A New Publication from Kiseido

Japanese Prints and the World of Go

A Beautiful Book on Go and Art



Since 2000, one section of Kiseido's web site has featured a collection of Japanese prints (ukiyo-e) with go themes. We have now published Japanese Prints and the World of Go, a book based on the contents of that site.

The 75 prints featured in this book were carefully selected and are shown in full-color. Included are 23 new prints that were not in the original web site. Each print is accompanied by an extensive and exhaustively researched commentary to provide the reader with a deep understanding and appreciation of the print's content and the artist's intention.

This book will enlarge the understanding of go players who may be unaware of the long historical and legendary background of go by presenting works that reveal some of the traditions and associations connected with the game in Japan's cultural life.

      
Organization of the Book

Part 1F Go Themes in Woodblock Prints
A collection of essay's tracing go's cultural heritage from ancient China through to the Edo period (1600-1868) in Japan. This part consists of the following ten chapters.
Chapter 1: The Immortals
Chapter 2: The Four Accomplishments
Chapter 3: General Guan Yu
Chapter 4: Grand Minister Kibi at the Tang Court
Chapter 5: Prince Genji
Chapter 6: Raiko and the Ground Spider
Chapter 7: Go-Board Tadanobu
Chapter 8: The Temple of the Golden Pavilion
Chapter 9: The Gallant Jiraiya
Chapter 10: Scenes of Daily Life

Part 2F Color Plates
This 80-page section presents 75 prints in full color, depicting scenes from the stories in Part 1. Among the great ukiyo-e artists whose works are shown are: Toyokuni I, Toyokuni III (Kunisada), Kuniyoshi, Kunichika, Utamaro, Harunobu, Kyosai, Yoshitoshi, Sharaku, and Hokusai. The works of these artists represent the various periods and genres in the history of ukiyo-e.

Part 3F Commentaries on the Prints
Each of the prints presented in Part 2 is explained in detail. Interesting features of the prints are pointed out and the poems and inscription are translated into English.

Specifications

[Title]   Japanese Prints and the World of Go
[Authors]   William Pinckard and Akiko Kitagawa
[Languages]   Bi-lingual: English and Japanese side by side
[Format]   Soft cover; 29.6 cm x 21 cm (11.7 inches x 8.5 inches)
[Number of pages]   204 pages
[Publication date]@   Now available
[ISBN]   978-4-906574-30-8