We reproduced the Ukiyo-e such as Katsushika Hokusai and Hiroshige Utagawa with craftsman’s outstanding skill.
Using wild cherry wood for woodblocks, and the highest-grade Washi (Japanese paper) called Echizen-kizu-hoshoshi made by living national treasure. The traditional Japanese technology “Edo woodblock prints” has been created by skillful craftsperson for over 100 years has been certified as one of the designated traditional crafts by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. Ukiyo-e Reproductions, one of excellent articles that represent traditional Japanese culture, have been a popular souvenir and gift abroad.
The masterpiece series of Hiroshige, the master of Meisho-e (landscape Ukiyo-e pictures), were drawn in his latter years. The ambitious art works that depict the lives of people in each season and in the scenery of famous places of Edo, which influenced Monet and Van Gogh.
This series is filled with the charm of Edo woodblock prints, with adopting of perspective representation like Western paintings, ingenious layout, and various expressions which were made with full use of advanced carving and printing techniques.
The series of masterpiece of landscape paintings that depicts the fifty-three post-towns on Tokaido that connects Edo and Kyoto, sold explosively in Edo, and made Hiroshige a star in the Ukiyo-e world.
Hiroshige vividly depicts people’s lives while interweaving the lyrical scenes of the post town in each season.
This series of 46 prints was published from 1831 to 1833.
Hokusai depicts the view of Mt.Fuji from Tokyo, Kanagawa, Shizuoka, Yamanashi, Nagano, Ibaraki, Chiba, Aichi, etc. including the famous works such as “Red Fuji” and “Great Wave off Kanagawa” in this masterpiece series.
This series of landscape prints was published from 1833 to 1834, after the success of “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji” and “Tour of the Waterfalls of the Provinces”.
Landscape pictures of eleven rare bridges in Japan including a legendary bridge. It shows Hokusai’s rich imagination, and he depicts a fantastic scene that entertains the viewer.
“Tour of the Waterfalls of the Provinces”, the series of 8 landscape prints, was published around 1833 after “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji”. It is famed as masterpiece among the Hokusai’s landscape prints. Hokusai challenged ambitiously to express the “water” based on famous waterfalls all over Japan such as Edo, Nikko, Kiso, and Tokaido.
“Oceans of Wisdom”, the series of 10 landscape prints, was published around 1833 after “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji”. Hokusai depicts the changing water surface and fishermen’s daily lives of the seas and rivers of various parts of Japan. You can enjoy the gradation of Prussian blue, the dynamic layout, and the various expressions of “water” that Hokusai has inquired closely throughout his life.
Original woodblock prints
We have reproduced the artworks of famous painters with Edo woodblock prints technology. All of them are valuable limited-edition art works.
The world’s masterpiece fairy tales were drawn by three artists, and reproduced them into the “Emakimono (picture scroll)”, a book which has the style of beauty since ancient Japan, with using the technique of Edo woodblock prints. “The Little Match Girl” was drawn by Western-style painter Kojiro Kosugi, “Pinocchio” was drawn by sculptor Katsura Funakoshi and “Taketori Monogatari (The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter)” was drawn by Japanese-style painter Eiko Horikawa.
We have reproduced the hand-painting “Kintaro” by Japanese-style painter Kosugi Hoan. Using 10 woodblocks with 40 patterns, and printing 72 times to express his delicate brushwork.
Kintaro is his favorite theme, and the adorable and lively Kintaro, which was drawn with gentle touch, fascinates many people. It reminds us the good old days of Japan.
We have reproduced the oil painting “Hinamatsuri (girl’s festival) in Paris” by Kojiro Kosugi with using 40 patterns and printing 75 times to express the texture and taste of original picture.
Famous Japanese-style painter Hoan Kosugi is Kojiro’s grandfather. You can enjoy his style of painting which has soft and deep color tone, and poetic tenderness.
We have reproduced the one of the masterpieces of Junichi Nakahara’s woodblock prints. This series was printed by traditional woodblock prints technique and delivered one each print to the limited members every month for 1 year from 1939 to 1940. It was reproduced for the opening of Junichi Nakagawa Museum in Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi.
Original products
With the motif of Ukiyo-e, we are creating playful products such as towels, decorative envelopes for New Year’s gifts, and sticky tags, etc.
There are also unique products such as brooches that use Ukiyo-e woodblock prints as parts and insoles with Ukiyo-e, which can be offered at reasonable price. How about for a little souvenir or gift?
We are reducing various items using the traditional technique of Edo woodblock prints to enjoy Ukiyo-e casually.
With the motif of Ukiyo-e, we are producing various items such as towels and sticky tags, etc.
This series is reasonably priced and good for small souvenirs and gifts. And all of these products show smartness of Edo with Ukiyo-e.
For keeping the high quality, prints with a color unevenness or a color tone is different from the original will be repelled in reproduction of Edo woodblock prints. These repelled items were called “YARE”, and are never sold, and wasted.
Therefore, we reuse and revive these “YARE” as new designed products.
The etymology of “YARE” is “yabure (tear)”. When paper was torn, it cannot be used, and then it seems the word is changed to express unusable prints.
Please see how these “YARE” are reborn as fancy products…, the products resulted from new attempts.
Decorative envelopes for giving New Year’s gifts with motif of Ukiyo-e, or in “Hagoita (battledore)” form.
Handmade special envelopes for monetary gifts with delicate design.
We are creating fun products with the theme of “cat”, the mascot of Takahashi Kobo.
We have various items from products using traditional handmade prints to tumblers.