Gallery 8: Matchbox Prints

Hasegawa Sadanobu III (1881-1963) — **Hasegawa Sadanobu III** (1881-1963)

Shoki the Demon Queller. 1920s to 1930s. 3.6 x 5.5 cm

The miniature woodblock prints in this gallery were designed as matchbox labels. The collecting of matchbox labels, like the collection of other ephemera in Japan, became popular shortly after their introduction in the late 1800s. In 1903, the Japanese Association of Matchbox Label Collectors was established. The majority of the labels in this collection are affixed within a collector’s book or came from another large collection, both dating to the 1920s or 1930s. Others derive from smaller sets designed around specific themes (e.g. women, historical events). These prints represent some of the smallest of Japanese miniatures. The most elaborate of these labels are a testimony to the amazing skill of the carvers and printers who produced them.

Most matchbox prints do not have an identifiable artist. Information will be added as it becomes available. Additional matchbox prints can be seen in Galleries 8A (Theater Matchbox Series) and 8B (Landscape Matchbox Series). Prints are approximately 3.1-3.3 by 5.1-5.2 cms in size unless otherwise indicated.

This set of matchbox prints illustrates the seven lucky gods (shichi fukujin).

Bijin-ga Japanese WB Matchbox print envelope .png

Hasegawa Sadanobu III (Konobu III) (1881-1963)

Kyoto Beauties: Twelve Maiko. Twelve matchbox prints with envelope. August, 1930.

Bijin-ga+Japanese+WB+Matchbox+Behind+a+screen+3.4+x+5.2+cm.jpg

Bijin-ga+Japanese+WB+Matchbox+Purple+Kimono+3.4+x+5.2+cm.jpg

Bijin-ga+Japanese+WB+Matchbox.+Looking+down+from+balcony+3.4+x+5.1+cm.jpg

Bijin-ga+Japanese+WB+Matchbox+Fan+Dance+3.4+x+5.2+cm.jpg

Bijin-ga+Japanese+WB+Matchbox+Reading+a+Letter+.jpg

Bijin-ga+Japanese+WB+Matchbox+Lantern+3.4+x+5.2+cm.jpg

Bijin-ga+Japanese+WB+Matchbox.+Tying+note+to+tree.+3.4+x+5.2+cm.jpg

Bijin-ga+Japanese+WB+Matchbox.+On+Balcony.+3.4+x+5.1+cm.jpg

Bijin-ga+Japanese+WB+Matchbox+Viewin+Fire+Festival+3.4+x+5.2+cm.jpg

Bijin-ga+Japanese+WB+Matchbox.+With+umbrella+3.4+x+5.2+cm.jpg

Bejin-ga%2Bframed%2B3.4%2Bx%2B5.2%2B.jpg

Bijin-ga+Japanese+WB+Matchbox+Holding+Bowl+3.4+x+5.2+cm.jpg

Samurai.+Purple+and+red+clothes.+WB+Matchbox+print.+1920s+to+1930s.+3.3+x+5.1+cm.+.jpg

Miniature+Matchbox+Cover.+3.2+x+5.0+cm.++.jpg

Unidentified+artist.+Matchbox+print.+Bearded+man.

Unidentified+artist.+Lucky+god.+Long+earlobes.

Woman+with+Gold+Headress.+WB+Matchbox+print.+1920s+to+1930s.+3.3+x+5.1+cm.++.jpg

Unidentified+artist.+WB+Matchbox+Woman+and+Smoking+Man.+3.3+x+5.1+cm.+.jpg

Cartoon head with mustache and beard. WB Matchbox print. 1920s to 1930s. 3.3 x 5.1 cm. .png

Buddha.+WB+Matchbox+Pirnt.+1920s+to+1930s.+3.3+x+5.1+cm.++.jpg

New Year Greetings (Undated) — *New Year Greetings (*Undated)

Fence+Lantern+Cherry+Tree+3.2+x+5.1+cm.jpg

Matchbox. Woman with Man in Western Dress.

Hasegawa Yoshiichiro (Giichiro?)Lingering Snow at Shiroi. — Hasegawa Yoshiichiro (Giichiro?)
*Lingering Snow at Shiroi.*

Probable+fish+toy+or+aumlet.+WB+Matchbox+print.+1920s+to+1930s.+.jpg

Matchbox print. Three Boats and Storehouses.

