Japanese Dolls

Japanese Dolls: The Fascinating World of Ningyo, has a wealth of information for Japanese art collectors such as myself. I am planning to visit Japan in a few weeks and I bought this book to help me select souvenirs. It is a nice coffee table book too.

The book is full of beautiful photographs and details 18 different kinds of widely collected antique and vintage dolls and figurines (ningyo). Author Alan Scott Pate writes in detail about the history of each type of doll and shares practical tips on how to collect this amazing Japanese art form. Information on several artists who create the dolls is also included.

Included in this guide to Japanese dolls are:

• Festival dolls: hina-ningyo, musha-ningyo, tableau dolls

• Display dolls: saga-ningyo, gosho-ningyo, isho-ningyo, iki-ningyo

• Wood dolls: kamo-ningyo, nara-ningyo, kokeshi-ningyo

• Clay dolls: fushimi-ningyo, hakata-ningyo

• Mechanical dolls: karakuri-ningyo, kobe-ningyo

• Theatrical dolls: bunraku-ningyo, takeda-ningyo

• Play dolls: ichimatsu-ningyo, keue saiko

It's amazing to me that there are so many different names for the dolls. Perhaps we have similar descriptions for types of dolls in English but at the moment I can't think of any. Personally, I am interested in festival and wood dolls. The history and traditions of them was interesting reading as was the information on how to care for them. At the end of the book is a list of dealers in Japan, the U. S. and Europe. If I run out of money in Japan at least I know that I can still get them.

Most of the pages are filled with photos. This is a wonderful book to peruse off an on. It's relaxing to read a few pages with a cup of coffee. 5 out of 5 stars.

Ogi: A History of the Japanese Fan

Ogi, A History of the Japanese Fan is an over-sized picture book on Japanese fans. It comes inside an impressive gold binder. Per Wikipedia, Ogi (扇) is a "folding fan thought to have originated in Japan in the 7th century, initially made of thin strips of bamboo or cypress threaded together. Fans were not only a practical way to keep cool, but also used to communicate important information and were status symbols in the samurai and upper classes." To me it's a coffee table book, but one with information for buyers of these gorgeous fans.

The book consists primarily of 112 pages photos of fans, with small paragraph descriptions interspersed, throughout the book. The authors, from the British Museum, have divided the fans into fifteen eras, from 10,000 BCE to the present. They have then organized fans into three categories: traditional Japanese fans, Japanese export fans and advertising, commemorative and contemporary fans. Each of these categories contain fans from their inception in 10,000 BCE to the present. Basically, Ogi is a museum book for an exhibition of fans in Britain. It has outstanding photos and I love to peruse its pages for relaxation.

Art lovers will enjoy this book. 5 out of 5 stars.

Kokeshi Dolls

I bought this book on Japanese kokeshi dolls in order to prepare for an upcoming trip to Japan. I know that I will be buying some arty souvenirs and these wooden dolls have peaked my interest. The book offers an inside look at kokeshi dolls from the woodworkers behind their design to their important cultural significance. You can see the simplicity and charm of these traditional Japanese dolls. They are known for their cylindrical shape and distinctive absence of arms and legs. Originally crafted as children's toys in Japan's Tohoku region in the mid 1800s, these dolls have evolved into sought-after collector's items, inspiring renowned architects and artists worldwide.

In this visual guide, readers will find the following:

• An overview of the various Kokeshi doll types

• How kokeshi dolls are crafted, including information on tools and woods used

• Interviews with leading kokeshi craftspeople worldwide

• Detailed information on both traditional and modern Kokeshi dolls

• An exploration of the cultural significance, both historically and in the post-earthquake and tsunami rebuilding efforts of northern Japan in 2011

• A guide to visiting Japan's kokeshi regions

• Tips on purchasing these dolls directly from Japanese artisans or through global stockists

Filled with artist interviews, gorgeous photos and firsthand travel experience, author Manami Okazaki has created a book to be enjoyed by all, from serious collectors to woodcrafters, interior designers, architects, armchair travelers and anyone with an interest in Japanese culture and travel. Kokeshi dolls are crafted in 12 different styles. I would list them but few folks would understand the words. Basically, the styles are named after the region in which they were created. This book has separate chapters on each style of doll.

