Japanese poster collection

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: 3020

Staff Only

Unpinning History: Japanese Posters in the Age of Commercialism, Imperialism, and Modernism [digital exhibition]

Scope and Contents

The Japanese poster collection contains approximately 45 posters on the following topics: Japanese products and design; railways, ocean liners and tourism; Japanese art and design exhibitions; Japanese imperial modernity (including colonies in Korea, Manchuria, and northeastern China); and Japanese Ministry and Telecommunications campaigns. The posters reflect both Japanese painting techniques (nihonga) and Western painting techniques (yōga). Pictorial styles range from neo-traditionalism derived from woodblock prints (ukiyoe) to modernism. The prominence of beautiful women (bijin) as an aesthetic category in the collection is of note. Most of the posters were produced using the offset lithographic printing technique. The posters were created by prominent designers, commissioned by large Japanese corporations and government ministries, and produced by Japan's major offset printing companies.

Dates

1915 - 1929

Creator

Asai Shiten (Tokyo, Japan) (Issuing body, Organization)
Dainihon Seito Kabushiki Gaisha (Issuing body, Organization)
Gōshi Kaisha Chidoriya Shōten (Tokyo, Japan) (Issuing body, Organization)
Ichida Ofusetto Insatsu Kabushiki Kaisha (Ichida Offset Printing Co., Ltd.) (Osaka, Tokyo, and Shanghai) (Printer, Organization)
Kabushiki Kaisha Tōkyō Tsukiji Kappan Seizōsho (Tokyo, Japan) (Issuing body, Organization)
Machida, Ryūyō, 1871-1955 (Artist, Person)
Mayama, Kōji, 1882-1981 (Artist, Person)
Mitsuma Insatsu Gōmei Kaisha (Tokyo, Japan) (Printer, Organization)
Mitsuma Insatsujo (Mitsuma Printing Works) (Tokyo, Japan) (Printer, Organization)
Mitsumura Printing Co., Ltd. (Kobe, Japan) (Printer, Organization)
Nagahara, Kotaro, 1864-1930 (Artist, Person)
Nakayama Taiyodo (Issuing body, Organization)
Nippon Shuzō Kabushiki Kaisha (Yonezawa, Japan) (Issuing body, Organization)
Okano, Sakae, 1880-1942 (Artist, Person)
Sugiura, Hisui, 1876-1965 (Artist, Person)
Sugiyama, Sueo (Artist, Person)
Tada, Hokuu, 1889-1948 (Artist, Person)
Tōkyō Inshokan (Printer, Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is too fragile to be handled. Patrons are recommended to view the Scalar project "Unpinning History".

Conditions Governing Use

Permission for publication is given on behalf of the East Asian Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Extent

0.21 Linear Feet (Approximately 45 posters stored in 3 oversize folders)

Language of Materials

Japanese

Chinese

Additional Description

Abstract

Custodial History

The provenance of the USC Libraries Japanese poster collection is largely unknown, as is the date of acquisition. The posters were part of a larger artificial collection assembled at the USC Von Kleinsmid Center before they were transferred to the USC Libraries.

Related Materials

Collection of Chinese posters, Collection no. 3376, East Asian Library, USC Libraries

Processing Information

The posters in this collection were previously described as part of a larger collection titled the "Asian poster collection" and included description for approximately 43 Chinese posters and 12 Chinese calendars. The Chinese posters and calendars were separated and described in a separate finding aid.