Playthings and Pastimes in Japanese Prints

This unique book looks to Japanese woodblock prints for a record of the toys & games of old Japan. A visual feast, it presents over 170 color illustrations of playthings, games, & pastimes, depicted both in photographs & in prints by such masters as Hokusai, Utamaro, & Kunisada. All printmakers are identified, & all toys & games are explained in informative short essays that shed light not only on the objects & activities but also on Japanese popular culture, history, & religion. With its wealth of visual & textual information, this is a delightful book to browse through as well as an important resource for collectors & students of Japanese art & life.Baten, Lea is the author of 'Playthings and Pastimes in Japanese Prints', published 2001 under ISBN 9780756752125 and ISBN 0756752124.