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We specialize in kamigata-e, original eighteenth to twentieth century Japanese woodblock prints from Osaka and the surrounding region. We also offer nineteenth-century Edo prints and twentieth-century art works from Osaka, Tokyo, and other regions of the world. Our inventory is comprehensive and always changing, with a broad range of artists and prices.
Gallery: Our Sales Gallery is arranged by genre and artist. Each print is accompanied by a full description.
Articles and More: We offer Articles on topics related to Osaka prints, many covering aspects of Japanese printmaking that have been overlooked in the standard literature. Essays on other topics can be found at Varia. We also maintain an Archive of the information pages for all sold prints. An extensive Glossary, artists' Biographies, and detailed Bibliography serve as additional resources.
Contacts: You may write to us or E-mail us with your questions or requests to purchase Osaka prints, drawings, and paintings — see Contact Us and Conditions of Sale.
Links: Here we recommend Other Websites with information and images related to Osaka prints.
Search: Provides text/keyword and image searches. See the Search Page.
Video: Offers an introduction to the art of kamigata-e (Osaka video).
 Spring Sale 2025
Dear friends,
We are pleased to announce a new spring 2025 update to our website that features 28 prints notable for their rarity or exceptional condition, or both.
Among the Kamigata-e, historically our principal area of focus, special attention should be paid to the high number of prints with striking compositions — in the landscape as well as Kabuki genres. Note in particular highly original compositions by Hironobu and Hokuei, the latter represented, as well, by a sui generis fan print that transcends both genres.
(On the subject of Hokuei, my web partner's catalogue raisonnée on that superlative artist has been received very well by reviewers and the public. See the description below.)
Edo prints this update are few, but on offer is a stunningly well-preserved benizuri-e by the important mid-18th century artist Torii Kiyomitsu, in addition to a fun backstage Kabuki scene by Yoshiiku.
Twentieth-century prints comprise an increasingly important feature of this website. Mid-century masters like Onchi and Kawanishi Hide can be found here, as well as pieces from the first-ever Shin Hanga landscape series. And, rounding out the century, please enjoy contributions to the glory of Japanese printmaking by two celebrated Westerners.
As always, our goal has been to describe each print as fully as possible, and offer it at reasonable cost. We hope you take a moment to view the update, and we look forward to hearing from you.
Once again, please note the newly released Hokuei, Master of Osaka Kabuki Prints, by John Fiorillo.
I am extremely proud to announce the publication, following twenty years of focused collecting and a decade of scholarly research, of John's authoritative 280-page catalog raisonné on Shunbaisai Hokuei.
 Readers of this website are certainly familiar with the name Hokuei (act. 1828–36), and many know his more celebrated designs. However, it is safe to say that until now very few people (anywhere in the ukiyo-e world) had a secure grasp of the scale of Hokuei’s oeuvre or his correct place in Kamigata ukiyo-e history.
For this book, John exhaustively sourced impressions of the 270 known Hokuei designs. This was a demanding labor in itself, but one that proved worthwhile thanks to the fastidious color-proofing and almost unprecedentedly elegant design on the part of the art book publisher Ludion. This is one catalog raisonné where even the thumbnails stand out, to say nothing of the more than fifty full-page highlighted designs.
Thanks to an introductory essay and extensive appendices, plus an in-depth glossary, readers can absorb not only the scale of Hokuei’s artistic achievements as a culminating figure in Kamigata printmaking, but also become acquainted with the larger culture of Kamigata kabuki that included playwriting, actor idolatry, publishing and printmaking artisanry. Hokuei: Master of Osaka Kabuki Prints serves as a near-encyclopedia of Kamigata ukiyo-e during its golden age.
Japan residents can order the book directly from this website (¥10,000 with free shipping). All others should use their local Amazon website, or inquire at their bookseller of choice.
Cheers,
Peter Ujlaki
Spring Sale 2025
Mailing List: If you would like to be informed directly about our updates, please contact us.
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