Yokohama-e

The events which happened over the period from arrival of Perry in 1853 to open of Yokohama Port six years after it let Japanese people hold much interest in foreign countries. In such times when journalism played an important role, painting which could appeal visually was considered an effective mean, publishers competed publishing Ukiyo-e depicted Yokohama. This is the background of “Yokohama-e”.

Issen Yoshikazu "Kitchen in a foreigner's residence"

$350.00

Most depicted in the beginning were so-called “Foreigners’ customs and manners”. Japanese people had an interest in oversea products they had never seen such as exotic costumes and belongings. However, in the times when making a contact with foreigners was not easy for common Japanese people, all of the painters didn’t see such things actually, so many artworks were depicted referring to illustration inserted in newspaper issued oversea. 

Issen Yoshikazu "Amerikashunouchi"

$3500.00

As an example of Yokohama-e in the initial term, “Kanagawa Yokohama Shinkaiko Zu (=Picture of New Port in Yokohama, Kanagawa Pref.)” drawn by Utagawa Sadahide, with a changing seal dated February 1860 is known well. From the date to 1872, Yokohama-e kept being drawn for about twelve years. Over the half artworks were produced intensively in 1860 and 1861, then the number reduced as the boom faded away. 

Issen Yoshikazu "A foreigner loving her children"

$350.00 

Also, subjects of painting changed from western people to landscape of Yokohama or western-style residences, and the former began to be drawn in only in the background of the latter. In Meiji period, Japanese government positively introduced foreign products such as a steam locomotive, at the same time, Japanese people’s interest transferred from Yokohama to Western culture which they could incorporate into life. As of this, the style of Yokohama-e disappeared practically (=”Kaika-e” appeared in exchange).

Ichiryusai Yoshitoyo "A Russian loving his wife"

$350.00 

 Yoshitora is the painter who drew Yokohama-e most, leaving over 150 artworks behind as long as evidenced today, and Yoshikazu and Sadahide are also considered to have drawn over 100 Yokohama-e respectively. Yokohama-e which was intensively published like an enthusiastic transmissible phenomenon can be said an interesting material which shows how Japanese people saw other countries from the end of Bakufu to Meiji period. 

Text by Tashiro Yuichiro

Happy New Year, Dear Customers and Friends!

How was your New Year holiday?

I have been in my grand-ma’s home in Kyoto. Japan was hit by a heat wave in last summer, and now tortured by chilly cold. Kyoto surrounded by mountains was also terribly cold, but I enjoyed peaceful moments watching TV and eating New Year feast.

For Japanese people, New Year recalls a visit to shrine. I guess a lot of people have already visited one of those for new year’s wish. As we have a word “Yaoyorozu no Kami (=eight million gods)”, we have believed there are so many gods in Japan since ancient era. And these gods have been chosen as subjects of paintings. This time, I would like to introduce you artworks featuring gods worshipped in Japan. 

 Akizuki Akira  Ama-no-Uzume

Hanging scroll, ink and color on paper/sealed/box inscription

JPY. 165,000-　117.2 × 39.0 （202.0 × 52.6） cm

  

The first is “Amenouzumenomikoto” by Akizuki Akira who is known for Buddhist painting with original taste. He depicted in this painting a goddess who appears in a legend called “Iwatogakure”. Iwato means a cave where Amaterasuomikami, a goddess of sun, withdrew in anger at her younger brother, Susanoonomikoto’s repeated violence. Because of this, the world blacked out, and disaster occurred one after another. Amenouzume, another goddess, saved this crisis. She enthusiastically danced with her breasts exposed in front of the cave, applauded by a lot of gods assisting there. Wondering, Amaterasuomikami slightly opened the entrance, then got dragged out from the cave, and light came back to the world. From her fabulous performance, Amenouzume is now worshipped as goddess of entertainment. Her dance depicted in the artwork would entertain not only gods of ancient times but also contemporary viewers. 

 

 Kajita Hanko  Benzaiten

Hanging scroll, ink and color on silk/signed and sealed

 JPY. 300,000-  124.7 × 50.0 （212.7 × 65.5） cm

The next is “Benzaiten” with beautiful profile. Benzaiten who is known as one of seven gods in Japan derives from Hindu goddess called Saraswati. Probably, this artwork was depicted after Saraswati rather than Benzaiten. The music instrument she holds in hand is a kind of lute called Vina. The bird like goose in the bottom of the screen is a sacred bird called Hamsa, giving a ride to Saraswati. The painter is Kajita Hanko. He is well known as master of brilliant pupils including Maeda Seison, Kobayashi Kokei, or Okumura Togyu today, but this artwork proves his outstanding technique and representation as painter. 

 Kaho Akira  Nachi falls

Framed, ink and color on paper/ signed and sealed

JPY. 450,000-  51.9 × 32.2 （68.2 × 48.5） cm

The last is “Nachi” by Kaho Akira. Nachi Fall located in Kumano, southern part of Wakayama Prefecture is the longest fall in Japan, and from the dignified appearance, it has been worshipped since ancient era. The name of Kumano began to be recognized after an emperor and a retired emperor in the late Heian period and the early Kamakura period did imperial visit to Kumano frequently. In the background, there was spreading of a manifestation theory called “Honjisuijyakusetsu” which taught God was avatar of Buddha, making people believe that the whole region where located Kumano was pure land. 

Worshipping Kumano later spread to common people, and at the peak, a mass of pilgrims were compared to a line of ants.

Nachi Fall which Kaho Akira depicted is a subtle world with white and black keynote. The beauty and dynamism emphasizes Nachi Fall’s presence as object of worship.

This is all I wanted to introduce, but now we know there are so many gods with different background have been worshipped such a long time. And it also proves that Japan has been accepting so many different culture and religion from other countries. In Japan, we celebrate New Year visiting shrine only one week after celebrating Christmas, and it often causes antipathy that Japanese people are unfaithful. But it might be showing Japanese people’s generosity in some way. 

This year also, Shukado is planning a lot of projects including catalog, news letter, and exhibition. We would appreciate your continuous support. 

text by Okubo Kenshi