Designs inspired by butterfly wings, by Shimomura Gyokuko

Kochōshiki (Expressions of butterflies)

Creative designs for brocade-embroidered pouches

Kintaichō (A gathering of brocade bags)

Over one hundred colour woodblock-printed designs for kimono

Kuretake (Henon bamboo)

Striking designs by Ogino Issui

Zuan hyakudai (Designs on one hundred themes)

One hundred patterns from the capital

Tomon hyakka (One hundred flowers of patterns from the capital)

New Arrivals

On John Manjiro, one of the first Japanese residents of the US
Ikoku monogatari: Nakanohama Manjirō (Story of a foreign country: Nakanohama Manjirō), Kaei 5 (1852).

Christmas wishes, printed with a metallic pigment
(Untitled woodblock print), ca. Taishō period (1910-20s)

A bibliographically interesting manuscript
Shozōki (Miscellaneous notes), ca. Meiji period (1880-1900s)

On the origins of Edo's pleasure quarters
Hokujoryo kigen shōsho (Origins of the northern pleasure district, abridged), ca. Ganji period (1864-1865)

A red-light parody of pedagogical maxims
Odoke Jitsugokyō: irozato machijū anazukushi, shohen (A witty Jitsugokyō: all sorts of tales from around the pleasure quarters, first part), Tenpō 2 (1831)

Japan's most famous beauty bible
Miyako fūzoku kewaiden (Cosmetic customs of the capital), preface dated Bunka 10 (1813)

Hōzuki Books : Rare Japanese Books, Manuscripts, Prints, and Scrolls

At Hōzuki Books we specialise in Japanese translations of Western texts, early Japanese texts on Australia and New Zealand, and modern and classic Japanese illustrated books. We strive to provide clients with rare and fine Japanese books, manuscripts, prints, and scrolls on these and other subjects.