On June 18, a symposium commemorating the foundation of the newly renovated Josai University Mizuta Museum of Art was held at the Kioicho campus. Adopting the theme of “Color and Technique in Early Modern Woodblock Prints,”this year’s symposium attracted more than 180 scholars and admirers of ukiyo-e.

The symposium featured presentations on the technique and use of color applied in a wide variety of Edo period woodblock prints from four foreknown scholars in the ukiyo-e and early modern woodblock print field: Chiba City Museum of Art Director Kobayashi Tadashi and Chief Curator Tanabe Akiko, Shizuoka Municipal Art Museum Curator Fukudo Yūya, and Kibi International University Professor Shitayama Susumu.

First, Sunil Bald, architect for Studio SUMO, the planners of the new Mizuta Museum of Art, explained the concept behind the building’s design. Mr. Kobayashi then gave his keynote lecture “Colorful Expression in Ukiyo-e Prints,” explaining the history of ukiyo-e through an analysis of the use of color and printing techniques in works by Suzuki Harunobu, Kitagawa Utamaro, and others, while showing slides to illustrate his points.

This was followed by a live demonstration of woodblock printing with commentary from Nakayama Shū of the Adachi Woodblock Studies Institute and woodblock artist Nakata Noboru performing a recreation of Sharaku’s“Matsumoto Yonesaburo as Shosho of Kewaizaka.” The presentation revealed the intricate carving methods and high-level of technique involved, with the two later fielding questions from the audience.

The research papers covered a variety of topics within Edo-based ukiyo-e and Kansai woodblock prints, from use of color and technique to the types of paint used, with scholars presenting the fruits of their most recent research. Ms. Tanabe’s paper was entitled, “The Beginnings of Color Woodblock Prints and Distribution: Focusing on Suzuki Harunobu,” while Mr. Fukudo discussed, “Kansai Woodblock Prints and Itō Jakuchū,” and Mr. Shitayama presented hi paper on, “Analysis of Coloration in Woodblock Prints Through the Use of Nondestructive Testing.”

Discussion was mediated by JIU School of Humanities Associate Professor of International Culture, Kadowaki Mutsumi, with attendees asking questions on topics such as the difference between Edo and Kansai prints and all four panelists offering their expert opinions, making the session a highly informative one.

This year’s symposium was a great success, as it offered a rare opportunity to get to know the newly expanded Mizuta Museum of Art that is scheduled for completion in late November. For all of those who attended the symposium, we hope that it gave you a chance to experience the depth and variety of early modern ukiyo-e and appreciate the charm of these great works.