My first encounter with a shin hanga print was back in 1995 when I visited an exhibition sale of authentic handmade goods at a department store in Tokyo. I bought a woodblock print of nostalgic Tokyo scene because I just liked it with no knowledge of shin hanga history including artist, publisher, carver nor printer. Afterwards I learned some on shin hanga and I knew that it was a later edition print by Tsuchiya Koitsu.
Then I learned more on Japanese woodblock prints and I am very curious to know why such a lot of shin hanga prints were exported for overseas. Until I happened to visit this ShinHanga.net site in 1999, I never imagined that so many issues were discussed on woodblock prints at our clubsite. In Japan shin hanga collectors are in the minority compared to Ukiyo-e collectors. I hope much more collectors should recognize the values of shin hanga prints.
As I was born in 1949 Tokyo and my mother language is Japanese, I could have an advantage in understanding almost all Japanese characters including calligraphic writings. So I am very glad to be of any help for overseas collectors to read or translate relevant information.
My favorite artists are Koitsu and Hasui especially for their Tokyo scenic views. I am also a collector of Senshafuda (Ukiyo-e and Lettering World in Miniature); my name seal to the right is an example.
Enjoy your favorite shin hanga prints in your own ways!
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Tosh Doi and Dave Bull in Tokyo, at an exhibition of Dave Bull's prints. The image directly behind them depicts seven Senshafuda examples. This collaborative effort is described here.
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