The book introduces the print-series Taiheiki eiyū den or Heroic Biographies from the 'Tale of Grand Pacification', designed by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861), who is considered the founder of the heroic genre in Japanese prints. The series is devoted to the final years of the sixteenth century civil wars and the key figure of the day, Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536?–98). All fifty prints of the series are reproduced in full color. Each print is accompanied by a translation of the extensive texts incorporated into the composition and detailed historical and cultural commentaries. The introductory essay reviews the peculiarities of Kuniyoshi’s warrior images, explores the roots of Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s popularity and discusses the texts in the prints as a source of information on the late medieval warriors’ outlook and battlefield practices.

A selection of one hundred masterpieces by Kawase Hasui (1883-1957), one of the most important Japanese landscape artists of the twentieth century. Large full colour illustrations show the enormous variety of snow, moon and rain scenes for which Hasui became famous. Introduction to Kawase Hasui by Ken Brown. (See also our publication 'Kawase Hasui The complete woodblock prints', 2003). Kawase Hasui (1883-1957) is considered one of the most important Japanese landscape artists of the 20th century. His prints, produced under the guidance and stern eye of his publisher, Watanabe Shôzaburô, are the modern continuation of the unforgettable works by Hiroshige and Hokusai, the 19th-century masters of this genre. As none other, he could evoke Japan of the eventful interwar period. Hasui's work enjoyed huge popularity from his very first print of 1918. In contrast to his illustrious 19th-century predecessors, his work was immediately successful in the rest of the world. His publisher, Watanabe Shôzaburô, recognised the enormous potential of the American market, which resulted in Hasui's prints fetching high prices at auctions in New York as early as the 1920s. After the Second World War, his prints were highly desired and sought after collectible items among the American occupying forces in Japan. Hasui's work has always been greatly appreciated in Japan: He was acknowledged as a 'Living National Treasure' in 1956.

This study examines the significance of the archetypal heroes and heroines of Japanese cinema and traces both their prior development in literature, drama, and folklore, and their subsequent variations in popular culture.

In cooperation with the Chazen Museum of Art, Madison, Wisconsin, Hotei Publishing is preparing the publication of Competition and Collaboration. Japanese Prints of the Utagawa School. This publication will be published along with the traveling exhibition organized by the Chazen Museum of Art on prints of the Utagawa school, well known through famous artists as Toyokuni, Hiroshige, Kunisada and Kuniyoshi. The exhibition will consist of approximately 150 works from the Chazen Museum of Art's Van Vleck collection of Japanese woodblock prints and the catalogue will illustrate 216 prints from the collection along with extensive descriptions. The exhibition will be on view at the Chazen from November 3, 2007 to January 6, 2008 before traveling to other venues.