Toy prints and advertising prints

This category includes toy prints (omocha-e) and advertising prints (hikifuda). Some of these prints are printed entirely or predominantly in red, and are known as aka-e. Aka-e were said to protect against smallpox. None of the prints on this page are listed in Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson (Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1961).

	Series: Advertisements for Toys at the Hagino-ya Toy Shop Text: Pinwheel and Papier-mâché Daruma Doll (Kazaguruma ni hariko no Daruma) Publisher: Tsuru-ya Kiyemon Date: c. 1827-1832 Size: Chûban (about 10 by 7 inches or 25 by 18 centimeters)
	Series: Advertisements for Toys at the Hagino-ya Toy Shop Text: Papier-mâché Rabbit and Owl with a Child’s Toy Drum (Mamedaiko ni hariko no usagi to mimizuku) Publisher: Tsuru-ya Kiyemon Date: c. 1827-1832 Size: Chûban (about 10 by 7 inches or 25 by 18 centimeters)
	Series: Advertisements for Toys at the Hagino-ya Toy Shop Text: Papier-mâché Lion-dance Doll and Top (Koma ni hariko no shishimai) Publisher: Tsuru-ya Kiyemon Date: c. 1827-1832 Size: Chûban (about 10 by 7 inches or 25 by 18 centimeters)
	Series: Advertisements for Toys at the Hagino-ya Toy Shop Description: Toy rabbit and hobbyhorse Publisher: Tsuru-ya Kiyemon Date: c. 1827-1832 Size: Chûban (about 10 by 7 inches or 25 by 18 centimeters)
Series: Advertisements for Toys at the Hagino-ya Toy Shop Description: Fish and Bird Pull Toys Publisher: Tsuru-ya Kiyemon Date: c. 1827-1832 Size: Chûban (about 10 by 7 inches or 25 by 18 centimeters) NOTE: This print was published in red and black. The black and white image is of a print in better condition and is more legible.
	Description: Rabbit pull toy and turtle Publisher: Date: 1842 or earlier (kiwame censor seal) I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.
	Description: Toy owl and horse Publisher: Date: 1842 or earlier (kiwame censor seal) I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.
	Description: Toy owl and mouse Publisher: Date: I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.
Description: Daruma doll and akamimizuka (red horned owl doll) Publisher: Maru-ya Seijirô Date: 1846-1852 I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.
This image is from Kuniyoshi’s 1832 shunga book, Shunshoku mutamagawa (春色六玉川).
	Title: Elegant Poppyseed Kites (Fûryû keshi-dako, 風流けしだこ) Description: Publisher: Probably Takakichi: Date: c. 1839-1843 NOTE: In this context, poppyseed means miniature. I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.
	Title: New Edition Kite Collection (Shinpan tako zukushi, 新板凧つくし) Description: Designs for kites Publisher: Unidentified Date: Probably 1867, which makes this a posthumous printing I am grateful to Robrt Pryor for this image.
	Title: None Description: Kite designs with Watanabe no Tsuna and Ibaraki-doji on top and Kato Kiyomasa and probably Kokusempu Riki on bottom Date: 1843-1846 (censor Muramatsu Genroku) Publisher: Probably Katô-ya Iwazô I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.
Title: View of Main Shinyô Tôzan Hall (Honke Shinyô Tôzan-dô Ryaku-zu) Description: Bird’s eye view of a medical herb shop Size: 38 x 50 cm Date: c. 1860 Publisher: No seal NOTE: I am grateful to Michel Ouellet for this image.
Title: Fine Medicines (Kan no kusuri, かんのくすり) Description: Advertisement for a medical herb shop Date: c. 1847 Publisher: No seal NOTE: The above description applies to Kuniyoshi’s print on the left. The print on the right is a similar print by Kuniyoshi’s student Utagawa Kunihisa (signed 歌川国久画). I am grateful to Michel Ouellet for these images and information.
Text: No cash required (Genkin kakene nashi, 現金 かけねなし), clothes and cotton goods (gofukumono momenrui, 呉服物木綿類), Takasaki Hoteiya (髙崎 ほていや) Description: Advertising print with Daikoku and Ebisu Size: Ôban diptych (36.4 x 45.5 cm) Date: 1844-1845 (censor Tanaka) Publisher: Wakasa-ya Yoichi I am grateful to Lucienne Parkan and Michel Ouellet for this image and information.

CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO MAIN PAGE