NIPPONIA

NIPPONIA No.27 December 15, 2003

Special Feature*

Suzume Odori-zu (Dancing Sparrows), from Hokusai Manga (detail). The artist was expert in his observation of a man in motion. We feel how much the artist wanted to show him dancing, in a low brimmed hat.

Sketches by Hokusai (Hokusai Manga)

The greatest ukiyo-e artist, Katsushika Hokusai, produced a series of picture books that were published in 15 volumes between 1814 and 1878. These Hokusai Manga contain more than 4,000 illustrations. Hokusai's portrayal of the motion of the human body, and his scientific observations of muscle movement, are especially evident in Suzume Odori-zu (Dancing Sparrows) in Volume 3, Yari no keiko-zu (Spear Throwing Practice) in Volume 6, and Bureiko-zu (Informal Party) in Volume 8.

Cartoons from Onna Hyaku-men So (The Many Expressions of a Woman), a cinematographic novel published around 1920. The text for the novel appeared on the right-side page, opposite these cartoons. The four manga frames on the left-side page depicted the action, highlighting the storyline. This format was inspired by motion pictures.

Japanese artists were expressing movement in picture scrolls 900 years ago. Their techniques were adapted by ukiyo-e artists, and then went on to influence modern manga artists like Shimokawa Hekoten. These techniques have influenced Japanese animé works since the 1920s.

NIPPONIA