About This Print
While not signed, this small woodblock print, both pasted onto the envelope containing the entire set of five prints and serving as a cover, or top, print for the set was designed by Sakamoto.
The print on the cover, or top, sheet reads: 阿蘇五景 草人社 加藤版画研究所 [Five Views of Aso, Sōjinsha, Katō Hanga Kenkyūjo]
About The Series "Five Views of Aso" (Aso gokei)
According to Merritt, this series was first published in a limited edition of 300 in 1950* by Kuga Isao [correct romanization is Kuga Ichio] of Sōjinsha, with carving and printing at Katō Hanga Kenkyūsho under the supervision of Katō Junji. She goes on to state that the series underwent a number of subsequent printings, as follows: "Fifty sets of the same subjects were printed in a smaller version, ca. 16.5 x 23 cm [6.5 x 9 in.], by Kyūryūdō in 1962 with the title Sakamoto Hanjiro gashu; 300 more sets of about the same size were printed in 1964 and 130 more in 1971."1
* sources differ on the date of first publishing with some listing 1948 and others 1950.
The titles of the five prints in the series, and a small sixth print of two horses grazing on the outside of the envelope the prints were placed in and also on the cover sheet for the series, as shown below, are:
right column: Pasture 放牧, Moon at Namino 波埜の月, (envelope with print of two horses grazing) Five Views of Aso 阿蘇五景
left column: Funkakō (Crater) 噴火口, Nangōdani 南郷谷, Morning at Nedodake 根子嶽の朝
Five Views of Aso 阿蘇五景 - as originally issued
Paper folder containing five prints
11 x 15 3/4 in. (28 x 40 cm) approx. each of the five prints
5 x 5 3/4 in. (12.7 x 14.6 cm) approx. portfolio cover print
Published by Katō Junji in conjunction with Sōjinsha in 1948 and, possibly again, in 1950
Image source: Saru Gallery website archive
There is some confusion about how many subsequent editions were printed but I have found reference to the following printings:
latest revision:
| Year | Publisher | Print Image size (approx.) | Edition | Notes |
| 1950 (Showa 25) | Kuga Ichio of Sōjinsha 騒人社 and Katō Print Research Institute 加藤版画研究所 | 10 x 14 in. (25 x 36 cm) | 300 | carving and printing at Katō Hanga Kenkyūsho under the supervision of Katō Junji. Printing by Yamagawa Bunji. Merritt and other sources give the publishing date of 1950, but Katō Hanga and other sources give the date as 1948. |
| 1962 (Showa 37) | Kyūryūdō 求龍堂 | 6 1/2 x 9 in. (16.5 x 23 cm) | 50 | Sakamoto Hanjirō gashū 坂本繁二郎画集 |
| 1964 (Showa 39) | Kyūryūdō 求龍堂 | 6 1/2 x 9 in. (16.5 x 23 cm) | 300 | portfolio titled Sakamoto Hanjirō gashū Kyūryūdō (see image below) The portfolio [shown below] of the five prints from the series Five Views of Asao, issued in a smaller format, was included with a book of Sakamoto's work, various essays on his life and work and a chronology of his life. The work was compiled by Kuga Ichio |
| 1971 (Showa 46) | Kyūryūdō 求龍堂 | 6 1/2 x 9 in. (16.5 x 23 cm) | 130 | portfolio titled Sakamoto Hanjirō mokuhan Aso gokei Kyūryūdō 坂本繁二郎 木版阿蘇五景 求龍堂版 |
1964 release by Kyūryūdō - prints in smaller format (approx. 6.5 x 9 in.). Issued in an edition of 300.
Carver and printer unknown.
Colophon reading:
坂本繁二郎画集 一九六四年版 別冊 [Sakamoto Hanjirō gashū, printed 1964, supplement]
昭和 三十九年十月十五日 [October 15, 1964]
編集者 久我五千男 [editor: Kuga Ichio (1922-1984)]
発行者 右原龍一 [publisher: Ishihara Ryūchi (founder of Kyūryūdō)]
株式合社 求龍堂 [corporation: Kyūryūdō)
followed by contact information in left three columns
1 Guide to Modern Japanese Woodblock Prints: 1900-1975, Helen Merritt, University of Hawaii Press, 1992, p. 258-259.
Print Details
| IHL Catalog | #2379 and #2310 |
| Title | IHL Cat. #2379: Two Horses Grazing (untitled) - originally on envelope containing print set IHL Cat. #2310: Two Horses Graxing (untitled) - cover print to set |
| Series | Five Views of Aso (Aso gokei 阿蘇五景) |
| Artist | Sakamoto Hanjirō (1882-1969) |
| Signature | unsigned |
| Seal | not seal |
| Publication Date | 1948 or 1950 depending on source |
| Edition | likely later edition |
| Publisher | Katō Hanga Kenkyūsho under the supervision of Katō Junji |
| Printer | Yamagawa Bunji (as given by Merritt) |
| Impression | IHL #2379 and #2310: excellent |
| Colors | IHL #2379 and #2310: excellent |
| Condition | IHL #2379 and #2310: excellent |
| Genre | sosaku hanga (creative print); moku-hanga |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Format | oban |
| H x W Paper | IHL #2379: 5 1/2 x 6 3/16 in. (14 x 15.7 cm) IHL #2310: 10 5/16 x 14 3/8 in. (26.2 x 36.5 cm) |
| H x W Image | IHL #2379: 5 1/8 x 5 7/8 in. (13 x 14.9 cm) IHL #2310: 5 1/8 x 5 7/8 in. (13 x 14.9 cm) |
| Collections This Print | |
| Reference Literature | Guide to Modern Japanese Woodblock Prints: 1900-1975, Helen Merritt, University of Hawaii Press, 1992, p. 258-259 (not shown); Modern Japanese Woodblock Prints - The Early Years, Helen Merritt, University of Hawaii Press, 1998, p. 100 (not shown.) |
4/10/2021 created
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