Our Latest Catalog was released

Good morning, today I will participate a dealer's auction of pottery and porcelain.

By the way,our latest catalog was released and we recieved some orders this week including byoubu(folding screen). Some works are very popular and will be sold out quickly, so please order faster.

Subscribe to our Catalog "SHUKADO" vol.16 Autumn 2008 today!!
https://www.syukado.jp/en/catalog/index.html

 

New

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-japan23-2008sep23,0,1022282.story

Taro Aso was elected as a president of Liberal Democratic Party of Japan and a prime minister of Japan.
But he must be very short relief leader because we Japanese people strongly want to let him to dissolve a lower parliament and call a snap election.

Economical situation across the globe is very bad, but political situation is worse than it in Japan.

Shukado Newsletter No.20

Hello everyone! This is Ikuko sending a Shukado news letter No.20.

Shukado today in one word:"BUSY". BUSY, BUSY and again BUSY!!!
The summer break is over and now we are busy preparing for the publication
of our new catalog to be issued this week. We Shukado is busy preparing
for the art fair next month. Autumn is the best season for art in Japan.
We will do our BEST for it!

When I hear "art fair", the art fair in Moscow that I visited last
June comes to my mind. " Many celebrities and a Gorgeous atmospher "
says it all for this art fair.

**President blog: http://japanese-finearts.blogspot.com/2008_06_01_archive.html
You can read our news letter about Moscow art fair here. Click now!

Moscow is a city I used to live. However, today's current situation
and the situation in the 90's in Russia are comletely different. I
can't believe today in Moscow a "million fair" where every elavolate
item is listed as a million dollars is popular.

I can communicate both in English and Russian, so if you feel more
comfortable communicating with us in Russian, please feel free to
contact us in Russian.

Anyway, I promised in our news letter No.17 to buy some interesting
items in the ukiyo-e market. At the previous ukiyoe exchange market,
we were able to finally win the bid for Kiyochika’s war prints and we have
it at Shukado now!

**Our New Arrival of Kiyochika: http://www.japanese-finearts.com/item/search.php?md=0917

There were so many ukiyoe prints listed for the bid. My boss and I
had the same strategy, so we won the bid for Kiyochika's work.

I would like to talk about Kiyochika in this news letter.

Kobayashi Kiyochika was born in Edo in 1847. He studied photographs
under Shimooka Renjyo, oil paintings under British artist, Charles
Wirgman and Japanese paintings under Kawanabe Kyosai and Shibara
Zeshin. However, he was basically a self-taught painter. He pursued
his own artistic expressions after occasionally studying under
great artists.

He gained his fame when he created a new genre of western style
woodblock paints called “Kousen-ga” which employs introducing
western perspectives and shading to express moving light and shade.
To say it briefly, he tried to depict landscape or objects in
western style with the method of woodblock printing.

Even though you do not know about Kiyochika, many of you probably
know about artworks of Impressionist artists. If you imagine if
someone were to create woodblock prints of such artworks, you may
think it is impossible. However, Kiyochika did his best to follow
the style of Impressionist artists. He captured visual features of
the light and shade and changing light and colors in details, and
introduced new techniques to skillfully depict texture of the
objects in his artworks.

If you take a close look at Kiyochika’s artworks, they would look
as if they were the wood block prints created by Impressionist
artists who were good at depicting natural lights, change of colors
and contrast between light and shade in details. It is an
interesting fact that the French Impressionists’ Exhibition held
in France in 1876 coincided with the time Kiyochika showed his
Kousen-ga for the first time to the public in Japan.

When Japanese-Sino War began in 1894, the ukiyoe prints, which were
losing popularity, became popular again as one type of mass media.
Then many war prints were created by wood block artists and
Kiyochika was one of them. He created many war prints in 1894 and
1895.

Kiyochika’s war prints were not just print media to disseminate
news on the war. But also great artworks that evoke viewers’ deep
feelings and sorrow like what people feel when they see the
historical paintings. No other artists expressed people’s emotions
better than Kiyochika in the war prints.

He did a great job to depict details of the battle scene. To give a
few example:moving shadow of soldiers fighting in the sunset,
texture of the burning fire, very lively comprehensive composition
and fireballs flying in the sky. In particular, each fireball was
depicted so skillfully!! You will be surprised to see his techniques
when looking at such a print.

Please look at such detail of his work.
**More photo: http://www.japanese-finearts.com/item/list3/108003980/

I still clearly remember the day when I first saw Kiyochika’s
Kosen-ga at Shukado. Delicate gradation of light was so wonderfully
depicted by his printing techniques that I could not believe it was
possible with the wood block prints. It was a touching moment for
me.

