From the series: Twelve Views of the Four Seasons of Kyoto

Beautiful signed and numbered print, lovely colors,

Shin Hanga

Nishiki-e

Circa 1970

Yasaka Pagoda, also known as Hokan-ji Temple, is an iconic historical landmark of Kyoto's rich cultural heritage. Located in Higashiyama Ward, it stands amidst 1,600 Buddhist pagodas, 400 Shinto shrines, and numerous palaces and gardens. This iconic five-story pagoda is a testament to traditional Japanese craftsmanship and has been an integral part of Kyoto's cityscape for centuries. Its earthquake-resistant construction, in particular, illustrates the ingenuity of ancient Japanese engineers.

Yasaka Pagoda has been a recurring subject in Japanese prints for centuries. Renowned artists such as Teruhide Kato, Clifton Karhu, Tomikichiro Tokuriki, Toshijiro (Nenjiro) Inagaki and Takeji Asano have immortalized it in numerous prints, celebrating its beauty through the seasons and under different lights.




Tomikichiro Tokuriki was a Japanese woodblock printmaker, representing the twelfth generation of a family of Kyoto artisans. He graduated from the Kyoto City School of Fine Arts and the Kyoto City Specialist School of Painting in 1924. After World War II, he founded the Matsukyu publishing company to produce and distribute his own prints as well as Shin Hanga and Sosaku Hanga works by other artists. Tomikichiro Tokuriki was an influential figure in the contemporary print movement in Japan. He was the official artist of the Honganji Temple and was commissioned to engrave various temples throughout Japan, including the famous shrines of Ise. His prints are held in the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Museum of Modern Art, New York.