I gave a lecture at the “Edo Culture Experience Day” on Sunday, August 24th, 2025. Many people attended. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone.

The program for the day included a talk by me titled “Tsutaya Juzaburo and Yoshiwara: The Creators of the Golden Age of Ukiyo-e and Jihon Culture,” as well as a demonstration of printing Utamaro’s “Girl Blowing a Poppin'” by Master Matsuzaki, a printer with over 70 years of experience. Abe from Tochigi City gave a deep talk on Utamaro titled “Tochigi and Utamaro.” The event consisted of three parts in total. We also held a workshop alongside the event where people could try their hand at being a printer, which proved a great success, with well over 100 people enrolled, ranging from children to seniors, in the limited event.

　We held an event at the Taiga Drama Museum, and it was a real experience to see how much interest fans of the drama have shown in ukiyo-e and jihon prints as a result of the drama. Due to time limitations at the event, we were only able to give a superficial introduction to the works, but there were also many in-depth questions, so we plan to hold an event next time where we can have even more in-depth discussions.

[Printer: Master Matsuzaki]

This time, we had a demonstration of the famous “Girl Blowing Poppin’.” This was a demonstration with the intention of actually selling the finished ukiyo-e. Naturally, no shortcuts were taken. I also requested a few adjustments, such as color. This year, news broke that an original painting had been discovered. Using this as a reference, I asked the artist to make the mica print in the background redder than usual. I also adjusted the colors of the kimono pattern. Like Tsutaya Juzaburo, I’m sure he and the printer engaged in similar exchanges during the finishing process.

For “Girl Blowing Poppin’,” four woodblocks are used on both sides. Eight colors of pigment are used. Initially, the artist used the main board and completed the ground markings at home. On the day of the event, only the color printing was done at the venue. Since mica printing produces dust, the artist completed the printing at home. Visitors learned that even the same poppin’s prints are never the same, not only due to differences in era, but also due to the carver’s and printer’s techniques and subtle differences in presentation. The beauty of handmade woodblocks is that each piece is unique, making each one unique. On the other hand, we cannot mass-produce exactly the same thing.

The finished product will be framed and available for purchase in stores and on Ukiyo-e Cafe Tsutaju’s official online store. We’ll post photos of the finished product. Ukiyo-e also makes a perfect gift. Please give it to a loved one. You can write a message on the original woodblock gift card. Fresh “Girl Playing Poppin'” will be available in September. Please wait a little longer for the online store information.

[Tochigi and Utamaro]

Have you heard of Utamaro’s masterpiece, “Setsugekka”? This mysterious, hand-painted masterpiece, a triptych over three meters wide, is a masterpiece. Painted by Utamaro in his later years, it depicts a luxurious and realistic scene at a brothel. The images of the prostitutes, dressed in colorful costumes and applying the then-popular bamboo beni makeup, make this a valuable piece of history of the entertainment industry. Unfortunately, the originals have been exported overseas and are no longer available to view, but if you visit the Tochigi City Museum of Art, you can get up close and personal with three high-resolution reproductions: “Snow over Fukagawa,” “Moon over Shinagawa,” and “Flowers of Yoshiwara.”

It’s not widely known, but in his later years, Utamaro was patronized by Tochigi’s Zenno clan, who commissioned him to create original paintings. Thanks to this connection, there was a time when up to seven of Utamaro’s original paintings were stored. Even one would be priceless! He also traveled to Nikko with three other people: Tsutaya Juzaburo, Tsuruya-san, and Sankyoden. It’s possible that they had connections with the kyoka poet Tochigi at the time. Be sure to visit Tochigi to see Utamaro’s original paintings!