Kawase Hasui (1883-1957)
Meguro Fudo Temple, 1931
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.5 x 10.5 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Black, round Watanabe 6 mm seal at lower left, indicating a lifetime edition made between 1946 and 1957.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Reference: Hotei #263.
Condition: Two original drying pinholes at left margin. Top margin has a few faint, diagonal marks.

Sakiori sodenashi (vest) whose weft is cotton strips recycled from old indigo dye kimono. warp is asa (hemp) yarn. It has beautiful mixed vegetable indigo color. In good condition but has some wear. The first half of the 20th century. 43cm x 75cm

Takahashi Shotei (1871-1945)
Evening Glow at Sakawa Bridge - Chirimen (creped version)
Date: Pre-1936.
Size: Mitsugiri-ban. Approximately 11.5 x 5.5 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: M-9 in Shotei catalog.
Condition: Small spot above mountain. Pinhole at lower right corner...

Takahashi Shotei
Red temple in rain; priest over the steps
Date: ca. 1920s-30s.
Size: Approximately 6 x 4 inches.
Woodblock print is attached along its top edge to 7.75 x 5.25 inch original card.
Shotei artist's seal at lower left.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso of print.
Reference: S-7 in Shotei catalog.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Kawase Hasui
Onshi Park, Shiba
Date: 1937.
First edition with Watanabe E seal (used 1932-1942).
In this edition, the rain is overprinted with silver mica.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.75 x 10.75 inches.
Reference: Hotei #422.
Medum: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.
Hasui's biographer "Narazaki writes: 'An ancient pine tree at the side of a pond; it conveys the brooding mood of a bleak nocturnal downpour...

A pair of goldfish lantern made of washi (handmade paper) and bamboo strips which is the origin of Nepta (or Nebuta) used at Nepta festival in Hirosaki city in Aomori prefecture. The goldfish lantern made of paper and bamboo strips were used till around 1980s, but now it is replaced to one made of vinyl and wire. In good condition except for some brownish spots in the white parts. Large one: H:35cm W:34cm, Small one: H24cm W20cm

Shoda Koho
Black Cat at Night
Date: 1930s.
Size: Tanzaku 13.25 x 3.125 inches.
Publisher: Hasegawa/Nishinomiya Yosaku (stamp on verso)
Artist's seal at lower right.
Reference: No. 1602
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Pilgrim's cotton hanten (hakue) with many stamps of sacred places in Shodo-shima in Kagawa prefecture. They are called "Shodo-shima Hachiju-hachi Kasho", 88 Sacred Places in Shodo Island. It is said Kobo-Taishi (Kukai) had ascetic practice and prayer at those places, who founded Shingon Mikkyo in late 8th century. In good condition except for light stain in the upper back sleeve. The first half of the 20th century. 128cm x 93cm

Bashofu kimono made of several different pieces of bashofu with stripes. It is roughly sewn together, so it might be worn for a work wear. Both weft and warp are hand-plied. In good condition except for some stains. The first half of the 20th century. 124cm x 126cm

Torii Kotondo
Combing Hair (Kamisuki). From the Twelve Aspects of Women Series.
Dated: 1929 (numbered first edition)
Edition: 119 of 300 (Numbered by hand on verso as part of embossed stamp.
Paper size: 18.25 x 11.75 inches.
Publisher: Kawaguchi (sealed at right margin).
Carver: Ito. Printer: Komatsu...

Bamboo flower basket with a water container (otoshi) which is also made of bamboo. Otoshi has no water leaking and has nice color. The basket is in excellent condition except for a minor break near bottom and body (5mm north). The first half of the 20th century. H:41cm, W:24cm, Otoshi H:20cm, Diameter:13cm

Kawase Hasui
Chuzenji Lake, Nikko
Date: 1930s. This edition early postwar.
Size: Approximately 5.625 x 3.625 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo
Not sealed by artist. Sealed examples exist.
Print is tipped along its top edge to an original card.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Five unique plates by Tomimoto Kenkichi, from various eras depicting bucolic scenery each uniquely signed on the back. Kenkichi changed his signature regularly, which makes it very easy to date his works. These date from the 1950s. Each is between 18.5 and 19.5 cm diameter (roughly 7-1/2 inches). One has a slight firing flaw near at the rim, otherwise they are all in excellent condition. A smaller 6th plate will be included, bonus...

Tamba-yaki, with its origins reaching back as far as the end of the Heian Era or early Kamakura Period (1180-1230), is one of the six ancient pottery centers of Japan along with Seto, Tokoname, Shigaraki, Bizen, and Echizen. The pottery of Tamba is said to have an elegant simplicity and an understated beauty that stems from its calm simple lines...

Kawase Hasui
Byodo-In
Date: 1930s. This edition 1950-60s.
Print size: Approximately 5.5 x 3.5 inches.
Woodblock print is tipped along its top edge to original 7 x 4.75-inch blank card.
Oval Hasui seal at upper left.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Condition: Excellent.

Tomioka Eisen
Rice Planting
Size: Approximately 18.2 x 11.6 cm. 7.25 x 4.5 inches
Date: ca. 1910.
Publisher: Matsumoto (No. 390).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Wave in paper where original publisher's tag is attached to the back.
The Matsumoto catalog states, "They are planting the young-rice in the rain, singing a charming song as they work."
An early and rarely seen design.

Tomioka Eisen (1864-1905)
Honmoku
Size: Approximately 18.2 x 11.6 cm. 7.25 x 4.5 inches
Date: ca. 1910.
Publisher: Matsumoto (No. 391).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Ink dot in sky. Wave in paper where original publisher's tag is attached to the back.
The Matsumoto catalog states, "Honmoku, the old village of the present Yokohama...

