Finding aid for the Japanese poster collection 3020

Rebecca Corbett and Bo Doub
USC Libraries East Asian Library
2020 April
Doheny Memorial Library
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California 90089-1825


Contributing Institution: USC Libraries East Asian Library
Title: Japanese poster collection
Creator: Asai Shiten (Tokyo, Japan)
Creator: Dainihon Seito Kabushiki Gaisha
Creator: Gōshi Kaisha Chidoriya Shōten (Tokyo, Japan)
Creator: Ichida Ofusetto Insatsu Kabushiki Kaisha (Ichida Offset Printing Co., Ltd.) (Osaka, Tokyo, and Shanghai)
Creator: Kabushiki Kaisha Tōkyō Tsukiji Kappan Seizōsho (Tokyo, Japan)
Creator: Machida, Ryūyō, 1871-1955
Creator: Mayama, Kōji, 1882-1981
Creator: Mitsuma Insatsu Gōmei Kaisha (Tokyo, Japan)
Creator: Mitsuma Insatsujo (Mitsuma Printing Works) (Tokyo, Japan)
Creator: Mitsumura Printing Co., Ltd. (Kobe, Japan)
Creator: Nagahara, Kotaro, 1864-1930
Creator: Nakayama Taiyodo
Creator: Nippon Shuzō Kabushiki Kaisha (Yonezawa, Japan)
Creator: Okano, Sakae, 1880-1942
Creator: Sugiura, Hisui, 1876-1965
Creator: Sugiyama, Sueo
Creator: Tada, Hokuu, 1889-1948
Creator: Tōkyō Inshokan
Identifier/Call Number: 3020
Identifier/Call Number: 1500
Physical Description: 0.21 Linear Feet Approximately 45 posters stored in 3 oversize folders
Date (inclusive): 1915-1929
Abstract: The Japanese poster collection contains approximately 45 posters on the following topics: Japanese products and design; railways, ocean liners and tourism; Japanese art and design exhibitions; Japanese imperial modernity (including colonies in Korea, Manchuria, and northeastern China); and Japanese Ministry and Telecommunications campaigns. The posters reflect both Japanese painting techniques ( nihonga) and Western painting techniques ( yōga). Pictorial styles range from neo-traditionalism derived from woodblock prints ( ukiyoe) to modernism. The prominence of beautiful women ( bijin) as an aesthetic category in the collection is of note. Most of the posters were produced using the offset lithographic printing technique. The posters were created by prominent designers, commissioned by large Japanese corporations and government ministries, and produced by Japan's major offset printing companies.
Language of Material: Japanese , Chinese .
Container: 1
Container: 2
Container: 3

Scope and Contents

The Japanese poster collection contains approximately 45 posters on the following topics: Japanese products and design; railways, ocean liners and tourism; Japanese art and design exhibitions; Japanese imperial modernity (including colonies in Korea, Manchuria, and northeastern China); and Japanese Ministry and Telecommunications campaigns. The posters reflect both Japanese painting techniques ( nihonga) and Western painting techniques ( yōga). Pictorial styles range from neo-traditionalism derived from woodblock prints ( ukiyoe) to modernism. The prominence of beautiful women ( bijin) as an aesthetic category in the collection is of note. Most of the posters were produced using the offset lithographic printing technique. The posters were created by prominent designers, commissioned by large Japanese corporations and government ministries, and produced by Japan's major offset printing companies.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is too fragile to be handled. Patrons are recommended to view the Scalar project "Unpinning History".

Conditions Governing Use

Permission for publication is given on behalf of the East Asian Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Custodial History

The provenance of the USC Libraries Japanese poster collection is largely unknown, as is the date of acquisition. The posters were part of a larger artificial collection assembled at the USC Von Kleinsmid Center before they were transferred to the USC Libraries.

Related Materials

Collection of Chinese posters, Collection no. 3376, East Asian Library, USC Libraries

Preferred Citation

[Box/folder no. or item name], Japanese poster collection, Collection no. 3020, East Asian Library, USC Libraries, University of Southern California

Processing Information

The posters in this collection were previously described as part of a larger collection titled the "Asian poster collection" and included description for approximately 43 Chinese posters and 12 Chinese calendars. The Chinese posters and calendars were separated and described in a separate finding aid.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Commercial art -- Japan -- Taishō period, 1912-1926 -- Posters
Design -- Japan -- History -- Taishō period, 1912-1926
Offset lithography -- Japan -- Taishō period, 1912-1926 -- Posters
Posters, Japanese -- Taishō period, 1912-1926 -- Archival resources
Printing -- Japan -- History -- 20th century
Propaganda, Japanese -- Taishō period, 1912-1926 -- Posters
Travel posters -- Japan -- Taishō period, 1912-1926 -- Archival resources
Offset lithographs
Posters
Asai Shiten (Tokyo, Japan)
Dainihon Seito Kabushiki Gaisha -- Posters
Gōshi Kaisha Chidoriya Shōten (Tokyo, Japan) -- Posters
Ichida Ofusetto Insatsu Kabushiki Kaisha (Ichida Offset Printing Co., Ltd.) (Osaka, Tokyo, and Shanghai) -- Posters
Kabushiki Kaisha Tōkyō Tsukiji Kappan Seizōsho (Tokyo, Japan) -- Posters
Machida, Ryūyō, 1871-1955 -- Posters
Mayama, Kōji, 1882-1981 -- Posters
Mitsuma Insatsu Gōmei Kaisha (Tokyo, Japan) -- Posters
Mitsuma Insatsujo (Mitsuma Printing Works) (Tokyo, Japan) -- Posters
Mitsumura Printing Co., Ltd. (Kobe, Japan)
Nagahara, Kotaro, 1864-1930 -- Posters
Nakayama Taiyodo -- Posters
Nippon Shuzō Kabushiki Kaisha (Yonezawa, Japan) -- Posters
Okano, Sakae, 1880-1942 -- Posters
Sugiura, Hisui, 1876-1965 -- Posters
Sugiyama, Sueo -- Posters
Tada, Hokuu, 1889-1948 -- Posters
Tōkyō Inshokan -- Posters