It was a very special print being full of sentiments and I was
curious about who will buy this special artwork. One day an
overseas customer who dropped in our gallery in Ginza saw this
Kiyochika’s print and he was so amazed by his wonderful skills in
expressing light. Although this customer did not even know his name,
he bought this print and today he became a big fan of Kiyochika.

**Shukado Kiyochika's collection: http://www.japanese-finearts.com/sp/list.php?spid=S4759120b1fe83

Thank you for taking the time to read our news letter.

The beginning of the month we have many art market here in Tokyo.
Our chairman and director are trying to get new items almost every
day.

We will be very happy if you keep visit our site and enjoy shopping
with us.

We are looking forward to hearing from YOU.

Have a great week!!

Ikuko Kuwata-Kelly

Shukado Newsletter No.19 "Byobu"

Hello everyone from Tokyo!!This is Ikuko, sending Shukado Newsletter vol.19

Tokyo, oh Tokyo, my delightful city!
Yes, I definitely love living and working here.
Have you ever been to Tokyo?

Today when I took a break for lunch I saw many overseas tourists
here in Ginza, Tokyo. Ginza is one of the wealthiest town in Japan.
The name “Ginza” is even a kind of brand name for Japanese
people. This area is also famous for numerous number of fine art
galleries in the vicinity of Shukado.

Please feel free to visit our gallery in Ginza when you get the chance
to come to Tokyo.

WE WELCOME YOU!!

*************
Shukado map:
http://www.japanese-finearts.com/aboutus.htm#map

*************

In this newsletter, I would like to talk about Byobu screen.

***********************
Sukado Byobu collection: http://www.japanese-finearts.com/item/list/38/

If you don't know what Byobu is, please check it out!!
***********************

Many foreign customers have visited us and asked to purchase "BYOBU".
So, most of our Byobu items are usually sold abroad.
I don't know exactly why they always ask us the same thing“I would like
to display Byobu on the wall!! ”

We, Japanese never display Byobu on the wall in the house.
In fact, I never see Byobu on the wall in Japanese houses. I of course know
we show Byobu on the wall of museums or international Art Fair for
international customers.

However when I see photos of displaying Byobu on the wall sent to
us by foreign custmers, I am so excited. It is a PRECIOUS thing to
see a spectacular wall decorated with Byobu in western houses.

Photos from our custmer →　http://www.syukado.jp/jp/voice/index.html

Byobu is a screen which consists of panels connected by paper hinges.
You can fold them as you like and they are light to carry; therefore,
they have been frequently used compared to before.

Some screens have 8 panels while some are not created as a pair.
The most popular byobu screens are “Ryokkyoku-Issou", a pair of
six-panel-screens. Most of the Byobu screens were created as a
pair of six-panel-screens. Each screen panel is counted "Sen" in
specialized terminology.

In the early ages, Byobu screens were used as a wind-wall to prevent
wind or cold air from coming into the room. They were sometimes
used as a divider as well. They used to be very practical items.

Byobu screens were used for various purposes. For example,
“Shira-e Byobu” which was painted with white pigments was used at
the time of baby delivery.The color white was considered very
auspicious so it was used for such an occasion.

"Sakasa Byobu" is used displayed Byobu upside down at someonen's death bed.

"Byobu for Summer" Some Byobu screens were designed particular for
summer season. They have bamboo blind in the middle of the panels so
that the air can pass through them. Summer flowers, plants and water
streams were depicted on such screens as well in order to make
viewers feel a bit of coolness.

In Gion, Kyoto, the custom “Byobu matsuri” where owners of stores
display their byobu screens has been a long tradition. It is said,
an owner of a store displayed a lot of byobu screens in order to
hide messy rooms from guests at the time of the festival. This is
very similar to how we put things into a storage space or we try to
hide them with a big cloth when unexpected guests visit us.

Byobu screens used to be very practical items for our daily life.
They have become more decorative in the later years since people have began
to think that they look better with beautiful paintings.

When did we start to display them at the art exhibitions or at museums?
I think that it began in the Meiji era.

There are two reasons for this. First, the new place “exhibitions”
where fine arts including byobu are displayed to show to the public
became prevalent from the Meiji era.

From the Meiji era, Japan tried to introduce Byobu to Western cultures
including exhibitions. Until the Meiji era, there was no such a
place or an occasion to display and appreciate fine arts in Japan.
Between the end of Meiji era and the Taisho era, it was very
popular to show big pieces. As big screen media, artists could
create paintings with a big visual impact. Byobu screens were often
used by artists. A pair of six panel screens (each panel is sized
approximately one tatami mat (1.82ｍ×0.91ｍ)) must have given big
impact on viewers.

