Personalizable Edo Town Firefighters Nishiki-e Prints
Kyohashi Matsukin Store (KIN-YOSHA PRINTING CO., LTD.) (Tokyo)
This personalizable artwork allows you to commemorate the milestone for someone special by inscribing their name into the works by Chikashi Okada, renowned Nishiki-e woodblock print artist. The prints can be customized by inscribing the lanterns or keshifuda in the picture with any name. Chikashi Okada is the fourth-generation chef of Kyosushi, an established sushi restaurant founded in the early Meiji period (1868-1912), and has also been highly acclaimed as a Nishiki-e artist specializing in the famous town firefighters of Edo (present-day Tokyo during 1603-1868). He is also known for his other artworks including the CD jacket for the late jazz bassist Ray Brown, and book cover for Naoki Prize winning author Ichiriki Yamamoto.
In an age when fires were common in the densely populated city, these firefighters (machibikeshi) were admired among the townsfolk for bravely rushing to burning buildings and battling smokes and flames to protect the city, up until the start of the second World War. The lively portrayal of the firefighters is a positive symbol to ward off fire and disasters, evoking memories of the spirited machibikeshi that can still be found around Tokyo, and makes a neat gift for both the giver and receiver.
Chikashi Okada’s recent exhibits:
2018/2016: Inspiration Hall, Ginza Itoya
2014: “Tenka Festival and Sanno-san” exhibit, 3331 Arts Chiyoda
2014: Minami-Aoyama Gallery Salon de Fleur
Kyohashi Matsukin Store (KIN-YOSHA PRINTING CO., LTD.) (東京都中央区)
Genre: Interior/Fashion
Variation
11 artworks total
– Mikoshi (Sacred float) (396 mm × 305 mm)
– Koko wa Nihonbashi (Here is Nihonbashi) (319 mm × 257 mm)
– Machibikeshi A (Town firefighter A) (319 mm × 257 mm)
– Machibikeshi B (Town firefighter B) (319 mm × 257 mm)
– Josai Shofuku/Keshi-fuda (eliminating misfortune and inviting luck/plate to indicate which firefighter group stopped the spread of fire) (271 mm × 220 mm)
– Se-gumi Hashigo-nori (“Se” firefighter group and ladder performance) (473 mm × 276 mm)
– Sen-gumi Hashigo-nori (“Sen” firefighter group ladder performance) (531 mm × 276 mm)
– Ro-gumi Hashigo-nori (“Ro” firefighter group and ladder performance) (473 mm × 276 mm)
– I-gumi Hashigo-nori (“I” firefighter group and ladder performance) (473 mm × 276 mm)
– Su-gumi Hashigo-nori (“Su” firefighter group and ladder performance) (473 mm × 276 mm)
– Dai-ikku Nanakumi Seizoroi (gathering of the 7 firefighter groups of District 1) (1011 mm × 421 mm)
*Frame mount color: Three colors total
Kakishibu-iro (persimmon brown), Shiro-iro (beige), Koke-iro (dark moss green)
Price (excluding tax) ※ Please see the latest pricing and tax information on the company's home page.
JPY20,000 – JPY160,000 (all excluding tax)
– Mikoshi (Sacred float): JPY21,000
– Koko wa Nihonbashi (Here is Nihonbashi): JPY22,000
– Machibikeshi A (Town firefighter A): JPY22,000
– Machibikeshi B (Town firefighter B): JPY22,000
– Josai Shofuku / Keshi-fuda (Eliminating misfortune and inviting luck / plate to indicate which firefighter group stopped the spread of fire): JPY20,000
– Se-gumi Hashigo-nori (“Se” firefighter group and ladder performance): JPY30,000
– Sen-gumi Hashigo-nori (“Sen” firefighter group ladder performance): JPY35,000
– Ro-gumi Hashigo-nori (“Ro” firefighter group and ladder performance): JPY33,000
– I-gumi Hashigo-nori (“I” firefighter group and ladder performance): JPY33,000
– Su-gumi Hashigo-nori (“Su” firefighter group and ladder performance): JPY33,000
– Dai-ikku Nanakumi Seizoroi (Gathering of the 7 firefighter groups of District 1): JPY160,000