Kyushundo released the initial volume of 'Pictures of 100 Eminent Japanese Ancient and Modern with their Biographies' in August 1887. The given English title of this series is rather variable, with the alternate titles ‘Short Biographies of Eminent Japanese in Ancient and Modern Times, each with a Characteristic Illustration,’ and ‘Pictures and Biographies of 100 Eminent Japanese’ also used elsewhere in the books. This book and its successor are 25cms by 17.5 cms in dimension and contain 10 double page color illustrations and approximately 60 pages of text to accompany the illustrations. Gekko produced 4 images for the book, the other were done by Toyohara Chikanobu (1838-1912), Yoshimune Arai (1863-1941) and Mizuno Toshikata (1866-1908).

Saigo Takamori

Yamato Takeno Mikoto

Aoto Fujitsuna

Minister Iwakura