Second reason is the change of people's lifestyle. Until the Edo
era, byobu screens were used in the houses of every walk of people
in Japan including nobles, samurais, merchants, etc.

However, after the Meiji era, people's life became westernized and
traditional Japanese rooms with tatami mats and alcoves gradually
disappeared.

Therefore, Byobu screens which were used with practical daily life
items became art media to be displayed at the art exhibitions. Of
course, some people still use Byobu for their practical use but
main use of Byobu changed in the Meiji era.

If you have a chance to see Byobu screens, please take your time to
imagine how they were used in old times.

Thank you for reading our news letter until the end and we will get
back to you soon!

Oh, WAIT WAIT! I must to tell you about our recomended Byobu.

*******************
Recomend Byobu item : http://www.japanese-finearts.com/item/list2/107007350/

*******************

We are going to display this Byobu screen at the autumn exhibition
held by the Tokyo Bijyutu Club.

*Tokyo Bijyutu Club (Tokyo Art Club) is dealers association which is
highly recognized all over Japan as well as overseas.
Shukado has a membership with this association.

If you plan to visit Japan in October, please come and visit
us in Ginza and come to our exbition!
We are looking forward to seeing you there.

We hope you are enjoying the end of your summer in your town!!

Big hello to you from all of us at Shukado.

Ikuko Kuwata-Kelly

Shukado Newsletter No.18 Hanabi!

Dear Customers & Friends

Hello!! ...from Ginza Tokyo.

This is Sachiko, sending Shukado Newsletter vol.18.
It has been extremely hot in Japan these days and we sometimes have thunder storms in the evening. My 5-year-old son is so scared of lightening and says "Kaminari-sama (god of thunder) is angry! "


Let me introduce our latest recommended items. Those prints are reasonably priced for their quality and we hope that you will find your favorites among the new arrivals!
*******************
New Arrivals
*******************
Ukiyo-e Prints
http://www.japanese-finearts.com/item/search.php?md=0806

We are featuring Toshikata and Chikanobu in the above link.


In the Meiji period, Japan went under the drastic westernization so the ukiyoe or woodblock prints became less popular than lithographs or photographs. But Chikanobu took effort to depict the lives of women in Meiji era. When we take a look at his prints, we even now can feel powerful and lively atmosphere of the Meiji era
Although "Bijinga" or genre pictures of beauties was major theme of Ukiyo-e in the Edo-era, for example, Harunobu, Utamaro.�@Ukiyo-e legend or legacy was almost dying in the middle of Meiji era.


In that period, TOSHIKATA Mizuno tried to preserve Bijinga tradition and to hand it down to the next generation. One of the pupils of Toshikata is Kaburagi Kiyokata, the most prominent Bijinga painter in the Japanese art history. Chikanobu is famous for painting rather than woodblock prints, so Chikanobu and Toshikata are the artists who connected the traditional Japanese art and the Japanese modern art. Toshikata was the first artist who revived the big Bijinga wave again in the Japanese art world.


Don't forget to check our latest arrivals!




***********************************************
Hanabi :Big Summer Event in Japan "Tamaya!"
***********************************************

By the way, if you hear "summer" and "Tamaya! Kagiya!" what would you think of? Japanese people would answer "Hanabi" or fireworks. The Japanese word for fireworks, "hanabi" is made up of two kanji characters; "hana" for flower and "bi" for fire. Every summer Japan prepares for its numerous fireworks festivals held throughout the nation. When I was in England, I felt a bit strange to see a lot of firework displays held in WINTER! A friend mine Koichiro Noguchi san took a nice picture of firework display held in Gifu.




Gunpowder the material of fireworks was invented in the Tang dynasty China. Then it was spread in Muslim countries then in Italy and other European countries.

It is said that first firework display in Japan was held in 1613 in order to entertain Tokugawa Ieyasu. During the peaceful Tokugawa shogunate reign, fireworks spread all over Japan and they were developed into various types.

Among of all, RYOGOKU firework display is the most famous and many ukiyo-e based on this event were created in the Edo era. Many of you may have seen Hiroshige's "Fireworks in Ryogoku".








I found an interesting print depicting Hanabi and beauties created by Hiroshige II and Toyokuni III.



Unfortunately, we do not have those prints in our stock right now but we will post them at our website as soon as we get them. Please keep checking our website!