The book has been a fantastic resource for me. I know what styles I like and want to purchase. Also, I know which artisans that I want to buy from but am still not sure how to find their studios. I will need a Japanese interpreter for sure. There are several photos on each page which makes for a fun coffee table book. 

Kokeshi Dolls is a fantastic resource for art lovers and I am rating it 5 out of 5 stars.

A History of Modern Manga

A History of Modern Manga details the 71 year history of manga in Japan. Thanks to its double page spreads, it can be read in three different ways. If you read only the even numbered pages, you can follow the evolution of manga over seven decades. If you read only the odd numbered pages, you will find portraits of more than seventy artists who have made their mark on the history of Japanese comics. A third way to read this book is the traditional way where you can immerse yourself in the socioeconomic and cultural context of every year from 1952 through 2022. 

How did manga emerge? Amid reconstruction after World War II, Japan saw the emergence of modern manga, which quickly became a favorite pastime of its citizens. Over the decades, the art form bore witness to the anxieties and dreams of several generations of Japanese citizens, reflecting both dark and joyful experiences. Manga is also linked to the social, economic, political, and cultural evolution of Japan. Essential to the daily lives of its inhabitants and to its economy, manga is one of the drivers of the international development of one of the world’s largest economies. 

After I attempted to read the book in the traditional way, page by page, I got bogged down in all of the details, remembering nothing. I went back to the beginning and read the book via its even numbered pages and later via its odd numbered pages. This is really the only way to absorb all of the information in the book. 

I found the Glossary at the beginning of the book helpful. Thirty words are translated from Japanese into English. A few of them are josei, manga for adult women, and shojo, manga for female teens aged twelve to eighteen. A partial history of Japan follows the Glossary before delving into the subject matter of the book.

The book is hardcover with color on each page. It would make a lovely coffee table book that guests in your home will want to take a look at every time they visit. I enjoyed reading it but note that it is probably best to read it in small doses because of it's comprehensive nature. 

5 out of 5 stars.

Yellow

Yellow is the latest installment in a series by Michel Pastoureau on the history of colors. Previously he has written about red, blue, black and green. The book was a bear to get through. It has been written like a textbook, quite scholarly. My interest in the book was peaked because I am an artist. However, when I bought it it was wrapped in plastic so I was unable to preview its pages. Had I seen how difficult it is to read I would have passed it up. That said, reading each section several times was helpful. I was able to remember many facts about my favorite color.

The book is divided into three sections. We initially have a section devoted to yellow's usage as a beneficial color, i.e., from ancient times to the fifth century. Next we see it as an ambiguous color, or it's usage between the sixth and fifteenth century. Finally, the color is seen as an unpopular one which is how it has been viewed from the fourteenth to the twenty first century.

As a beneficial color we read which plants or metals were used to create the color as well as how it was used in early cave drawings and clothing. Yellow was seen in nature in fields of grain and from the sun. Dressing in yellow was seen as feminine as it still is today. As an ambiguous color, yellow was seen as an important color when it was seen as gold. When yellow was shown as an ordinary yellow, its importance in heraldry and religious texts was much lower than red, blue or green. However, blond hair was always viewed as more favorable than other hair colors, especially on women. The section on yellow as an unpopular color states that the color was never used on clothing by the nobility because it was viewed as not being very modest. Artists viewed it negatively too. While in a bright light yellow is a happy color. When the light becomes dark, it no longer looks pleasant but rather dirty and ugly. Thus, the color ceased to be used in daily life. 

The book is a fine treatise but it is not for the light hearted reader. Obviously, someone interested in art history should read this book. It would be helpful for artists too but I believe there are other books on color that would be more helpful for the studio artist. 

3 out of 5 stars.