Gallery 8B: Landscape Matchbox Series

The artwork in this gallery is from several sets of landscape series produced as matchbox prints. Although created for this miniature print genre, it is unlikely that these were ever meant to be affixed to matchboxes but were instead created for matchbox print collectors.

Tokaidō Road

The first set is titled Tokaidō Gojuusan Tsugi Yado Eki Meishō (Famous Sights of the 53 Stations of the Tokaidō). The description of the set notes that is is the “first Generation” (first user of the artist’s name) Hiroshige, specifically Ichiryuusai Hiroshige Gou who is famous for many versions of the Tokaidō Road series, including a smaller koban sized set. The Tokaidō Road connected the two major cities of Edo (Tokyo) and Kyoto and included 53 stations to stop and rest which were spaced for official runners to carry messages quickly. This set is based on the Novel Shank’s Mare, a tale of the humorous adventures of two men, Yajirō and Kitahachi, traveling along the Tokaidō Road.

The label for this series uses the traditional characters for Hiroshige along with the unusual character Gou which translates “brush”. However, this set was created in the 1920-1930s, well after Hiroshige’s death. The text at the bottom of each matchbox print identifies the name of a matchbox exchange group, the block cutter, and the name of the sponsor of each item. One of the images of a traveler as well as the image for Kyoto include the name Yoshimoto Soutarou, who also commonly appears in postcard exchanges.

A Local Kago Bearer — *A Local* *Kago* *Bearer*

Kyōto (Sanjō Ōhashi) — *Kyōto* *(Sanjō Ōhashi)*

Osaka Sights

This series depicts sites in and around Osaka and was printed using only blue tones with the exception of the cartouche. These blue prints are referred to as Aizure-e. Several locations remain to be identified, but those that have are all within Osaka except for the depiction of the city of Amagasaki. The sponsor for this set is Minami Kichijirō. Images are approximately 3.3 x 5.3 cm in size.

Amagasaki (Amagasaki Castle in Distance) — *Amagasaki* (Amagasaki Castle in Distance)

Kishimojin Temple — *Kishimojin* *Temple*

Railway Series

This set is a series of stops along one or more rail lines associated with the Nankai Electric Railway. Each print identifies the name of a station along with a point of interest near the station. The prints also identify the sponsor for specific prints in the diagonal notched rectangle, a reference to a punched railway ticket . Prints are approximately 3.2 x 5.2 cm in size.

Kumeda Temple in Kishiwada City — *Kumeda Temple in* *Kishiwada City*

Wakanoura, Wakayama City — *Wakanoura,* *Wakayama City*

Amusement Park (Unidentified station) — *Amusement Park* (Unidentified station)

Kishiwada Castle near Takojizō Station — *Kishiwada Castle* *near* *Takojizō Station*

Takojizō Shrine near Takojizō Station — *Takojizō Shrine near* *Takojizō Station*

Reigen Hot Spring near Yoshiminosato Station — *Reigen Hot Spring near* *Yoshiminosato Station*

Ōtori Jinja near Hamadera Station in Sakai City — *Ōtori Jinja* *near* *Hamadera Station* in *Sakai City*

Ebisu Bridge in Nanba, Ōsaka — *Ebisu Bridge* in *Nanba, Ōsaka*

Sumiyoshi Lantern Tower near Sumiyoshi Station — *Sumiyoshi Lantern Tower near* *Sumiyoshi Station*

Tannowa Nisanzai Mound near Tannowa Station — *Tannowa Nisanzai Mound near* Tannowa Station

Shin Wakanoura in Wakayama City — *Shin Wakanoura in* *Wakayama City*

Hamadera Park near Hamadera Station — *Hamadera Park* *near* *Hamadera Station*

Bathhouse in Ōhama Park, Sakai — *Bathhouse in Ōhama Park,* *Sakai*

Sennichimae near Namba Station — *Sennichimae near* *Namba Station*

Yamato River near Shichidō Station — *Yamato River* *near* *Shichidō Station*

Abe Ōji Shrine near Kishinosato Station — *Abe Ōji Shrine* *near Kishinosato Station*

