Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) published between 1820 and 1830 three albums of polychrome prints entitled Kinoye no Komatsu or “The Young Pine Saplings.” Most of the prints concern erotic subjects. These marvelous albums can be found in the Goncourt Collection in Paris. In his book, Hokousai, l’Art japonais au XVIIIe siecle, published in 1896, Edmond de Goncourt describes a frightful image from one of the albums: the naked body of a woman is lying on rocks covered with seaweed, and an immense octopus is feasting upon her vagina while a smaller one is nibbling her mouth. It is unclear whether the woman has drowned or is still alive, swooning with rapture. The two beasts are hideous, their mesmerizing eyes staring fixedly upon their exquisite prey, their tentacles gripping the elegant and fragile limbs with animal determination. At first glance, the raw nature appears ominous and frightening. Upon careful scrutiny, however, it is obvious that the woman is very much alive: she is maintaining a tender but firm hold of the octopus lodged between her delicately spread legs. Her hands are gently pulling at the outstretched tentacles that coil around her arms. This indescribably sensual print perhaps suggests a very different admonishment: octopi beware!