1943 version	1947 version

The print is by Kawase Hasui and shows the beautiful autumn landscape of the Azuma Gorge, deep blue running water, framed by yellow and red autumn leaves. Narazaki as well as Merritt & Yamada both date this print back into 1943 (Showa 18).

Surprisingly the very same print exists in a "later" version (right image). Now it is dated "Showa nijuni nen saku" -- "Made in Showa 22" (1947). The printer seal is not present, only the 6mm round seal gives evidence of the Watanabe publishing house.

The earlier edition (left image) is dated "Showa juhachinen saku" --"Made in Showa 18" (1943). In addition, a boxed seal of the printer"Suri" Ono Gintaro, one of Watanabe's master printer is stamped ontothe margin, furthermore, a round black 6mm Watanabe seal is in thelower left corner within the imprinted area. It is known that Ono'sprinter seal (known as an "I seal") was in use during and shortly afterthe War instead of a Watanabe publisher's seal. The round black 6mm Watanabe seals in the left lower part of both prints are hardly visible against their dark backgrounds. It is not clear whether for both editions an identical set of blockswas used. The missing of fine strong lines, slightly different coloringschemes makes an exact and reliable comparison very difficult. However,at least we can say that the keyblock and probably some others were thesame.

In both cases the keyblock shows a slight damages, e.g., here at theleft margin a part of approx. 2mm is missing, an indication that thekeyblock for the Showa 18 and Showa 22 edition is the same except forthe writing.

The fine details, printed in grey / green seem to be identical, althoughthe block of the Showa 22 edition shows some wear already. The "registration" of the blocks is poor in both cases.

An Explanation from Shoichiro Watanabe  

"Azuma Gorge is located in Saitama Prefecture and is very small. Agatsuma Gorge is located in Gunma Prefecture(north of Saitama Pref.) and is very big. Hasui had traveled to Agatsuma but not to Azuma. (The note of the "Complete (Hasui) Catalogue" by Hotei Publishing is wrong.)"

"In 1943, S. WATANABE CO. finished the test printings (only a few copies) for this design. As you know, in 1943, toward the end of the World War II, S. WATANABE CO. lacked for the paper and all the materials for printings. In addition, printers had to go to War. So we could not do it at all."

"We could make printings of this in 1947 at last, 2 years after WWII. So there are two types of the date (1943 and 1947). Therefore, the prints dated 1943 is quite few."

"Although our new "atozuri" (posthumous printing from original blocks) print is dated "Showa 22 nen" (1947), we do say this is dated 1943 the same as in the "Complete (Hasui) Catalogue" by Hotei."

Sincerely,
Shoichiro Watanabe
S.WATANABE COLOR PRINT CO.

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Ono Gintaro Printer Seal

Source: Chris Johannesen of shinhanga.net
A print with the Gintaro seal is eligible to, and typically should, also carry a 6 mm. (Of course there are exceptions.) Some examples depicted in Narazaki with both seals are: N382, N414, N473, N474, N476, N489 to N496, and N498. A number of other prints (including this print) are shown with the Gintaro seal but the image does not clearly reveal a 6 mm -- it might or might not be there.
Some background is useful to know. Gintaro apparently ran the Watanabe shop around the war years, when prints carry his seal. But he would have still been required generally to use Watanabe's 6 mm copyright seal, reintroduced at that time.

 

The Image - Azuma Gorge or Agatsuma Gorge?

According to Shoichiro Watanabe, "Azuma Gorge is located in Saitama Prefecture and is very small.Agatsuma Gorge is located in Gunma Prefecture (north of Saitama Pref.)and is very big. Hasui had traveled to Agatsuma but not to Azuma. (Thenote of the "Complete (Hasui) Catalogue" by Hotei Publishing iswrong.)"