kelloo

Hey everyone, leaving in a week and a half for Japan. So excited! My mother likes to buy some sort of local art wherever she travels. But, she doesn't think she'll make it to Japan and has asked me to purchase a woodblock print for her.

I've done some searches for galleries, but haven't been able to find much. I've talked with her about what she would like, and she seems a bit picky Nothing antique, something more contemporary, some sort of nature like trees or flowers. She doesn't want anything that screams Japanese like temples or Mount Fuji (I don't quite understand that but whatever).

So, if anyone has a gallery they can recommend to me I would really appreciate it. I'm willing to spend up to 40,000 yen, but a little less would be better. I'll be in Tokyo for 5 nights, so I figure I'll have the most time to look there.

Kelley

Cilla_Tey

I know you can get very affordable prints from the art and craft centres. The one in Kyoto is good. In Tokyo I know of at least one in Omotesando. Check out this link from the opposition.

http://www.frommers.com/destinations...5_indshop.html

KimJapan

You will be able to find prints and wall hangings in department stores on the home decorating/art floor. There is an information counter in every department store on the first floor, where they will be able to direct you to the right floor. I would do that rather than traipse all over Tokyo looking for galleries.

emd

kelloo, I am into woodblocks and this is just me but I am going to relate my experience with woodblocks of the caliber and amount of yen you are talking about spending.

If she wants a woodblock print from Japan and if you don't know much or anything about buying woodblocks, I would get her one on the trip that costs substantially less than the amt. you quoted. On my first trip I got a very nice Utamaro reproduction woodblock print of a woman with a shamisen in one of the shop stalls leading up to Senjosi temple (about 2/3 of the way down the outdoor shopping street). It was matted in a nice silk mat, and it was about $90 U.S.

Between my 1st and 2nd trips I went to NYC and on that trip I went to an incredible gallery called Ronin Gallery. They only carry authentic antique (and a much smaller collection of modern) woodblocks. Their collection is amazing and they are very serious about woodblocks. I bought two Hiroshige's on that trip, one reproduction for $150 and one authentic one for $300. Since then I have also bought two more online from them and have not been very happy with all purchases I've made. They are very reputable and can help you immensely. If you see something on their website, you can call them and they will take time to describe colors, condition (honestly, if there are any creases or watermarks, etc.). They have good sales from time to time; I picked up one of my online purchases during one of the sales. The woodblocks arrive very well-packed for shipping and with a letter of authenticity and value. If you are ever in NYC I highly recommend a visit to their gallery. They have an amazing collection. The online collection changes constantly, and when they have an online sale they will have many for $300-400 and less available.

On my second trip to Japan I went to a famous woodblock print shop in Kyoto which was recommended to me, at Teramachi-Dori, the covered shopping street. After having experiences the Ronin Gallery, I was not impressed with the selection at the place in Kyoto, and they spoke very little English.

If you are going to spend that amount of money, I suggest trying Ronin's website. You will have a huge assortment there, much more than you'll get at a Japanese dept. store, and you will have people who know everything about the artist and print available to discuss it in English with you. And you won't have to travel all over with the print til you get home.

Perhaps get her a less expensive print on the trip, and then get her a nicer one from Ronin for her birthday as another gift. I think you will get better value and selection that way for the amt. you quoted.

emd

Ronin's site:

http://www.japancollection.com/index.php

emd

I made a mistake, the reproduction I got on the shopping st. leading up to Senjosi is by Eishi Hosada, better known as Eishi. Here is it. I love it, it is hanging in my bedroom. They still were selling it when I went back in April '06. Isn't she lovely?

http://tinyurl.com/y92w3h

emd

goodness, a bad typo- I meant that I HAVE been very happy with the purchases, not that I have not been happy.

kelloo

Thanks everyone for your advice. Emd, I definitely hear what you are saying, but I'm worried that most reproduction prints will be of more traditional scenes and people, which is not what my mom seems to want. She was actually visiting me today and I was showing her some examples I saw online to try and get a better feel for what she would like. I did find a gallery, Yoseido, that is actually very close to where we will be staying in Ginza, and they seem to have a large collection of modern prints. I showed some to my mom, and she liked the works of Fumio Fugita and Rei Morimura and a couple others, so that seems promising. I certainly don't want to spend my whole trip running around Tokyo looking for galleries, but we'll be there long enough I can devote at least some time to it (especially after all she's done for me )

I certainly do not need to spend 40,000 yen, that's my maximum. Originally I was thinking more the $150-200 range, but I got a little sticker shock when I first started researching online. I would like to get her an authentic piece, though, I just don't think she'd want a reproduction. The Ronin Gallery looks fabulous, but again, she wants something modern, not an antique.

Again, thanks for the advice, and I be sure to post back with my results!

kelloo

Here's the site for the gallery in Ginza: http://www.yoseido.com

emd

Sounds like you have found your place! Somehow I missed the emphasis on contemporary in your original post. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Elainee

Thank you for sharing the Rodin Gallery. Great website. I plan to go to the gallery this week.

W9London

I'm not so sure if they're still in business, but we found contemporary woodblock prints (hanga) in a gallery very close to Hiroo subway station. I cannot recall the name, but they were across the intersection from BOTM bank, at the entrance to the little local shopping street. We found designs that reminded somewhat of Art Deco--could be from Taisho period but actually made more recently.