Catalog: Vintage Arts: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese (765)

Nishimura Hodo
Summer Rain
Date: 1930s.
Size: Mitsugiriban. Approximately 15.5 x 7.25 inches.
Publisher: Takemura Shokai (stamp in left margin). Takemura Hideo label on back.
Signed by the artist. Takemura seal below signature.
Edition: First and only.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Top back corners have paper residue.

Yokouchi Ginnosuke (1870-1942)
Rain and Night Cherry Blossoms in Ueno Park
Date: September 1935
Size: Oban. Approximately 16.25 x 11.5 inches.
Edition: First and only. 91/300. Japanese-language limitation seal on back.
Signed and sealed by the artist.
Published by the artist.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Age toning. Faint matte line. Pencil note on back.
This rare woodblock print is one of only eight designs by the artist.

Ohara Shoson (Koson)
Two seated and three plowers in flight near the seaside, a full moon above.
Date: 1930s.
Paper size: Approximately 5.0 x 3.25 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Bears the Shoson seal.
Reference: S22.2 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Condition: Excellent.
A rarely seen design.

Ota Shumin (1884-1950, Japanese)
Boats on River (given title).
Date: 1930s.
Size: Oban. 17.25 x 12.625 inches.
Signed "Shumin" by the artist.
Medium: Japanese watercolor.
Condition: Tonal difference at edges where formerly matted. Light creasing visible in side light.
Note: Shumin participated in a painting event at the 1936 Olympics.

Saito Hodo (aka Nishimura Hodo)
Two women walking on a spring night
Date: 1920s-1930s.
Size: Oban. 15.5 x 10.25 inches.
Publisher: Takemura Hideo (label on back).
Signed "H. Saito" by the artist.
Medium: Japanese watercolor.
Condition: Excellent.
Note: Paintings and woodblock prints variously signed "H. Saito" (Saito Hodo) and "Nishimura Hodo" were published by Takemura Hideo. They are very likely by the same artist...

Enryakuji Temple, Hiyeizan (Hieizan), Kyoto.
Artist not identified.
Dated August 21st, 1937.
Size: 7.5 x 5375 inches (19 x 13.6 cm).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print as the cover of a dinner menu of the Nippon Yusen Line passenger ship, Chichibu Maru.
Publisher: Likely Nippon Mokuhan Co. Tokio (Japan Woodblock Co. Tokyo), who produced another of our ship menu woodblock prints.
Medium: Japanese shin-hanga woodblock print made from a carved wood block...

Saito Hodo (aka Nishimura Hodo)
Street After Rain (雨後の街)
Date: 1920s-30s.
Size: Oban. 19.75 x 13 inches.
Publisher: Takemura Hideo.
Signed "H. Saito" by the artist.
Medium: Japanese watercolor.
Condition: Excellent.
Note: Paintings and woodblock prints variously signed as "H. Saito" (Saito Hodo) and "Nishimura Hodo" were published by Takemura Hideo. They are very likely by the same artist...

Ohara Hoson (Koson)
A Nest of Swallows
Reference: An uncatalogued design.
Size: Oban. Approximately 14.75 x 10.5 inches.
Date: ca. 1930. First and only edition.
Publisher: Kawaguchi and Sakai. Publisher's seal in right margin. Carver (Maeda) and printer (Komatsu) seals in left margin.
Koson's "Hoson" signature and seal at lower right.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Slight fading. Light creasing through artist's seal and lower margins.

Kawase Hasui Matsushima
Date: 1930s.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Print size: Approximately 5.75 x 3.75 inches.
A Japanese woodblock print tipped along its top edge to a 7 x 5 original card.
Red Hasui seal at lower right.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso of print.
Reference: Hotei #Hp-43.
Condition: Card edges are slightly toned and creased.

Saito Hodo (aka Nishimura Hodo)
Street in Front of Restaurant
Date: 1920s-30s.
Size: Oban. 19.75 x 13 inches.
Publisher: Takemura Hideo.
Signed "H. Saito" by the artist.
Medium: Japanese watercolor.
Condition: Excellent.
Note: Paintings and woodblock prints variously signed "H. Saito" (Saito Hodo) and "Nishimura Hodo" were published by Takemura Hideo. They are very likely by the same artist...

Takahashi Shotei (Hiroaki)(1871-1945)
Country House After Snow
Print size: Approximately 4.0 x 2.5 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Shotei's Rakutei seal at lower left.
Date: Pre-1936.
Reference: Shotei catalog #S-47.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print tipped along its top edge to a signed holiday card.
Condition: Excellent.

