IHL Cat. #2652
Shosō 13, volume 3, number 1 [June 1936]
書窓 第3巻第1号(通巻13号)
The magazine Shosō 書窓, seen translated as "Window on Books", "Window for Books" and "Window of Writing," was designed and edited by the seminal artist, book designer and art theorist Onchi Kōshirō 恩地孝四郞 (1891-1955). Over its 103 issues, published between April 1935 and June 1944, it "set the standard of excellence for Japanese graphic design."[1] Published by Onchi's good friend Shimo Tarō 志茂太郎 (1900–1980) of the Tokyo-based publishing house Aoi Shobō アオイ書房, the magazine was devoted to the art of the book in Asia, Europe and the US. Each issue was a collection of articles, illustrations, photographs and, on occasion, a woodblock frontispiece by either Onchi or a fellow print designer of the sōsaku hanga (creative print) school. It provided a platform for Onchi to expound on his design ideas, including serialization of his essays on book design, later compiled and published in book form in 1952 as Art of the Book (Hon no bijutsu 本の美術).
"Onchi planned each cover with original lettering, calligraphy, and design. Contributors of hand-printed hanga, in addition to Onchi, included Fujimori Shizuo, Fukazawa Sakuichi, Furukawa Ryusei, Henmi Takashi, Hiratsuka Un’ichi, Kawakami Sumio, Kawanishi Hide, Maeda Masao, Maekawa Senpan, Munakata Shikō, Sarshina Genzō, Sekino Jun’ichirō, Takei Takeo, and Taninaka Yasunori."[2]
The magazine must have been a labor of love for all involved as "none of the contributors were paid."[3].
"The fact that it lasted until 1944 gives evidence to its success. Only the wretched conditions prevailing at the end of World War II brought an end to its publication."[4]
Shown below is the complete June 1936 issue of Shosō accompanied by transcriptions and English translations of the headings on each page.
[1] Guide to Modern Japanese Woodblock Prints: 1900-1975, Helen Merritt, University of Hawaii Press, 1992, p. 122.
[2] ibid.
[3] The Graphic Art of Onchi Koshiro: Innovation and Tradition, Elizabeth de Sabato Swinton, Garland Publishing, 1986, p. 69.
[4] "Illustrated Books and Magazine by Onchi Kōshirō," by Robert Verges, appearing in the journal Andon, Vol. 5, No. 18, 1985, Society for Japanese Arts and Crafts, p. 29.
The below issue is notable for its hand-printed woodblock frontispiece (kuchi-e) titled "Flower" by Onchi, originally designed by him in 1928.[1] It precedes by several pages a graphic feature consisting of seven black and white photographs of spring flowers contributed by Ozaki Kihachi (1892-1974); poet, keen observer of nature and amateur photographer. In addition to Onchi, contributors to this issue include poet and novelist Mizuno Yōshū (1883-1947), haiku poet and physician Mizuhara Shūōshi (1892-1981); short-story writer (sometimes referred to as the father of the Japanese short-story), poet, and essayist Akutagawa Ryūnosuke (1892-1927); prolific author of short-stories, novels and essays Uno Kōji (1891-1961); Shosō's publisher Shimo Tarō (1900–1980), avant-garde poet Kuneko Mitsuharu (1895-1975); novelist, playwright and lyricist Hata Kōichi (1886-1957); architect Endō Arata (1889-1951); novelist and music critic Kodō Nomura (1882-1963) writing under his music critic pseudonym Araebisu; music critic Yamane Ginji (1906-1982), and benshi (narrator of silent films), actor, essayist, and radio and, later, television personality Tokugawa Musei (1894-1971). Sōsaku hanga artists Kawanishi Hide (1894-1965) and Maekawa Senpan (1888-1960) are also represented through reproduced illustrations from their books.
[1] Prints of Onchi Koshiro, Keishosha Ltd., 1975, cat. 114. This almost complete catalog raisonne notes that Flower was exhibited at the Tabletop Association Exhibition (卓上社展) which held its first exhibition in 1928 at the original Maruzen Nihonbashi store.
A portrait of Onchi, titled Onchi Kōshirō sensei (恩地孝四郎先生), c. 1942-1943 by Sekino Jun’ichirō (1914-1988)
IHL Cat. #2643
While best known as a pioneer of abstract art in Japan and a founder of the sōsaku hanga (creative print) movement, Onchi was a book designer by profession. "Drawings, woodblock prints, books, magazine lay-out and illustration poured from an endless reservoir inside of him, while he continually defined himself as a serious visual artist. The juxtaposition of avant garde ideas and the conservatism of the commercial book world is a fundamental part of his art. His book and magazine work involved him in a literary and creative circle that offered him continuous exposure to new ideas and helped sustain his serious artistic interests.”[1]
For information on the artist see his biography on this site.
[1] The Graphic Art of Onchi Koshiro: Innovation and Tradition, Elizabeth de Sabato Swinton, Garland Publishing, Inc., 1986, p. 247.
Please click on any image below for a detailed enlargement.
Pages are shown in Japanese order, reading from right to left.
All transcriptions and translations are my own and subject to error.
p. 50 - 51
p. 50: "Miyoko" by Satō Haruo (1892-1964), Hazama Inosuke (1895-1977), artist. Published by Seikadō, 1933
みよ子 / 佐藤春夫著 / 硲伊之助画
昭和 八年 青果堂,刊
p. 51: "Yōma shiwa" by Koizumi Yakumo (Lafcadio Hearn) posthumous manuscript publication by Oyama Shoten
「妖魔詩話」 / 小泉八雲 遺稿 / 小山書店 刊
Colophon
書齋 (Shosō)
昭和十一年五月十五日印刷 (Printed: May 15, 1936)
昭和十一年五月十九日發行
(Published: May 19, 1936)
第三巻第・第一號 (Volume 3, No. 1)
編輯者 恩地孝四郞 (Editor Onchi Kōshirō)
發行者 志茂太郞 (Publisher Shimo Tarō)
Address: 東京市中野... (Nakano City, Tokyo...)
印刷者 市川憲次 (Printer Ichikawa Kenji)
Address: 東京市豊島区… (Toshima City, Tokyo...)
製版印刷 美術印刷株會社 (Plate Making and Printing: Art Printing Corporation)
latest revision:
4-10-2025 added alt text