✳︎Title: Exploring Illustrated Old Towns ✳︎Authors: Nobuo Saito, Minami Kusa Noguchi ✳︎Publisher: Nichi Shuppan (Kokusai Bunko Sha) ✳︎Size: A5 (18.3 x 15 cm) ✳︎Pages: 203p ✳︎Publication Year: July 1984 (Showa 59) ✳︎Condition: Stains on the top edge (ten) of the book. 《Table of Contents》 Tome (Miyagi Prefecture) Yonezawa (Yamagata Prefecture) Aizu-Wakamatsu (Fukushima Prefecture) Kitakata (Fukushima Prefecture) Tochigi (Tochigi Prefecture) Ashikaga (Tochigi Prefecture) Matsuda (Gunma Prefecture) Ueda (Nagano Prefecture) Sawara (Chiba Prefecture) Kawagoe (Saitama Prefecture) Yushima/Hongo (Tokyo) Katsushika-Shibamata (Tokyo) Goyu/Akasaka (Aichi Prefecture) Arimatsu (Nagoya City) Tsumago (Nagano Prefecture) Asuke (Aichi Prefecture) Hida-Furukawa (Gifu Prefecture) Gujo Hachiman (Gifu Prefecture) Echizen-Ono (Fukui Prefecture) Iga-Ueno (Mie Prefecture) Furuichi (Mie Prefecture) Fushimi (Kyoto Prefecture) Imai-cho (Nara Prefecture) Sasayama (Hyogo Prefecture) Izushi (Hyogo Prefecture) Tsuuyama (Okayama Prefecture) Bitchu Takahashi (Okayama Prefecture) Buiya (Okayama Prefecture) Ashimori (Okayama Prefecture) Shimotsui (Okayama Prefecture) Tomonoura (Hiroshima Prefecture) Takehara (Hiroshima Prefecture) Tsuwano (Shimane Prefecture) Kotohira (Kagawa Prefecture) Uchiko (Ehime Prefecture) Yanagawa (Fukuoka Prefecture) Hita (Oita Prefecture) Kitsuki (Oita Prefecture) Usuki (Oita Prefecture) Bungo-Takeda (Oita Prefecture) Chiran (Kagoshima Prefecture) Bōno (Kagoshima Prefecture) The greatest charm of this book, "Exploring Illustrated Old Towns," lies in the numerous pen drawings that evoke the atmosphere of the Showa era, filled with meticulous, comical, and warm details. The depth of the townscapes and the texture of the tools placed on the eaves, which would be lost in photographs, are recreated in the illustrated maps by Nobuo Saito. The deep gaze towards local folk toys scattered throughout is also captivating. Toys rooted in the local faith and life, such as the "#Tomononamazu" and "#Hōbō no Shishi" in Tochigi, and the "Karakara-bune" in Bōno, breathe naturally within the maps and landscapes. You will surely experience a luxurious sense of immersion, as if peeking over the shoulders of travelers from that era at the townscapes of various regions that also served as stages for the Mingei movement. Years have passed since its publication, and many of the landscapes featured in the book are now lost. This book is recommended as a resource that records the local history that once existed in Japan and as a guide map that helps trace the origins of craftsmanship. ◉⤵︎Search terms #TownWalking #RoadWalking #Folklore #NobuoSaito #LocalFolkToys #MingeiMovement #BeautyOfUse #PostTowns #OldHouses #TraditionalCrafts #SoetsuYanagi #WoodenToys #ClayDolls #Hariko #AntiqueTools #Craftsmen #Woodcarvers #Craftsmanship #KenjiSuzuki