Ito Yuhan
Watercolor Painting
Depicting a footbridge above a waterfall.
Date: 1930s.
Size: 13.25 x 9.75 inches.
Signed "Y. Ito" at lower left
Condition: Brilliant color. The top back has paper residue. A couple of very faint foxing marks in upper left corner.
Ito Yuhan is known for his woodblock prints that have a watercolor-like appearance.

Kawase Hasui
Godaido, Matsushima
Size: Approximately 5.75 x 3.75 inches.
Bears the artist's oval seal.
Date: ca. 1930s.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Slight bend at upper right corner.
A rarely seen design.

Kawase Hasui
Ishizue, Niigata
Size: Chuban. Approximately 10.25 x 7.25 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Date: 1934.
This edition 1930s.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Bears the oval Hasui seal.
Reference: Hotei #352.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Provenance: The Robert O. Muller estate.
Condition: Excellent. Uncirculated.

Kawase Hasui
Moon at Itako
Size: Koban. Approximately 7.75 x 5.25 inches.
Date: ca. 1936.
Hasui produced a thematically similar oban-sized greyscale print of the same title in 1936.
Hasui oval seal at lower left.
Condition: Right margin corners have two original pinholes. There is a much smaller pinhole just at the top right corner within the image that can be seen when the print is held to light.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.

Takahashi Shotei (1871-1945)
Evening Glow at Sakawa Bridge
Date: Pre-1936.
Size: Mitsugiri-ban. Approximately 15.25 x 6.75 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: M-9 in Shotei catalog.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Condition: Very good. Upper left corner has crease.

Takahashi Shotei
Morning Fog
Date: Early. Not known.
Size: Approximately 7.25 x 4.825 inches.
Shotei seal lower right.
Reference: S-126 in Shotei catalog.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Slight crease lower left corner. Pencil note on back.
Note: Shotei.com notes that this print is probably pre-earthquake due to its rarity.

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Twilight in Suzukawa
Publisher: Takemura
Date: 1930s.
Size: Chuban. Approximately 10.5 x 7.5 inches.
Koitsu's "Kiyoshi" seal at lower right. Takemura publisher's seal at left.
Koitsu catalog no.: TK-TM-75.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Light foxing has been cleaned and stabilized. Repairs to paper thinning in sky. Two pinholes at top corners of image.

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Edogawa (Edo River)
Date: 1930s.
Size: Chuban. Approximately 10.5 x 7.75 inches.
Publisher: Takemura Hideo. Seals on front and back.
Sealed by Koitsu at lower left.
Koitsu catalog no.: TK-TM-68
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Shoda Koho
Ohashi Bridge at Atako.
From the Hasegawa Night Scenes series (No. 1253).
Size: Chuban. Approximately 9.75 x 7.25 inches.
Date: 1910-38.
Publisher: Hasegawa/Nishinomiya
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Sealed by the artist. "Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Condition: Slight bend at upper right corner.

Yoshimoto Gesso
Cherry Blossoms
Date: 1930s.
Print size: Approximately 10 x 5 inches.
Publisher: Nishinomiya Yosaku (Stamp on verso)
Artist's signature lower right.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Back top edge has paper residue.

Kawase Hasui
Hie Shrine
Date: 1936.
Size: Koban. Approximately 7.5 x 5.0 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Bears the oval Hasui seal.
Condition: Excellent.

Takahashi Shotei (1871-1945)
Night Shower at Izumi Bridge
Date: Pre-1932.
Size: Mitsugiri-ban. Approximately 15.0 x 6.75 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: M-16 in Shotei catalog.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: A thin paper spot at bridge post as shown. On the back, there are two thinner portions where tape had been. Tiny 1 cm tear extending from right center margin...

Kawase Hasui
Snow at Koshigaya
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.375 x 10.25 inches.
Date: 1935. First edition.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Publisher's "E seal" (used 1932-42) in right margin.
Signed and sealed by the artist.
Reference: Hotei #353
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Slight toning. Bump at tip of lower left margin corner.

Noel Nouet(1885-1944)
Kuromon, 1936. From the 24 Views of Tokyo series.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.5 x 10.25 inches.
Publisher: Doi Hangaten. Carver: Ikeda, Printer: Yokoi. Bears the Doi watermark.
An early edition of rarely seen design.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Ohara Shoson (Koson)
Little egret on the bough of a willow tree
Size: Chuban. Image size is approximately 9.75 x 6.75 inches.
Date: ca. 1930s.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Illustrated as S14.7 on page 207 of "Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland)."
Tipped at top edge to original cardstock.
Condition: Excellent.