Many of fireworks (even today) have been manufactured by the same families who began making them generations ago. Tamaya and Kagiya were two major firework manufacturers in the Edo period that made fireworks for the Ryogoku firework display.

Thank you for reading our news letter until the end!

Have a wonderful week!

Sachiko

Shukado Newsletter#17

Dear Customers & Friends

Hello! Bonjour! Guten Tag! Goedemiddag! Konnichiwa! from Ginza Tokyo.
This is Ikuko, sending Shukado Newsletter vol.17.

July is already over and the hot weather has arrived in Tokyo.
In this week, we Shukado published our NEW catalog "SHUKADO vol.15"!!
If you want to receive our catalog please click here!
We are waiting for your requests and order!

************
NEW CATALOG :http://www.japanese-finearts.com/item/list2/100000012/
************

Today, I would like to introduce you to the artist who pursued the
beauty of color-on-paper artworks: KOSUGI HOUAN. In addition, we
talk about how attractive art works are on paper.

**********************
Kosugi Hoan "A Witch": http://www.japanese-finearts.com/item/list2/108000420/
**********************

There are two major kinds of Japanese style paintings: color-on-paper
and color-on-silk.

Although most of Japanese style painters paint on paper these days,
color-on-paper artworks became popular only recently. It used to be
considered that color-on-silk artworks were ranked at the top and
they are still very expensive. On the other hand, color-on-paper
artworks are less valued than color-on-silk artworks.

However, color-on-paper artworks have their own attractiveness.
Sumi ink(Indian ink) can spread smoothly on paper and pale tone colors
stand out there. Moreover, the beauty of running ink can only be
made on paper.

Now I will talk about Kosugi Houan. He (1881-1964) was born in
Niigata prefecture, and he first became a western style painter then
later switched over to be a Japanese style painter.

Around 1935, he began to use custom-ordered paper called "Houan
Paper", which was invented by paper artisan in Imadate, Echizen
(currently Fukui Prefecture) solely for Houan. Imadate is very
famous for high quality handmade WASHI (Japanese paper).

While the most widely used fiber plant for Washi is the paper
mulberry (kozo); this paper and the mitsumata and gampi plants
account for almost all traditional Japanese paper. Hemp is mixed
into those fiber plants to create Houan paper. As a result of this,
the surface of the Houan paper is rough and ink or colors easily run
on this paper; therefore, it is extremely difficult to control
painting effect with this paper.

Despite these difficulties, Houan skillfully controlled ink and
colors on this paper by using a dry brush. He gracefully and
competently used the effect of running colors and ink to create
forms. As a result of this, he mastered painting sold, and firm
shapes and creating a natural feeling even though it was extremely
difficult.

Therefore Houan's artworks have some kind of "lightness" or
attractiveness. I sometimes find some of his works on Houan paper
too blury but the ink and colors are part of their charms. He was
able to create an effect called "kegaki" which means fine, thin
bush-strokes employed to depict animal fur or human hair,
especially sideburns, beard, or eyebrows. If you are someone who
enjoys this kind of accidental effects, you will be able to find a
joy of appreciating his artworks.

The advantages of color on paper artworks are fascinating
effects of ink and color pigments and direct reflection of the
artist's personality and techniques. I believe comparing
color-on-silk artworks to color-on-paper artworks reveals the
artist's true self. I recommend you to see your favorite artist's
color-on-paper artworks.

In addition, you can not appreciate even half of the delicate
details of the color-on-paper artworks without seeing the original
with your naked eyes. Therefore, if you encounter the actual
color-on-paper artworks of your favorite artist, you will be filled
with indescribable happiness.

Please look at such detail of his work on paper.
http://www.japanese-finearts.com/item/list3/108000420/

Thank you for reading our news letter until the end! Today we will list
some ukiyo-e of Chikanobu and hanging scroll of Uda Tekison. We are
very happy if you could find your favorite new arrivals among them!

************
NEW ARRIVALS: http://www.japanese-finearts.com/item/search.php?md=0725
************

We will join a ukiyo-e market next week, I have a hunch that we can
purchase some interesting items there, so please DON'T FORGET
to browse our site again!!

SMILES to you from all of us at Shukado.

Have a wonderful and amazing day!

Ikuko Kuwata-Kelly

hukado Newsletter Vol.16 My First Trip to Moscow #2

***** Shukado Newsletter Vol.16 My First Trip to Moscow #2*****
***** http://wwww.japanese-finearts.com/ July 2nd,2008 *****

Dear Customers and Friends,

Hello! This is Chiaki sending Shukado Newsletter vol.16. Let me continue the story on the Moscow Art Fair.

