• Japan Through My Eyes
• Japan - No Problem
• Travels to the South: A Trip to the Other Japan
• Omiyage - Art of Gift Giving
• Ukiyoe: "The Floating World" Revealed
• Seto: Japan's Porcelain City

Ukiyoe: "The Floating World" Revealed

by Shawn Shepard

For as long as I can remember, Japan has been in my heart. I am an admirer of its history, culture and craftsmen. And the reasons are explained by ukiyoe, which has affected me profoundly.

On my most recent trip, I chose to stay at the new Mandarin Oriental Hotel, (www.mandarinoriental.co.jp/tokyo). One of the most important reasons was that it was located in the heart of Nihombashi, old Tokyo's most historic district.

A simple walk down almost any street reveals many ancient Edo period (Edo is the old name for modern day Tokyo) shops selling knives, seaweed, dry fish seasoning, ukiyoe, sweets and much more.

I envy those of you who have yet to discover ukiyoe because it is one the most fascinating of all Japanese art forms.

Even the word itself is full of nuance. Ukiyoe means "Picture of the Floating World" while ukiyo means "This life," implying fashion, the trends and lifestyles of Japan today. From these meanings came Ukiyoe, meaning "The Painting of the Life Style."

Ukiyoe's origins begin in the dusty past sometime after Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu moved Japan's capitol from Kyoto to Edo in 1603. When the many Daimyo (lords), their families and servants followed, Edo swiftly became the center for all sorts of new businesses, architecture and culture, attracting a huge and varied population.

Historically, the appreciation of paintings was only for the privileged class. During the Edo period the common people developed their own cultures.

It should surprise no one that the world of entertainment and pleasure with its famed actresses, actors and desirable courtesans inspired ukiyoe's first themes. Even today, these brilliant prints capture the bravura allure of these women had for the commoners.

The deeper your entry into ukiyoe, the more amazing it becomes. That is because ukiyoe is the magnificent result of traditional Japanese woodblock print-making - a complex and collaborative process involving several different artisans.

First, it would begin with men like Hokusai and Utamaro, great early-day ukiyoe artists, who would create unforgettable designs.

Second, these designs would go to a publisher who managed the work of the woodblock carver and the printing process.

Third, the publisher would submit the design to woodblock carver who created the necessary number of woodblocks, deciding on the number of colors to be used. He then would carve each woodblock - a separate block for each color. Often the finished print would require 10 to 20 blocks sometimes as many as 30.

Fourth, the publisher would decide the colors and patterns and, acting as advertising agent, would procure sponsors for the ukiyoe. For instance, Gofukuya, the famous kimono maker, might advertise its newest patterns by utilizing it on the kimono in the ukiyoe.

Finally, the ukiyoe would be printed.

There were many publishers of ukiyoe in the Edo era. Among them was IBASEN (www.ibasen.com), which was established in 1590. IBASEN moved to Edo with the Shogun, providing Japanese Washi-papers and bamboo goods to the court. The company finally became famous as a ukiyoe publisher that organized artists like Utagawa Toyokuni (the first Utagawa), Utagawa Kuniyoshi and Utagawa Hiroshige into a coherent economic unit.

It was late in the Edo period that IBASEN began to develop and sell fans (Uchiwa) and folding fans (Sensu) using the art of ukiyoe.

Today, IBASEN is the only publisher of ukiyoe in Japan and has pieces and paintings presently exhibited in the Boston Museum, the Metropolitan Museum in New York and Van Gogh Museum.

It was only a moment or two after I opened the door of IBASN that I met Mr. Nobuo Yoshida, the owner. He was kind enough to show me around the store where I found reasonably priced stationery and tapestries.

It occurred to me that this would be the perfect place to get some gifts for my friends who are also interested in the Japanese culture. I found a beautiful letter set utilizing the colors and patterns of ukiyoe. It was silk-screened on tosa-washi (traditional Japanese paper with traditional patterns and colors).

Mr. Yoshida explained that these were a copy of the original print from a series of 24 pictures called "Imayou Junikagetsu," which means "modern life in 12 months," created by Utagawa Toyokuni the First in 1822. Mr. Yoshida was kind of enough to spread out the pieces on a table so it could be viewed as a tableau - it was breathtaking.

Yoshida said, "This kind of work was called uchiwae, meaning painting for fans. It comes with two paintings, one on the front, the other on the back."

Each design motif shows the changing seasons with flowers and trees turning colors during the four seasons. And, of course, there is a beautiful woman from the pleasure quarter in the latest kimono fashion.

"Here is the uchiwa with one of the designs. With a thin bamboo stick of the fan and thin paper surface, you can spin the fan easily. With the paintings on front and back, it looks as if it's three-dimensional, a simple trick of animation," said Mr. Yoshida.

He continued, "Ukiyoe gives us interesting information about the lifestyles in Edo. You are also able to find messages in the colors and designs of the kimono. As you probably know, many foreign fashion designers and artists were inspired by ukiyoe, especially Europeans."

In fact, Jaques Chirac, President of France, purchased 12 Imayou-junikagetsu fans. As for me, I settled with the letter set and left IBASEN.

The Edo Tokyo Museum (http://www.edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp/english/index.html) located at Ryogoku near the Ryogoku Sumo Stable is an excellent source to learn more about ukiyoe as is the Ukiyo-e Ota Memorial Museum of Art in Harajuku.

After visiting these museums, I would advise returning to Nihombashi where you can compare the scenery of the past and present captured in the ukiyoe.

Ah, but the beautiful woman depicted in your favorite ukiyoe - she would be difficult to find anywhere. That might be because she only exists in your mind.