- Shimabara Sumiya (Sumiya in Shimabara, Kyoto) -

The remarkable woodblock print “Shimabara Sumiya” (Sumiya in Shimabara, Kyoto) is by Taizō Minagawa (1917–2005). Characteristic of Minagawa’s background as a dyeing artist, the work features rich colors and a bold design, beautifully capturing the renowned Sumiya, a former ageya (banquet and entertainment house) in Kyoto’s historic Shimabara district. Today, Sumiya is designated as an Important Cultural Property and stands as one of the finest surviving examples of traditional entertainment architecture in Japan.

In addition to its striking machiya-style exterior, distinguished by its decorative wooden latticework, Sumiya features richly appointed interiors adorned with fusuma paintings, folding screens, and tokonoma alcove decorations. These elegant spaces were meticulously arranged to accommodate lavish banquets and gatherings. Both its architectural layout—characteristic of traditional ageya design—and the elaborate decorative schemes found throughout its private rooms are highly regarded as invaluable historical resources, offering a glimpse into the refined culture of hospitality that flourished during the late Edo period.

Minagawa’s work is truly distinctive, known for its dynamic compositions and vivid decorative sensibility. The left margin includes the Japanese title “Shimabara Sumiya,” along with the artist’s name “Minagawa Taizō saku,” the publisher Unsōdō, the carver Monju, and the printer Takenaka. The publisher’s watermark appears in the lower right margin.

Technique: Woodblock
Paper size: 16 and 1/4 x 11 and 7/8 inches (41.5 x 30 cm)
Image size: 13 and 7/8 x 11 and 1/8 inches (35 x 28.3 cm)
Sheet number: N/A
Date: Undated. (Ca.1970)
Signed: The block signature “Tai” appears in the lower right of the image.
Condition: Very good condition

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