Shoda Koho
Bridge in Rainy Season
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.5 x 10.0 inches.
Date: 1930s.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Artist's signature and seal at lower left.
Publisher: Nishinomiya Yosaku. Seal at right margin and stamp on verso.
Condition: Excellent. Back has tape residue in two spots.

Kawase Hasui
Chion Temple, Kyoto (Kyoto Chionin)
Series: Collection of Scenic Views of Japan II, Kansai edition
Date: 1933.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Black 6mm Watanabe seal lower left corner, indicating a lifetime edition printed between 1946-1957.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.5 x 10.25 inches.
Reference: Hotei #322.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent color. Top back margin has one piece of tape from previous hinge...

Flower arranging is one of the great arts that Japan has managed to take to ever greater heights of refinement over its long history. Here we have a classic example of a kake-hanaire (hanging flower vase) fashioned from bamboo by a lineage of craftsmen that started in 1578 with the first Kuroda Shogen...

Peerless Mount Fuji
Unsigned. Artist not identified.
Date: 1934.
Size: Oban. Approximately 13.75 x 10 inches.
Origin: Issued as a folded insert to an N.Y.K. Line publication called, "Glimpses of the East". The folds are vertical.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: A faint foxing spot at the upper left.
The composition of this print is reminiscent of the Fuji views of Tsuchiya Koitsu.

Kawase Hasui
Springtime Forest
Date: 1930s.
Size: Koban. Approximately 7.875 x 5.25 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: Hotei Hp-18.
Condition: Excellent.

Kawase Hasui
Arakawa
Date: 1930s-50s. This edition ca. 1957.
Publisher: Likely Doi Eiichi. Publisher's seal lower left.
Artist's seal lower right.
Condition: Excellent.
A rarely seen design.

Kawase Hasui
Lake Shoji
Size: Koban. Approximately 7.875 x 5.25 inches.
Date: 1930s.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Hasui seal lower right.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Reference: Hotei Hp-14.
Condition: Excellent. Pencil note on back.

Kawase Hasui
Torii at Miyajima in Snow (Ryobu-torii of Itsukushima Shrine in Inland Sea)
Size: Koban. Approximately 7.5 x 5.125 inches.
Date: 1936. From "Shinto and its Architecture."
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Hasui seal lower left.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Reference: Hotei Hb-s9
Condition: Foxing in sky at right. Pencil note on back.

Kawase Hasui
Snow at Kashi (Kashi no Yuki)
Date: 1930s-50s.
Size: Approximately 6 x 4 inches.
Hasui seal lower right.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: Hotei Hp-32.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print attached along its top edge to a blank original card.
Condition: Excellent.

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Ushigome Kagurazaka.
Date: 1939.
Size: Oban. 17 x 11.375 inches.
Publisher: Doi Hangaten. Doi watermarked paper.
Carver: Harada. Printer: Yokoi. This seal combination indicates an early post-war edition.
Reference: Koitsu catalog TK-DH-056.
Condition: Top back corners have tape residue. Faint toning apparent in margin to former matte edge.

Takahashi Shotei
Moon Under a Bridge at Hakozaki
Size: Approximately 7.5 x 5.25 inches.
Shotei's Rakutei seal at left.
Date: pre-1936.
Reference: S-49 in Shotei catalog.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Wear on bridge wall. Back has a a few foxing spots and pencil note.

Takahashi Shotei
Drawing up seawater under moonlight.
The figures are engaged in saltmaking, likely at Suma Beach
Date: pre-1936.
Size: Approximately 7.5 x 5.25 inches.
Shotei's Rakutei seal at left.
Reference: S-50 in Shotei catalog.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Pencil notes on back.

Shotei Takahashi (Hiroaki) (1871-1945)
Riverside at Furukawa
Series: Famous Views of the Eastern Capital
Date: Pre-1923.
Size: 10 x 5 inches.
Shotei seal at lower right.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: S-81 in Shotei catalog.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Two small pieces of tape at back margin. Left margin has spot.
- The blocks for this rare print were destroyed in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923.

Hanten, called "suzukake" worn by a Shugen-sha or Yamabushi who practiced Shugendo. Shugendo is the Japanese unique religion combining Buddhism, Shintoism, and worship of nature (mountains). A practitioner (shugen-sha) trained himself in the holy mountains that is ascetic and very painstaking. It is made of hemp and weft of is hand-plied but warp is machine-spun...

Kawase Hasui
Moonlit Night at Miyajima (Miyajima no Tsukiyo)
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.25 x 10.5 inches.
Signed and sealed lower right.
Date: 1947.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Red, round 6 mm publisher's seal at lower left, indicating a first edition (first state).
Reference: Hotei #497.
Condition: Print is fully adhered to backing board.

Takahashi Shotei
Fuji from a restng-booth
Date: pre-1936.
Size: Approximately 7.75 x 5.25 inches.
Shotei seal at right.
Reference: S-6 in Shotei catalog.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Very faint diagonal crease in sky. Pencil note on back.

Toshi Yoshida (1911-1995)
Sacred Grove (Kami no Mori)
Size: Chuban. Approximately 10.5 x 7.75 inches.
Date: 1941.
Artist's jikoku (self-carved) seal upper left margin.
Later edition (ca. 1970s-1980s) with impressed pencil signature.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition. Excellent.

A vintage Japanese Okidoko (Tokonoma alcove chest) made of a dense grain Akita Sugi (Cryptomeria) wood. Originally it was used to showcase Ikebana flower arrangements, special porcelain vases, Japanese sculptures, or seasonal displays...

Meisen kimono with kasuri red and black rectangular pattern. It has red red silk lining, so probably made in 1930s. In excellent condition. 124cm x 154cm