[Japanese Music] [Miss Dulcie Harmony][Chikanobu Hashimoto. (1838–1912)]. Musical Japan. Tokyo: A. Akiyama [Akiyama Aisaburo]. [1895].
Large format limp crepe paper book introducing seven traditional Japanese musical instruments (koto, samisen [shamisen], taiko, tsuzumi, fuye [fue], gekkin and kokyu), with beautiful woodblock printed art by "Chikanobu Yoshu" the pseudonym of the prolific woodblock artist Chikanobu Hashimoto. Women are depicted playing these instruments in an illustration on the page facing the text page. The Gekkin & Kokgu are discussed together and shown in a single illustration. "In bringing this little book before the public, it is the desire of the publisher to familiarize Japan's Western friends with the musical instruments of this fair land, in the hope of arousing interest in Japanese music." Oblong 8vo (9 1/2 x 7 in - 24 x 16.2 cm. Bound and stitched Japanese-style, original pictorial wrappers: 9 folded pages, 18 pages total, including the covers. Covers rather soiled but otherwise very good throughout, with light creasing and soiling.
[Japanese Music] [Miss Dulcie Harmony][Chikanobu Hashimoto. (1838–1912)]. Musical Japan. Tokyo: A. Akiyama [Akiyama Aisaburo]. [1895].
Large format limp crepe paper book introducing seven traditional Japanese musical instruments (koto, samisen [shamisen], taiko, tsuzumi, fuye [fue], gekkin and kokyu), with beautiful woodblock printed art by "Chikanobu Yoshu" the pseudonym of the prolific woodblock artist Chikanobu Hashimoto. Women are depicted playing these instruments in an illustration on the page facing the text page. The Gekkin & Kokgu are discussed together and shown in a single illustration. "In bringing this little book before the public, it is the desire of the publisher to familiarize Japan's Western friends with the musical instruments of this fair land, in the hope of arousing interest in Japanese music." Oblong 8vo (9 1/2 x 7 in - 24 x 16.2 cm. Bound and stitched Japanese-style, original pictorial wrappers: 9 folded pages, 18 pages total, including the covers. Covers rather soiled but otherwise very good throughout, with light creasing and soiling.