Matchbox print. Chrysanthemum (Blue Background).

*October or November: Autumn Leaf Viewing*

The prints in this section are singed by the artist Yamakawa Seisen and came from a collection of matchbox prints owned by a family whose ancesters were woodblock carvers and matchbox print collectors. The second image text reads Shukuseikai and Japan Rinka Renmei.

Lion Dance Mask. 8.5 x 5.3 cm — *Lion Dance Mask.* 8.5 x 5.3 cm

The following set of 24 matchbox prints depict different aspects of the story Chūshingura (The Treasury of Loyal Retainers) which recounts an episode at the begininng of the eighteenth century in which forty seven-ronin (samaria without a lord or master) avenged the death of their master, Asano Naganori. The story has been told in multiple formats including kabuki, bunraku, novels, film, and television. Most of these prints refer to specific scenes for the play although several also depict ronin who play minor parts in the stage production.

Act 1: Enya Hangan's wife Refuses to Accept a Love Letter from Moronao — *Act 1:* *Enya Hangan's wife Refuses to Accept a Love Letter from Moronao*

Act 3: Enya Hangan Attacking Moronao — *Act 3:* *Enya Hangan Attacking Moronao*

Act 4: Enya Hangan about to Commit Seppuku — *Act 4:* *Enya Hangan about to Commit* *Seppuku*

Act 4: Enya Hangan's Retainer's Rushing to Hangan's Castle with Instructions How to Proceed — *Act 4:* *Enya Hangan's Retainer's Rushing to Hangan's Castle with Instructions How to Proceed*

Act 4: Okaru Persuades Kanpei Not to Kill Himself — *Act 4:* *Okaru Persuades Kanpei Not to Kill Himself*

Act 4: Yuranosuke After Surrendering the Castle — *Act 4:* *Yuranosuke After Surrendering the Castle*

Act 5: Sadakurō after Robbing and Killing Yoichibei — *Act 5:* *Sadakurō after Robbing and Killing Yoichibei*

Act 7: Kudayū Trying to Spy on Yuranosuke's Letter — *Act 7:* *Kudayū Trying to Spy on Yuranosuke's Letter*

Act 7: Heiemon Ready to Kill Okaru — *Act 7:* *Heiemon Ready to Kill Okaru*

Act 7: Yuranosuke Acts Drunk and Dissipated as Moronao's Spy Kudayū Looks at Him — *Act 7:* *Yuranosuke Acts Drunk and Dissipated as Moronao's Spy Kudayū Looks at Him*

Act 9: Kakogawa Honzō Disguised as a Komusō Outside Yuranosuke's House — *Act 9:* *Kakogawa Honzō Disguised as a* *Komusō* *Outside Yuranosuke's House*

*Ōishi Kuranosuke Presents Blank Paper as a Passport to Tachibana Sakon*

Ronin Horibe Yasubei' Duel at Takadanobaba — *Ronin* *Horibe Yasubei'* *Duel at Takadanobaba*

Act 11: Breaking into Moronao's Palace — *Act 11:* *Breaking into Moronao's Palace*

*Act 11: Fighting Inside Moronao's Palace*

Act 11: Fighting in the Garden of Moronao's Palace — *Act 11:* *Fighting in the Garden of Moronao's Palace*

Act 11: Capture of Moronao — *Act 11:* *Capture of Moronao*

*Postscript: Carrying Moronao's head to their Master's Grave*

*Postscript: Ronin Present Moronao's Head at Their Master's Grave*

The following set of matchbox prints depict the different ronin and others in the story Chūshingura (The Treasury of Loyal Retainers). As noted above, the story recounts an episode at the beginning of the eighteenth century in which forty-seven ronin (samaria without a lord or master) avenged the death of their master, Asano Naganori. This appears to be an incomplete set, as there are only 44 portraits. Images are approximately 3.6 x 5.4 cm.

This set of 42 images of Bijin-ga (Beautiful Woman prints) was reportedly printed in the 1920s. The images appear to be adaptations of various elements of works by the artist Kitagawa Utamaro (c. 1753 – 1806). Images (without margins) are approximately 3.3 x 5.1 cm in size.