15 Shoka Soshu (Early Summer in Suchow) by Kitaoka Fumio 62
16 Face by Murai Masanari 64
17 The Flutist by Toneyama Kojin 65
18 Mure Chō A (Butterflies A) by Yoshida Chizuko 66
19 Light and Shadow by Yoshida Toshi 68
20 Kizashi or Omen by Yoshida Hodaka 69
21 Untitled work by Yamaguchi Gen 70
22 Ishi-no-hana (Haku-ō) or Stone Flower (White Yellow) by Hagiwara Hideo 71
23 Mushibamu (Eaten Away) by Shinagawa Takumi 73
24 Kūkan 34 (Space No. 34) by Yoshida Masaji 74
25 Jukusu or Ripening by Uchima Ansei 75
26 Tasteful, Kyoto Series No. 41 by Takahashi Rikio 76
27 Gin-no-taki (Silver Waterfall) by Iwami Reika 77
28 Correlation—Pair A by Amano Kazumi 79
29 Sakuhin 67.3 (Work 67.3) by Kusaka Kenji 80
30 Wave C by Ay-O 81
31 Forbidden Venture by Kurosaki Akira 82
32 Haku-en (White Flames) by Yuki Rei 84
33 M by Funasaka Yoshisuke 85
34 Iroha (the first syllables of a famous poem) by Shinoda Toko 87
35 Kokoro (Heart) or Work 74-50 by Maid Haku 88
36 Waratte (Laughing) by Ikeda Masuo 90
37 Ai (Love) by Yoshihara Hideo 91
38 Kodokuna-in-ei IV (Lonely Shadows IV) by Tamura Fumio 92
39 Untitled work by Minami Keiko 94
40 Kita-no-machi (Northern Town) by Shibuya Eiichi 95
41 Hanazono-no-seidō (Hanazono Convent Garden) by Watarai Junsuke 96
42 Katsura Moonlight by Clifton Karhu 99
43 From the Window by Kuroda Shigeki 101
44 Kyokuba Shissō (Running Horses) by Nakayama Tadashi 102
45 These Three Words by Takamatsu Jiro 103
46 Takuhatsu #2 (Friarhood #2) by Tanaka Ryohei 107
47 Natsu-no-heya (Summer Room) by Tanaka Ryohei 110
48 Asakusa Tanbo, Tori-no-machi Mōde (Asakusa Rice Paddies during the Tori-no-machi Festival) by Hiroshige 111
49 Soroban 305-S (Abacus 305-S) by Seldne Yoshio 119
50 Tsukiji Fish Market by Mori Yoshitoshi 121
51 Hai-iro-no-hito-bito (Gray-Colored People) by Kinoshita Tomio 123
52 House in Takaido by Clifton Karhu 125
53 Tensor 76-1 by Hara Takeshi 127
54 Megami (Goddess) by Sora Mitsuaki 129
55 Flight into Egypt by Watanabe Sadao 131
56 Kanjincho 5 (the name of a Kabuki play) by Takahashi Hiromitsu 133
57 Untitled work known as Seisō (Gala Dress) by Nakayama Tadashi 135
58 Untitled work by Saito Kiyoshi 137
59 Maiko by Sekino Jun'ichiro 139
60 Work 62 3 by Maki Haku 141
61 Naked Shoes by Ikeda Masuo 143
62 Aoi-daichi (2) (Earth in Blue [2]) by Hasegawa Yuichi 145
63 Starboard by Sawada Tetsuro 147
64 Procession by Hamanishi Katsunori 149
65 Kaseki or Fossil by Miyashita Tokio 151
66 Work 47 (Expectations) by Yoshida Katsuro 153
67 Form II by Izumi Shigeru 155
68 Major Scale by Funai Yutaka 157
69 Untitled work known as Penetration-1 by Tsubota Masahiko 159
70 Arihara-no-aki (Autumn in Arihara) by Tanaka Ryohei 161
71 Hana-shōbu 99 (Iris No. 99) by Sugiura Kazutoshi 163
72 Asa-no-hikari or Morning Light by Hoshi Joichi 165
73 Restful Time by Liao Shiou-ping 167
74 Snow Goddess by Oda Mayumi 169
75 Edge of Summer Lake by Matsubara Naoko 171
76 Ame-no-Rakanji (Rakan Temple in the Rain) by Hiratsuka Un'ichi 173
77 The Island That Became a Bird by Yayanagi Go 175
78 Koi-no-uta (Song of the Carp) by Mizufune Rokushu 177
79 Ascend by Shinoda Toko 179
80 Untitled work by Sugai Kumi 181
81 Diary: April 1st '88, in Nashville by Noda Tetsuya 183
82 Bunraku Sanka (Sou) (Praising Bunraku [Pedestal]) by Nishizawa Shizuo 185
83 Hyōten (Icy Point) by Imamura Yoshio 187
84 View 92-Pl BS by Tokuda Akira 189
85 Three Colors Paint by Taniguchi Shigeru 191
86 Shōjo to Gojunotō or Girl and Pagoda by Kimura Kosuke 193
87 O-Tama (a girl's name) by Takahashi Ushio 195
88 Kei (Scenery) by Ikegami Isao 197
89 Chirality by Nakazawa Shin'ichi 199
90 In Black 86-17 by Tsubamoto Tatsuro 201
91 Untitled work by Sasajima Kihei 203
92 Maru-ei No. 5 (Circular Shadow No. 5) by Iwami Reika 205
93 67-G by Onosato Toshinobu 207
94 Towada Lake by Yuse Yoshinori 209
95 Wave 81-J by Maruyama Hiroshi 211
96 Horyuji-tō (Horyu Temple-Pagoda) by Kawada Kan 213
97 Sasae (III) (Sustain [III]) by Kawachi Seiko 215
98 be-ing by Hiratsuka Yuji 217
99 Celebration by Wako Shuji 219
Acknowledgments
Without the wonderful artists whose works and selves have enriched our lives in every possible way, we would have nothing to write about, so it seems natural to thank them first and we do so from the bottom of our hearts.
Our interest in contemporary Japanese prints was first captured by the writings of James Michener and Oliver Statler, both of whom were pioneers in introducing these wonders to the Western world. Naturally we were ecstatic when Mr. Michener kindly agreed to Write the foreword to our book. We extend profound thanks to him.
While compiling the factual information about the artists, exhibitions, and collections, we turned to several sources to whom we remain very grateful for their cooperation. For providing detailed information we are indebted first of all to the artists and their families. Also of particular help were staff members of the Yoseido, Franell, Kato, Nantenshi, Bancho, Print Art Center, and Akira Ikeda galleries in Tokyo; the Yamada Gallery in Kyoto; the M&Y Office of Masuo Ikeda and Sato Yoko in Tokyo; the Hiratsuka Museum in Suzaka City; and the Striped House Museum in Tokyo. We also wish to thank the magazines Hanga Geijutsu and 21 Seiki Hanga for special assistance in tracking down obscure information. Everyone provided cheerful and unstinting responses to our many phone calls concerning who did what when.
Very special thanks must be extended to Ushizawa Fujio of the Yoseido Gallery and Kato Tatsuo of the Kato Gallery. Both have been dear friends all along the way, first as helpful advisors when we began collecting, then as willing consultants when we started our business, and later as steadfast supporters when we became business associates and friendly competitors. Perhaps our first real feelings of success as gallerists