Tsutaju Picture Book: The Melody of Spring by Katsukawa Shunsho

June 12 2025, by Midgard Japan, 1 min reading time

" Matsu no Shirabe " is a gorgeous picture book published in 1795 by Tsutaya Juzaburo , a famous Edo period publisher. The illustrations were done by the ukiyo-e artist Katsukawa Shunsho .

This picture book is actually based on Katsukawa Shunsho's koban ukiyo-e series, published between 1774 and the following year. However, it is not a simple reprint; the facial expressions and depictions of the characters have been significantly remade to suit the trends and reader preferences of the time. In particular, elements of modern beauties have been incorporated to give it a more sophisticated impression.

The book is a waka picture book , with beautiful illustrations and waka poems. It is colorful and delicately expressed using multi-color printing techniques, and is highly regarded as a work of particularly high quality among picture books of the time. It is a valuable work that combines Tsutaya Juzaburo's planning skills and Shunsho's drawing skills, and offers a glimpse into Edo culture, which pursued "iki."

"Matsuno Shirabe" (The Melody of Pines) is an elaborate picture book published in 1795 by Tsutaya Jūzaburō , a renowned publisher of the Edo period. The illustrations were created by the ukiyo-e artist Katsukawa Shunshō .

This picture book is actually based on a series of Katsukawa Shunshō's koband (small print) ukiyo-e that were published from 1774 to the following year. However, it's not merely a reprint; a key feature is that the facial features and epithets of the characters were largely remade to suit the popular trends and tastes of the time. In particular, elements of contemporary bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women) were incorporated, giving it a more refined impression.

The content is a waka picture book , with Japanese poems accompanying the beautiful illustrations. Utilizing advanced multi-color printing techniques, it features rich and delicate expressions in its colors, earning it a reputation as a particularly high-quality work among picture books of its era. It can be considered a piece that offers a glimpse into the "chic" Edo culture, where Tsutaya Jūzaburō's planning prowess and Shunshō's artistic skill merged.