Ohara Shoson (Koson)
Peacock and Peahen in a Flowering Cherry Tree
Size: Approximately 5.5 x 3.5 inches.
Date: ca. 1930s.
Shoson seal at right.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: AS.30 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Ito Jakuchu
Flying Bird and Flower
Date: 1930s or earlier.
Size: 4.25 x 3 inches.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Margin corner thinning or chips.

Kawase Hasui
Vermillion-lacquered Temple Gate in Snow
Date: 1930s.
Size: Approximately 6.125 x 4.125 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo
Hasui seal at lower right.
"Made in Japan" stamped on back.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Reference: Hotei Hp-48.
Condition: Excellent.

Paul Jacoulet
Une Belle De Palaos (A Beauty of Palao)
Date: November 4, 1935.
Edition: No. 291/350. Fewer than 275 impressions made.
Size: 18.5 x 14 inches.
Mandarin duck seal. Carver: Maeda. Printer: Honda.
Reference: No. 30 in The Prints of Paul Jacoulet by Richard Miles.
Condition: Excellent.
Note: Miles writes, "This was conceived and printed as a pair with No...

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.

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.

Katsuhira Tokushi
Kamado (Cooking Stove)
Customs of Akita series.
Date: 1939.
Self-published by the artist.
Size: Oban. Approximately 16.0 x 11.5 inches.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Very good. Outstanding color. Toning at margins, back and upper right corner. Tape at back top margin.

Kawase Hasui
Sacred Mount Fuji
Date: 1936.
Size: Koban. Approximately 7.25 x 4.875 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Hasui oval seal at lower right.
Reference: Hotei #Hb-s12
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Back top corners have tape remnants.

Nishimura Hodo
Hirosaki Castle in the Spring
Date: 1933.
Size: Oban. 15.625 x 10.5 inches.
Publisher: Takemura Hideo. Stamp in left margin and label on back.
Sealed by the artist at lower left.
Edition: First and only.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Upper portion toned where not covered by former matte.
Note: RARE - The only other example we could locate is in the Honolulu Museum.

Paul Jacoulet
Tatooed Woman of Falalap, West Carolines
(Femme Tatouée de Falalap Ouest Carolines)
Date: July 5, 1935.
First edition: 91/150 numbered in kanji. Fewer than 100 impressions produced.
This edition was issued without a title...

Kawase Hasui
Hachiman Shrine, Kamakura
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Size: Approximately 5.75 x 3.75 inches.
Date: 1930s.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Bears the oval Hasui seal.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Condition: Excellent with two small surface spots.
This design is not listed in the Hotei catalog.

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Sunset at Maiko
Date: 1936. First and only edition.
Size: Mitsugiri-ban. Approximately 15.5 x 7.75 inches.
Publisher: Takemura Hideo. Seals on front and back.
Signed and sealed by Koitsu at lower left.
Koitsu catalog no.: TK-TM-11
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent with surface scratch near bottom.
Wonderfully preserved color, especially the delicate green of the sky.

Hiroshi Yoshida (1876-1950)
A Calm Day, 1930 from Inland Sea, Second Series.
Oban. Approximately 16.0 x 11.0 inches.
First edition bearing the large black jizuri seal, indicating self-printing by the artist.
Pencil signed and titled.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Hiroshige Ando
Seven Ri Ferry Boat Approaching Kuwana
Publisher: Takemura Hideo. Bears round Takemura seal.
Date: 1930s. Collected after WWII but very likely from Takemura's pre-war stock.
Size: 5.5 x 3.5 inches.
Tipped at top to original greeting card.
Condition: Very good. Card discolored with hole at back cover.

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Nikko
Date: 1937
Size: 5.75 x 3.75 inches.
Publisher: Doi Hangaten (seal lower left).
Koitsu seal and title at lower right.
Reference: Koitsu catalogue TK-DH-122.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Some fading. Paper residue at top back corners. Fox spot at top margin.
Note: We know this example to be early as it was acquired along with a heretofore unknown Koitsu design.

Arai Yoshimune
Snow in Wakanoura Bay
Date 1930s.
Size: Chuban. 10.25 x 7.75 inches.
Sealed by the artist at lower left.
Publisher: Nishinomiya Yosaku. Seal at right margin and back
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Very faint foxing in sky. Back top corners have mounting residue.

