Tomikichiro Tokuriki: Night View of Dotonbori, Osaka (SOLD)

Artist: Tomikichiro Tokuriki (1902-2000)

Title: Night View of Dotonbori, Osaka  Date: 1941, June

Series: 100 Views of New Japan 新日本百景 (Shin Nihon Hyakkei)

The Dotonbori canal reflects the bright array of neon signage that towers in a futuristic display above the waterfront. The district was already heavily illuminated with neon signage promoting theaters, cafes and restaurants by the mid 1930s. The bridge spanning the canal is shown here crowded with people enjoying the nightlife. Not too long after this print was designed, escalating wartime austerity regulations led to bans on neon lighting, so this is a record of a rather short-lived view of this prewar era of neon.

Dotonbori is still Osaka’s most lively entertainment area, renowned for its bright neon lights and huge variety of bars and restaurants.

More than thirty sosaku-hanga print artists collaborated to create this series of prints, published between 1938-41, as regional conflicts eventually ignited into World War II. Only 39 were ever issued; the last 29 were edited by Maekawa Senpan. According to the Art Gallery of New South Wales website, publication of this series was stopped by the Japanese authorities during WWII who feared that the interior of Japan would become known to its enemies. This would not be surprising given the paranoia of wartime, but it is also probable that there were other factors, including limited supplies and artists conscripted into the war machine.

The series title is stamped on the right margin in red, and the name of the artist’s group “Nihon Hanga Kyokai Sen” is stamped lower left. 

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition. Never framed. The artist’s name has been written in pencil lower right margin, but it is not known if this was written by the artist himself.

Literature: See British Museum website, National Museum of Asian Art. 

 Dimensions: 25 x 33 cm

SKU: SNH011