The word "gorgeous" says it all for the Moscow Art Fair. Every thing was so gorgeous including its entrance, booths and visitors there. The booths were very big comparing to those at Art Fairs in Japan and they even had proper pillars, walls and the ceiling. They looked more extravagant than those of the Asian Art Fair in NY. There were so many people in the expensive clothes and I heard that a princess from somewhere and a Russian billionaire paid a visit there.


http://picasaweb.google.co.jp/shukado/MoscowArtFair2008Public

You can easily spend a couple of hours by just looking at beautiful Russian ladies passing by. All of them looked like fashion models with long legs and beautiful looking wearing the latest fashion items. After seeing them, I could understand why so many men leave the wife to whom he has been married for years and go after young Russian ladies.

At the Art Fair, there were not so many booths selling contemporary arts while a lot of antiques and modern fine arts were exhibited. My relative and friends participated in this Art Fair from Japan. They were exhibiting modern paintings, paintings of active artists and antiques including Byobu screen and their booths were drawing people's attention.

It is rare for the Japanese art dealers to participate in the international art fair abroad, in particular in Russia. It was their first time participation in the Russian art fair. They have not decided whether they continue participating in this art fair in the following years. May be some years later, Shukado may have a chance to participate in such an overseas international art fair in Moscow, NY, London or somewhere. If such things happen, we are looking forward to seeing you there!

In the basement floor of the art fair, there were booths exhibiting jewelries. This floor was full of dazzling glitter. Although the atmosphere was full of flamboyance, I was a little bit scared of the uncontrollable desire of human beings and the probable connection to the underworld.

On the second day, I went to the "gorgeous" supermarket before the Art Fair began. (see the image at the president's blog) Although I could not find cans of real caviar, I enjoyed tasty dairy products. (I heard that only high-ranking government officials have access to this expensive delicacy via a little bit dodgy connections.)


While nouveau riche oligarkhi people are enjoying the rich lifestyle, I wondered how ordinary people's life has changed since the collapse of the Soviet Union. When I walked around in Moscow, I found that people are quite friendly though they do not smile do often. I thought that they are good at building trusts with other people in a short period of time. I also heard that even commoners have their summer cottages called Dacha and they grow vegetables there. I think that Japanese people should cast away their negative image for Russian people.

I asked the taxi driver how things have changed from 15 years ago and he replied to me that people in Moscow enjoying freedom in many ways but he is fed up with prevalent mammonism. He added that people were more laid back and some people may have been happier at the Soviet time.

Over all my impressions of Moscow was very positive. I think that if I can speak Russian, I would be able to integrate more into the local society.

Well, let me introduce our latest recommended items before I wrap up this newsletter.

*******************
New Arrivals
*******************

Beauties! Beauties! Beauties!

Ito Shinsui's Japanese Beauty
http://www.japanese-finearts.com/item/list2/108002000/

Ito Shinsui (1898-1972) was the pseudonym of a Nihonga painter and ukiyo-e woodblock print artist in Taisho and Showa period Japan. He led the shin hanga art movement which revitalized the traditional art after it began to decline with the advent of photography in the early 20th century.

Behind a bamboo blind, a modern woman who had a perm is depicted in the image of cooling herself in the evening.
For her hair, vague painting style is used and this seems like Shinsui's consideration not to loudly show modern elements.

More beauties:
Ogawa Uko, Maisen/ A Graceful Japanese Beauty Dancing with a Fan
http://www.japanese-finearts.com/item/list2/108001600/

Komura Settai, Tsukuba, A Fan Print of a Cool Beauty
http://www.japanese-finearts.com/item/list2/108002590/

That is all for this week.

Thank you for taking your precious time for reading this newsletter to the end.

Have a wonderful week!

Chiaki Tanaka, President, Shukado Co., Ltd.

**We are sending Shukado News Letter - the information of
new arrivals.
If you would like to join our mailing list, please visit here:
http://www.japanese-finearts.com/mail/join.htm
backnumber:
http://japanese-finearts.blogspot.com/
---------------------------------------------
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TEL:(international number)+81-3-3569-3620 FAX:+81-3-3569-3621
email: info@japanese-finearts.com
http://www.japanese-finearts.com/

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http://www.syukado.jp
master@syukado.jp

Shukado President's Blog(including backnumber of Shukado News Letters)
*Blogger site
http://japanese-finearts.blogspot.com/
*Ichiroya site
http://www.ichiroya.com/blog/Chiaki/