About This Print

One of twelve prints from the series Picture Notes on Native Customs of Japan depicting folk rituals from different parts of Japan.  It is suggested by Lawrence Smith that the prints paid homage to the Folk Art (mingei) movement that Onchi Kōshirō (1891-1955), who played an unspecified role in issuing this series, was sympathetic to.¹ 

In the Artist's Words

About the Series Picture Notes on Native Customs of Japan

Source: Modern Japanese Woodblock Prints - The Early Years, Helen Merritt, University of Hawaii Press, 1998, p. 284.

This series of prints followed on the heals of the series Scenes of Last Tokyo (Tokyo kaiko zue), printed in December 1945 and issued by the same publisher, Uemura Masuo of Fugaku Shuppansha. 

"Early in the following year, on 20 March 1946, Uemura Masuo and Fugaku Shuppansha published another set, Nihon minzokuzū-fu (Native Customs in Japan).  The editor's statement, which was written in English and accompanied each set, is given here just as it was written to retain its full warmth and flavor:

...All of the artists except Kuroki Sadao had participated in Ichimokukai, and their participation in this set can probably be attributed to Uemura's friendship with Onchi."

Series Print Titles and Artists
Sources: Guide to Modern Japanese Woodblock Prints: 1900-1975, Helen Merritt, University of Hawaii Press, 1992, p. 277 and the website of the National Library of Australia catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4653042.

The artists of this set were Azechi Umetarō, Kawanishi Hide, Kuroki Sadao, Maeda Masao, Maekawa Senpan, Mori Dōshun, Saitō Kiyoshi, Sekino Jun'ichirō, Wakayama Yasoji, and Yamaguch Gen.  Published by Uemura Masuo of Fugaku Shuppansha, formerly of Takamizawa Mokuhansha.  The prints were matted and presented in gray coardboard folders with names of artists and titles translated into English on accompanying sheets.