【Random Assortment】Kyoto Unsodo Postcard - Shitamura Gyokuko: Old Tales

【Randomly Assorted Items】Important Notes · These items are shipped in assorted designs; each item in a single order will feature a different design. (If a design is out of stock, it will be removed from the available options.) If you wish to collect the entire series, we recommend ordering multiple items at once! · As these items are shipped in assorted designs, we are unable to accommodate specific style requests. · This product is a paper print and cannot be returned. Please confirm the details before purchasing. 【Kyoto Unsodo Postcard - Shitamura Gyokuko: Old Tales】 Shitamura Gyokuko was a pattern designer active from the late Meiji to the Taisho period (around the early 1900s). He transformed contemporary news, current events, and literary stories into easily printable pattern designs, applying them to popular media such as postcards and book illustrations. His style was deeply influenced by the "Taisho Roman" atmosphere of the time, characterized by fluid lines, vibrant colors, and rich ornamentation. His works imbued traditional themes with lively vitality. 【Story Synopses】 - Momotaro: The hero born from a peach, who journeys with a dog, monkey, and pheasant to defeat ogres. - Urashima Taro: After saving a turtle, he is taken to the Dragon Palace, only to return to a world that has moved on without him. - Kintaro: A prodigy of immense strength, who grew up in the mountains befriending animals, later becoming the renowned samurai Sakata Kintoki of the Heian period. - The Tortoise and the Hare: The arrogant hare, underestimating his opponent and falling asleep during the race, is ultimately overtaken by the steady and diligent tortoise. - The Tongue-Cut Sparrow: A sparrow whose tongue was cut by a wicked old woman, who then leads a kind old man to her home (an inn) and gifts him treasures. - The Fox's Wedding: Depicts the peculiar sight of a fox procession holding a wedding during a sunny rain shower (a sunshower), often viewed as a mystical and unseen ceremony. - Issun Bōshi: A hero only an inch tall, who uses a sewing needle as a sword and a rice bowl as a boat, ultimately achieving his wish to grow by defeating an ogre. 【About Kyoto Unsodo】 Unsodo was founded in the 24th year of Meiji (1891). It is the only publisher in Japan that still preserves the traditional crafts of hand-pulled woodblock printing and bookbinding. The brand name "Unsodo" is derived from the title of a book inscribed by the literati painter Tomioka Tessai. "Un" (芸) is an alternative form of "Gei" (藝), meaning art, and "So" (艸) refers to fragrant grass, symbolizing "art that is as fragrant and enduring as fragrant grass." Initially established by publishing art books and kimono pattern reference collections, it later expanded into areas such as craft design and printmaking. Today, Unsodo continues the century-old woodblock printing techniques in Kyoto, reviving classic works by modern Japanese artists with exquisite color layering and delicate lines, becoming an important presence connecting tradition and modern aesthetics. This series of postcards not only conveys blessings but also carries the continuation of Japanese aesthetics and printing craftsmanship. With the tactile quality of the paper and the warmth of woodblock colors, each writing becomes a reunion with time. 【Product Specifications】 Printing Method: Offset Printing Paper: Vannebo V Natural (Premium Japanese Printing Paper) Other: Usable with printers Size: Approx. 14.8 × 10 cm Origin: Kyoto, Japan 【Precautions】 ※ The color of the product images may vary slightly due to computer monitor settings. Please refer to the actual product color. If you have any questions, please contact customer service. ※ The appreciation period is "not a trial period." Please unpack and inspect the product immediately upon receipt. If there are any defects, please take photos and notify us by phone, chat, or email within 24 hours of arrival. We will do our best to assist you. ※ If the product has been unpacked, used, or disassembled, resulting in a loss of completeness and resale value, your right to return the product may be affected.