Kawase Hasui
Evening View of Snow-Covered Cottage
Date: 1930s.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Print size: 5.625 x 3.75 inches.
Reference: Hotei Hp-76.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Top right margin slightly trimmed.

Kawase Hasui
Lingering Snow at Hikone Castle, 1934
Series. Selection of Views of the Tokaido Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
First edition. Bears the Watanabe C seal (sausage seal) used between 1929 and 1942.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.50 x 10.25 inches.
Reference: Hotei #226.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Slight age toning.

Hiroshi Yoshida
No. 3 Cave Temple in Ellora
By Courtesy of Archaeological Department, Hyderabad
Indian and Southeast Asia Series
Date: 1932.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.5 x 10.75 inches.
Signed and sealed in the image...

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Lake Kawaguchi at the Foot of Mt. Fuji
Date: 1938.
Size: Oban...

Paul Jacoulet
Hokkan-zan, Seoul, Coree (Hokkan Mountains, Seoul, Korea)
Date: December 6, 1937.
Size: Approximately 18.25 x 14 inches.
Jacoulet signature and watermark with tea jar seal.
Edition: 144/350.
Carver: Maeda. Printer: Honda.
Reference: Print #45 in The Prints of Paul Jacoulet by Richard Miles
Condition: Excellent color and condition. The back margin edges are toned. The back top margin has three pieces of archival tape.

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.

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Port Tomo, May 1939
Size: Chuban. Approximately 10.0 x 7.5 inches.
Publisher: Takemura Hideo
Koitsu catalogue no.: TK-TM-54
Condition: Tipped at top to original cardstock. Very light foxing.

Kawase Hasui
Snowscape
Date: 1930s.
Print size: Approximately 6 x 4 inches.
A woodblock print tipped along its top edge to an original blank holiday card.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: Hotei #Hp-71.
Hasui seal lower right.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: One small dot above Hasui seal.

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Matsushima
Date: 1930s. First and only edition.
Size: Chuban. Approximately 10 x 7.5 inches.
Publisher: Takemura Hideo. Seal at lower right.
Koitsu's "Shinsei" seal at lower left.
Koitsu catalog no.: TK-TM-79.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Condition: Excellent color. The back and margins have some discoloration.

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Twilight at Hira
Date: 1936.
Size: Oban...

After Maruyama Okyo (1733-1795)
Carp and Pine
Date: ca 1910s-30s.
Size: 5.375 x 3.5 inches.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Top margin thinning.

Takahashi Shotei
Red temple in rain; priest over the steps
Date: ca. 1920s-30s.
Size: 5.75 x 3.5 inches
Reference: S-7 in Shotei catalog.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.
Compare with our Shotei127.

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. The work was undoubtedly created...

Kawase Hasui
Kiso River, Inuyama
Date: 1931.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15 x 10.5 inches.
Publisher: Bijutsusha. One of only eight Hasui designs by this publisher.
Artist's signature and seal lower left.
Reference: Hotei #176.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Lovely woodgrain in sky.
Condition: Right and bottom margins reinforced by conservator. Point-sized surface spot on water.
Note: A small section of the trees above the boat is printed in bla...

Kawase Hasui
Autumn at Shiobara
Date: 1930s.
Size: Koban. Approximately 7.75 x 5.0 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Artist's oval seal at upper right.
Reference: Hotei #Hp-36.
Provenance: The Robert O. Muller estate.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Top corner margin has original drying pinhole.

Arai Yoshimune
Suma Beach
The figures carrying pails are making salt.
Date 1930s.
Size: Oban. 15.25 x 10.25 inches.
Unsigned.
Publisher: Nishinomiya Yosaku. Seal at left margin and back.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso. Marked #103.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Toning. Faint surface scuff on beach. Upper right margin corner crease. Back corners have mounting residue.

Kawase Hasui
Mt. Fuji from Tago
Date: 1930s.
Image Size: 6.125 x 4.5 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: Hotei Hp-12.
Hasui seal at lower right.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Condition: Excellent condition.

Takahashi Shotei (1871-1945)
Snow at Asakusa Kannon-do
Date: Pre-1936.
Size: Mitsugiri-ban. Approximately 15.0 x 6.75 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: M-22 in Shotei catalog.
Provenance: From the collection of Canadian missionary Sybil Courtice, who was in Japan from the early 20th century up until WWII.
Condition: Excellent.