{"product_id":"1890-samurai-portrait-small-formal-by-ozeki-toyo-in-a-postcard-frame","title":"1890 Samurai Portrait Small Formal by Ozeki Toyo. (In a Postcard Frame)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"qMYqUG_convSearchResultHighlightRoot\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"\" data-turn-id-container=\"request-69c68860-0424-8321-8f35-59b4ba74485e-8\" data-is-intersecting=\"true\"\u003e\n\u003csection class=\"text-token-text-primary w-full focus:outline-none has-data-writing-block:pointer-events-none [\u0026amp;:has([data-writing-block])\u0026gt;*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]\" dir=\"auto\" data-turn-id=\"request-69c68860-0424-8321-8f35-59b4ba74485e-8\" data-turn-id-container=\"request-69c68860-0424-8321-8f35-59b4ba74485e-8\" data-testid=\"conversation-turn-206\" data-scroll-anchor=\"false\" data-turn=\"assistant\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"text-base my-auto mx-auto pb-10 [--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-xs,calc(var(--spacing)*4))] @w-sm\/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-sm,calc(var(--spacing)*6))] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-lg,calc(var(--spacing)*16))] px-(--thread-content-margin)\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1 group\/turn-messages focus-visible:outline-hidden relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col gap-4 grow\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-message-author-role=\"assistant\" data-message-id=\"4bcbd78d-18a1-486a-9dfc-70e01667a1c0\" dir=\"auto\" data-message-model-slug=\"gpt-5-5\" class=\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal outline-none keyboard-focused:focus-ring [.text-message+\u0026amp;]:mt-1\" data-turn-start-message=\"true\" tabindex=\"0\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"markdown prose dark:prose-invert wrap-break-word w-full dark markdown-new-styling\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"103\" data-end=\"291\"\u003eVery good condition overall. There are no insect holes, stains, or tears. The surviving cover page has been preserved in a postcard-sized frame and displays beautifully.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"293\" data-end=\"463\"\u003eThis original Meiji-period woodblock-printed book cover comes from \u003cem data-start=\"360\" data-end=\"382\"\u003eEhon Shiobara Tasuke\u003c\/em\u003e (絵本塩原多助), published in 1890 (Meiji 23) by Hōeidō under the publisher Ozeki Toyo.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"465\" data-end=\"710\"\u003eThe remainder of the book was damaged beyond repair and no longer survives. Fortunately, the cover page was salvaged and preserved separately, allowing this attractive example of Meiji-period book illustration to survive as a standalone artwork.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"712\" data-end=\"1052\"\u003eThe illustration depicts one of the most famous scenes from the story of Shiobara Tasuke, the beloved episode known as \u003cem data-start=\"831\" data-end=\"847\"\u003eAiba no Wakare\u003c\/em\u003e (\"Parting from the Beloved Horse\"). The scene shows Tasuke standing beneath a crescent moon as he bids farewell to his faithful horse, Ao, in a deeply emotional moment that became famous throughout Japan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1054\" data-end=\"1442\"\u003eThe story of Shiobara Tasuke originated as a popular narrative by the renowned rakugo storyteller \u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003eSanyūtei Enchō\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e and became one of the most celebrated human-interest tales of the Meiji era. Its themes of perseverance, loyalty, hardship, and compassion resonated strongly with audiences, leading to countless adaptations in books, theater, and popular entertainment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1444\" data-end=\"1808\"\u003eAs a book cover intended for the mass market, the design reflects the bold and accessible illustration style that characterized late nineteenth-century Japanese publishing. Such covers were created to attract readers with dramatic scenes and recognizable characters, making them an important part of Japan's rapidly expanding print culture during the Meiji period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1810\" data-end=\"2119\"\u003eToday, surviving cover pages are often rarer than the books themselves, as they were particularly susceptible to wear and damage through everyday use. In this case, the cover is the sole surviving portion of the original publication, preserving both the artwork and a small piece of Meiji-era popular culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2121\" data-end=\"2281\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eA charming example of Meiji-period publishing history, suitable for collectors of Japanese literature, rakugo history, and woodblock-printed book illustrations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"z-0 flex min-h-[46px] justify-start\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mt-3 w-full empty:hidden\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"text-center\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Echoes of Edo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48336777871619,"sku":null,"price":3500.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0811\/5965\/1587\/files\/ChatGPTImageJun5_2026_07_33_58AM.png?v=1780629195","url":"https:\/\/echoesofedo.com\/products\/1890-samurai-portrait-small-formal-by-ozeki-toyo-in-a-postcard-frame","provider":"Echoes of Edo","version":"1.0","type":"link"}