Wada Sanzo: Kendo Instructor (First Edition)

Artist: Wada Sanzô (1883-1967)
Title: No.22 Kendo Instructor (kendô shihan sono nijû-ni)  Date: 1941

Series: Pictures of Professions during the Shôwa Period  (Shôwa shokugyô ezukushi) 

Kendo Instructor. Here we are taken inside the dôjô, the kendo training hall itself. To the right we see the teacher in white, donning his mask. His gloves are still on the ground in front of him, to be put on following the process of adjusting his head covering. To the left we see the student in a dark uniform with his bamboo training sword (shinai) also on the ground; the student is crouching low in a position that seems to indicate deference.  At the back we can see the rack of shinais on the wall, as well as two students facing off in practice.

There is a commentary that is included on a separate sheet with the woodblock print; it is machine-printed in Japanese and includes a small, tipped-in image of the print. The Japanese text may be translated as follows: Instructor of Kendô: “As a nationalistic and classic profession, the interest in this branch has been strongly increasing. I cannot believe that training with a bamboo sword is the direct way of fighting with a real sword, and the direct exercise for a real battle, but I may say that as sport it furnishes good elements in its nature. It should be considered as a good training for the person with or without the sword. I think the battle with sword has similar stylistic and ceremonial elements of sumo, which is characteristic to Japanese. The very strict rules for a match of sumo, such as touching one finger on the dohyô ground disqualifies; and in kendo below the torso remains unprotected. This is one example of spirit which creates the style of refined elements common in all things in Japanese culture.” 

From a limited edition of 300 prints, this is number 22 of the second series. This print is from the original pre-war series by the publisher Nishinomiya Shoin, not from a later post-war edition by Kyoto Hanga-In. It contains the original series title and official round red seal at the lower right corner. Artist signature and seal are lower left.

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition. Minor discoloration in right margin.  Dimensions: 29.4 x 41.9 cm
Signature: Sanzôart  

SKU: SAN001