Fishing in Tana River near Fuke Station — *Fishing in Tana River near* *Fuke Station*

Ōi Plum Garden near Sano Station — *Ōi Plum Garden near* *Sano Station*

Kimiidera Temple near Wakayama Station — *Kimiidera Temple* *near* *Wakayama Station*

Gathering Shellfish at Kitahato in Sakai City — *Gathering Shellfish at Kitahato in* *Sakai City*

Kinyūji (Temple) near Tarui Station — *Kinyūji (Temple) near* *Tarui Station*

Nanshūji at Sakai City — *Nanshūji at* *Sakai City*

Horse Race Track near Haruki Station — *Horse Race Track near* *Haruki Station*

Modern Houses near Suwanomori Station — *Modern Houses near* *Suwanomori Station*

Sea Bathing near Hamadera Station — *Sea Bathing near* *Hamadera Station*

Myōkokuji, a Temple near Sakai Station — *Myōkokuji, a Temple near* *Sakai Station*

Umbrella Pine Tree near Suminoe Station — *Umbrella Pine Tree near* *Suminoe Station*

Shippōryūji, a Temple on Mount Inunaku near Sano Station — *Shippōryūji, a Temple on Mount Inunaku near* *Sano Station*

Kasuga Shrine near Tsuruhara Station — *Kasuga Shrine near* *Tsuruhara Station*

Shitennō Temple near Imamiya Station — *Shitennō Temple* *near* *Imamiya Station*

Culture Village near Kyarabashi Station in Takaishi City — *Culture Village near* *Kyarabashi Station* in *Takaishi City*

Okiku Temple (Hōfukuji) near Tottorinoshō Station — *Okiku Temple (Hōfukuji) near* *Tottorinoshō Station*

Hida Red Light District near Haginochaya Station — *Hida Red Light District near* *Haginochaya Station*

Matsuo Temple near Tadaoka Station — *Matsuo Temple* *near* *Tadaoka Station*

Sefuku Temple near Ōtsu Station — *Sefuku Temple* *near* *Ōtsu Station*

Seacoast near Takashinohama Station — *Seacoast near* *Takashinohama Station*

Mount Takatsuka near Konohama Station — *Mount Takatsuka near* *Konohama Station*

Shōen Temple near Tengachaya Station — *Shōen Temple* *near* *Tengachaya Station*

Mizuma Temple near Kaizuka Station — *Mizuma Temple* *near* *Kaizuka Station*

Sunagawa Kishō Limestone Formation near Okadaura Station — *Sunagawa Kishō Limestone Formation near* *Okadaura Station*

Matsutake Mountain near Kyōshi Station — *Matsutake* *Mountain near* *Kyōshi Station*

Daisenryō Mound near Minato Station — *Daisenryō Mound* *near* *Minato Station*

Shinsekai Amusement Park near Imamiyaebisu Station — *Shinsekai Amusement Park* *near* *Imamiyaebisu Station*

Tayama Inari Shrine near Hakotsukuri Station — *Tayama Inari Shrine near* *Hakotsukuri Station*

Sunaoka (?) Mound near Sukematsu Station — *Sunaoka (?)* *Mound* *near* *Sukematsu Station*

Pine Trees Along the Shore near Tamade Station — *Pine Trees Along the Shore near* *Tamade Station*

Rinshōji Temple near Tarui Station — *Rinshōji Temple near* *Tarui Station*

Ogawa Hot Spring near Ozaki Station — *Ogawa Hot Spring near* *Ozaki Station*

Sōjiji Temple near Kinokawa Station — *Sōjiji Temple near* *Kinokawa Station*

Mount Ushitaki near Kishiwada Station — *Mount Ushitaki* *near* *Kishiwada Station*

Shitennō Temple in Ōsaka — *Shitennō* *Temple in Ōsaka*

This print to the left was included in the midst of the railroad set in the collector’s album that serves as the primary source of matchbox prints in the collection. However, this print comes from a set illustrating the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage, a visit to thirty-three Buddhist temples throughout the Kansai region of Japan. Although included in that set, this temple is not one of the 33 temples associated with the pilgrimage.