Unsōdō (芸艸堂) (publisher 1891 –)

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Biography:

"Kyoto and Tokyo. Founded 1887. Yamada Naozo was manager in the first decade of this century (remark: 20th century), Yamada Enji was manager in 1950's, and a member of the Yamada family was still active in the company in 1983 (remark from the author: In 2002 Yamada Teiichi is president of Unsodo.). From 1890's until mid 1930's the company manufactured pattern books of the highest order for artisans and manufacturers of textiles, lacquer, etc. It also produced fine art books with moku-han color plates. Later printed numerous series of prints of Kyoto subjects."

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Dr. Andreas Grund wrote: "Now however (March 2002), for the very first time, I had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Teiichi Yamada, President of Unsodo in Kyoto."

"Unsodo is a publishing house of long tradition. Founded in 1891 (Meiji 24) - not in 1887 as mentioned in Merritt & Yamada by Naosaburo Yamada - it is still a family enterprise and run by the third generation by Teiichi Yamada, the grandson of the founder. This tradition most likely is to continue, because the son of the present President, young Mr. Yamada, is also himself active in the family business." Quoted from: Guide to Modern Japanese Woodblock Prints: 1900-75 by Helen Merritt and Nanako Yamada, University of Hawaii Press, 1992, pages 219-220.

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Kyoto/Tokyo print publisher (Marks 566); family name: Yamada. Artists published by this house included Asano Takeji, Higuchi Tomimaro, Isoda Mataichirō, Shirō, Matsuno Sofū, Okada Kōichi, Okumura Kōichi, Takeuchi Seiho, Tsuda Seifu and Kamisaka Sekka.

Shirō is the only artist in the Lyon Collection published by this house. We have highlighted his name in bold type above.