(Kyoto) Woodblock print "Gion" by Kenji Takenaka, Takezasa-do

Off the busy main street, neat townhouses and cobblestone pavement continue.

No matter when you walk, the path toward the Tatsumi-bashi Bridge area, which still retains a glamorous atmosphere, is always quiet and elegant.

These woodblock prints depict such everyday scenes of Kyoto.

About our products

Echizen Washi (Housho-gami), made from high quality Kozo paper produced in Echizen, Fukui Prefecture, is used for woodblock prints. It is the finest handmade Japanese paper for woodblock prints.

It is painted using the traditional printing technique of "hand-printed woodblock prints," in which the pattern carved into the wood is colored on the paper one color at a time.

Woodblock print artist Kenji Takenaka

Kenji Takenaka, the creator of Ishibe Koji, is the fifth generation of Takenaka Mokuhan He is the fifth generation of Takenaka Mokuhan. He learned the art of woodblock printing from the current head of the company, Seihachi Takenaka, from an early age.

He captures his subjects with bold compositions and colors, and has a unique view of the world with his simple yet profound expressions.

He holds exhibitions in Kyoto and other cities, and proposes new ways to enjoy woodblock prints, not only by creating artworks, but also by offering designs using woodblock prints to companies.

Some of his works are in the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Honolulu Museum of Art, and through local workshops and woodblock prints, he has deepened exchanges and is active both in Japan and abroad. 

About the brand "Takezasa-do

Takenaka Mokuhanga was founded in Kyoto in 1891 and has carried on the diverse techniques of Kyoto printmaking for over 130 years, from reproductions of Japanese paintings to commercial printing.

The current owner, Seihachi Takenaka, researched old techniques and passed them on to the younger generation, while the fifth generation, Kenji Takenaka, established Takezasa-do, creating new work and selling woodblock prints and paper stationery in his store.

Yuko Harada, the sixth generation, became popular for her fusion of traditional and modern designs, and Takezasa-do grew.

Currently, he is also involved in product packaging utilizing woodblock prints and restoration of old prints, always pursuing new possibilities.

Size

Painting: approx. 11 cm (length) x 15 cm (width)
Paper: approx. 13.5 cm (length) x 18.5 cm (width)

[Notes.

No frame is attached.

The edition number cannot be specified.

The color of the product may differ from the actual product from the image shown on the website due to light.