Adachi's Ukiyo-e Prints: Enjoy Displaying Them Customer Interviews - Living with Ukiyo-e - "The Handiwork of Artisans Captivating the World"

Kyozaburo Tsuge, chairman of Tsuge Manufacturing, one of Japan's leading pipe manufacturers, is an ukiyo-e enthusiast and has long enjoyed our company's ukiyo-e reproductions. After he sent us a photo of one of his works on display, we were welcomed by Chairman Tsuge and President Mitsui at Tsuge Manufacturing's headquarters, where we spoke extensively about Adachi's ukiyo-e reproductions, as well as the manufacturing process at Tsuge Manufacturing, which has much in common with Adachi woodcut prints.

Tsuge Manufacturing's President Mitsui (left) and Chairman Tsuge (right), who sent us the photo. I was fascinated by the sight of him smoking a pipe. On the way to the guest room, he also introduced me to many shops near the Tsuge Seisakusho headquarters.

"Jujube pipes" enjoyed all over the world

Tsuge Seisakusho is one of Japan's leading pipe manufacturers, founded in 1936. In addition to manufacturing and selling pipes and kiseru, they also import and sell tobacco. We were first shown around Tsuge Seisakusho's showroom, where an array of smoking accessories was lined up. Even Adachi's staff were overwhelmed by the luxurious interior, which was modeled after a 19th century London smoking room.

-It's a very impressive showroom. It feels like I'm overseas.

Chairman Tsuge: "We are currently unable to invite guests due to the current situation (this interview was conducted in spring 2021), but before the COVID-19 pandemic began, we used to have many guests from overseas."

-Are most of your customers from overseas?

President Mitsui: "Pipes are mainly sold to overseas customers, while kiseru are mainly sold to Japanese customers. Pipes in particular have enthusiasts all over the world, and tsuge pipes are so well-known around the world that it's safe to say there is no enthusiast who doesn't know about them."

Chairman Tsuge: "When we have guests from overseas, we take them to this showroom during the day and to our guest room in Yanagibashi in the evening. Adachi's ukiyo-e prints are displayed there, and they have received good reviews from our overseas guests."

-Thank you. Our number of customers from overseas is gradually increasing, so perhaps Japanese-made products and things that are uniquely Japanese are becoming more popular around the world.

President Mitsui: "I think there is a lot of trust in Japanese-made products. Also, up until now I have been on overseas business trips almost every month. Now (2021) I can't do this either. On those occasions, I sometimes bring back Adachi's ukiyo-e prints as gifts. "

-I see! Thank you for using it in so many different situations.

The couple will kindly show us around the guest room in Yanagibashi, which was mentioned in the story. First, we will talk to them in this showroom.

-When did you first purchase an Adachi's ukiyo-e print?

Chairman Tsuge: "That was over 40 years ago, during the time of the previous generation."

- I believe that the kiseru that your company produces is also a culture that spread to the general public during the Edo period. Was your interest in ukiyo-e triggered by the depiction of kiseru?

Chairman Tsuge: "That's right. At first, I bought a few of Adachi's reproductions of ukiyo-e prints depicting kiseru pipes. I remember being shocked by the vividness and beauty of the colors and thinking, 'What is this?!' "

President Mitsui: " There are also many things we can learn from ukiyo-e. For example, there is an ukiyo-e that depicts a portable ashtray, and we have used that as reference to reproduce a portable ashtray. Also, the manner in which an ashtray is held is very instructive."

Just like ukiyo-e, smoking equipment became popular among the masses during the Edo period. As you both mentioned, people holding kiseru pipes are depicted in the works of Utamaro and Kuniyoshi.

I feel there is a commonality with Adachi in the fact that it is handcrafted by artisans.

Furthermore, Tsuge Seisakusho's pipes are made by hand by artisans. Even when machines are used in the process, the finished product varies greatly depending on the skills and experience of the artisan. It is said that the appeal of Tsuge Seisakusho's pipes and kiseru piping pipes lies in this handiwork.

President Mitsui: "Our customers notice even the most subtle differences and changes when they pick up a pipe. That's why we pay close attention to every detail when we make our pipes. I believe that our products have been loved by our customers for so long because they are the result of careful handwork."

Chairman Tsuge: "That's something that Adachi's ukiyo-e reproductions have in common. Adachi's works are also made by actual artisans, even today, by hand."

