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The history of publisher IBASEN
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Timeless treasures.
We are committed to bringing only the best from the world
of exquisite
Japanese paintings and calligraphy directly to your home and
office. |
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Edo period
This period was started when Ieyasu Tokugawa became
a Shogun, a general, and settled in Edo (Tokyo) as a Miyako (capital)
in 1603. For about 300 years, administered by Samurai under the
rulership of Shogun Tokunagaﾕs family, Japan was closed to other
nations and severed any relationship with the world. For this reason,
the highly qualified Japanese culture was originated in the field
of furnishings, arts as well as entertainments of common people.
Before that, the culture was most likely to be developed only among
the people of high society, such as Samurai class, the nobility,
and priests. But in Edo, it was originated by ordinary people. These
people improved their living standard and educational level, and
in addition, they have left many wonderful works in arts, literature,
architecture, and in other fields. It can be said this Edo period
was one of the most brilliant age in Japanese history.
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| episode 2 |
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Ukiyoe
Before the middle ages, painting was only appreciated
in the privileged class such as Daimyo (Feudal lord) or the nobility.
However, in Edo period when ordinary people developed their own
culture, the painting was rapidly spread in the commoner. One of
the most famous arts was Ukiyoe, a print that was able to be produced
in large scale. Ukiyoe literally means ﾔan art of exhilarate and
exciting worldﾕ and itﾕs a wood-block-print that represents a life
style of people and portrait of beautiful ladies or actors. In the
beginning, Ukiyoe was block printing with only black ink and it
was retouched with colors. Shortly, it came in a few colors, and
at last it was developed in polychrome woodcut with more than 10
or 20 colors.
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| episode 3 |
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Evaluation of IBASEN's products at oversea.
Ibasen was first established by Kanzaemon Ibaya,
a merchant in Hamamatsu. So we recognize Ibasen was founded in 1590
when Kanzaemon Ibaya was born. At first, it mostly dealt in Japanse
Washi-paper and bamboo goods but in the latter time of Edo, it started
selling Uchiwa(fan), Sensu(folding type of fan) and Ukiyoe. Ibasen
became famous as a publisher of printings painted by popular artists
such as Toyokuni Utagawa the first, Kuniyoshi Utagawa, Hiroshige
Ando etcﾉThe Ibasen-produced Ukiyoe was called ﾔIbasen printﾕ with
its original emblem, shaped in circle with the number treee in the
center of the circle. This Ibasen print was highly evaluated not
only in Japan but in foreign countries and its works can be found
in British Museum, Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Metropolitan Museum
of Art in NY, Van Gogh Museum, and so on.
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| episode 4 |
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Sensu/Uchiwa
Uchiwa, a fan, has a long history and itﾕs even
found in the wall painting of ancient tomb of Takamatsuzuka which
was made in 7th or 8th century. The original model was a stick type
with round wood stuck at the top. Then the new type of Uchiwa called
ﾔCypress fanﾕ was produced It was new because it could be folded
up compact. It became the original form of present Sensu Then in
the period of Heian(794-1191), Sensu was mostly made of paper and
bamboo, and became portable to carry. This Sensu spread in China
and European countries, and was independently developed in each
place. On the other hand, Uchiwa was used as a military leadersﾕ
fan by a Busho, a general commander of Samurai, when he gave a commandments
to the soldiers. After a period, it also changed its style and the
materials to paper and bamboo. In Edo period, the mass production
became available due to a change of painting style from handwriting
to wood block print. Ibasen made full use of its talent as being
a publisher of Ukiyoe, it started producing the fans with a painting
of famous artists, Toyokuni Utagawa, Kuniyoshi Utagawa, Hiroshige
Ando etc |
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