meiji Period Printed Editions (1868–1912), Bunko Editions (1900s–1930s), Taishō Period Editions (1912–1926), Illustrated and Children’s Versions (Early 20th Century), Popular Editions (1920s–1930s). Notable Translations: The Eight Dog Warriors by Kyokutei Bakin – translated by Arthur L. K. Ives (1901); Die acht Hunde (“The Eight Dogs”) by J. S. W. D. Kolb (1912). Adaptations and sequels: Teisō Fujo Hakkenshi (1834-1848); Koi no Yatsufuji: Dansō Satomi Hakkenden (1837) – a parody; Setsubai Kōtan: Inu no Soushi (1848-1881) – a simplified gōkan edition of the novel by Ryuutei Senka; Kanayomi Hakkenden (1848-1867) – a competing gōkan edition of the novel; Hakkenden Gojitsudan (1853-1857) – a novel by one of the authors of Kanayomi Hakkenden which centres on the Dog Warrior’s children and grandchildren; Ninpō Hakkenden (1964) – part of Futaro Yamada’s Ninpōchō series featuring descendants of the original Eight Dog Warriors. Film: Hakkenden (1913), Satomi Hakkenden (1937), Tonchinkan Hakkenden (1953), Sorcerer’s Orb (1954) – Japanese title “Satomi Hakkenden”, You’un Satomi Kaikyoden: Zengo-hen (1956), Satomi hakken-den (1959). |
| Sample Read Eight Dogs, Or “Hakkenden”; Part Two: His Master’s Blade (2024) by Kyokutei Bakin, translated by Glynne Walley [Google Books (Preview)] |
| Description Inukawa Sosuke is a Dog Warrior, introduced in Chapter 18 of Hakkenden. When first introduced, he is a servant of Hikiroku’s known as Gakuzō. In Chapter 20, he renames himself Inukawa Sōsuke Yoshitō. His bead character is Gi (義), righteousness, honesty, integrity. ~ from Eight Dogs or Hakkenden, Part Two: His Master’s Blade, Translated by Glynne Walley. |
| Source Eight Dogs or Hakkenden – Google Books |