-Yes, that's right. Even now, carvers and printers, mainly young craftsmen, create each piece by hand.

President Mitsui: "We are also primarily made up of young craftsmen. It's great to see the culture of craftsmanship being passed down in this way. "

For communication with overseas customers

Chairman Tsuge: "Now, shall we move to the guest room?"

The guest room was about a five-minute drive from Tsuge Seisakusho's headquarters in Asakusa Tawaramachi, right next to Yanagibashi Bridge, a spot that Hokusai also painted.

Once inside, you'll see three Ukiyo-e prints by Adachi Woodblock Prints hanging in the living room of the guest room, which is decorated with European-style furniture.

Chairman Tsuge: "This looks like the view you see from your window, doesn't it?"

If you raise the sunshade blinds, you can look down from the window at the current Ryogoku Bridge from roughly the same angle as in "Bridge Ohashi and Atake in Sudden Shower" You can also see the Sumida River, which is depicted in "Fireworks at Ryogoku" and "Sunset over Ryogoku Bridge ."

Chairman Tsuge: "I think Hiroshige probably painted Shin-Ohashi Bridge from this angle."

-All the views really are like the view of the Sumida River from around here. You mentioned that you're inviting guests from overseas, but have you received any reactions from them?

Chairman Tsuge: "They've been very well received. I used to have many more of Adachi's ukiyo-e prints, but when I had guests from overseas come over, I gave most of them away. One guest from Armenia was so moved by Adachi's ukiyo-e prints that he said, 'I want to donate them to an art museum in Armenia!' (laughs)"

I was surprised at the boldness of "giving it away," but it's probably an episode that suits Tsuge, a true Asakusa native. Furthermore, he said he wants customers to experience the same shock he felt when he first saw a reproduction of an ukiyo-e print, and that he wants them to enjoy the prints in a different way.

Chairman Tsuge: "When we remove the acrylic panels from the frames and let people pick up the paintings, their eyes light up at the vividness and they are deeply moved. In particular, you can only fully appreciate a blank print by actually holding it in your hands. That's why we don't just let people see it through the acrylic panels, but also let them see it without anything in between."

By rubbing the paper without applying any paint, the paper is given a textured appearance. You can really see the texture when you hold it in your hands.

-I see! Indeed, all the customers who visit the Adachi showroom are amazed by the kurasuri. The interior of your room is also lovely, with a modern Western style. Do you choose the frames for your ukiyo-e prints yourself?

Chairman Tsuge: "That's right. 'Sunset over Ryogoku Bridge' was framed by Adachi, but the other two works were framed separately."

The furnishings in the rooms are also changed according to the season, and I could sense the attention to detail that goes into the interior design, apart from the ukiyo-e prints, as this is a guest room meant to welcome guests.

Relive the excitement that Edoites felt when they saw nishiki-e prints from the Edo period with Adachi woodblock prints!

Finally, we asked Mr. Tsuge about the appeal of Adachi's ukiyo-e.

-I'm delighted that Adachi's ukiyo-e prints are displayed in places where you entertain guests from overseas. I understand that they are also used as gifts, but I'd like to ask you about your thoughts on the appeal of Adachi's ukiyo-e prints.

Chairman Tsuge: "The best thing is that Adachi woodblock prints allow you to relive the excitement that Edoites felt when they saw nishiki-e prints from the Edo period! This is something that I would love for as many people as possible to actually pick up and experience. Ukiyo-e prints from the Edo period are of course great, but when I saw Adachi's ukiyo-e, I understood for the first time why ukiyo-e were called 'nishiki' prints. I think that people in the Edo period would have been shocked by their vividness and beauty."

"Nishiki" also means "something beautiful, something splendid." Adachi's reproduction ukiyo-e prints faithfully reproduce the colors of the Edo period, including the size of the paintings, by referring to the first printings, which were produced with the intentions of the artists and publishers in mind, so that people in the Edo period can enjoy the vibrant colors of ukiyo-e prints in modern times. I was very pleased that this attention to detail is one of the reasons why Mr. Tsuge has enjoyed Adachi's reproduction ukiyo-e prints for so long.

This time, we talked about Adachi's reproduction ukiyo-e prints, but the Adachi staff who visited were also very interested in the production of pipes and kiseru, which, like woodblock printing techniques, are passed down by artisans. We hope to introduce this to you on another occasion. Thank you very much for your cooperation this time!

Tsuge Manufacturing's website is here