Tsuruya Kokei
弦屋光溪
Also known as: Mitsui Gen, 三井弦, Tsuruya Koukei
1946
Japan
Biography
Tsuruya Kokei, born Gen Mitsui in Chigasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture in 1946, is a contemporary Japanese woodblock print artist celebrated for his kabuki actor portraits. Despite coming from an artistic family — his father was a painter and his grandfather was the Western-style painter and printmaker Nakazawa Hiromitsu — Kokei did not attempt creating art until the age of 32, when he was profoundly inspired by a kabuki performance.
From 1978 to 2000, Kokei produced woodblock prints of the actors performing at the Kabuki-za Theater in Tokyo, sold at the theater box office during the run of each play he depicted, completing approximately 12 limited-edition designs annually. Following the sosaku-hanga principle of self-creation, Kokei designed, carved, and printed every work himself on fine ganpi paper, applying traditional techniques such as gofun (white pigment) and mica for deluxe impressions. Each edition was limited to 72 prints, required 40 days to complete, and the blocks were destroyed afterward.
After twenty-two years of actor prints, Kokei stopped producing them in 2000 and in the years that followed expanded beyond the stage, developing self-portraits and other subjects. He later created a series paying tribute to the ukiyo-e masters who inspired his career. His work is held by the British Museum, Minneapolis Institute of Art, and Yale University Art Gallery.
Key Facts
- Active Period
- 1946
- Nationality
- 🇯🇵Japan
- Movements
- Contemporary MokuhangaSōsaku-hanga
- Works Indexed
- 86
Frequently Asked Questions
Tsuruya Kokei, born Gen Mitsui in Chigasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture in 1946, is a contemporary Japanese woodblock print artist celebrated for his kabuki actor portraits. Despite coming from an artistic family — his father was a painter and his grandfather was the Western-style painter and printmaker Nakazawa Hiromitsu — Kokei did not attempt creating art until the age of 32, when he was profoundly inspired by a kabuki performance.
Tsuruya Kokei was active born in 1946. They were associated with the Contemporary Mokuhanga and Sōsaku-hanga movements.
Tsuruya Kokei's work was shaped by the Contemporary Mokuhanga and Sōsaku-hanga traditions in Japanese woodblock printmaking. Contemporary Mokuhanga: Contemporary mokuhanga (literally "wood-block print") encompasses artists working from approximately 1970 to the present who continue or reinvent traditional Japanese woodblock printing techniques. Sōsaku-hanga: ## What is sōsaku-hanga? Sōsaku-hanga (創作版画, "creative prints") was a twentieth-century Japanese print movement defined by a single commitment: the artist must design, carve, and print every work alone.
Tsuruya Kokei's prints frequently feature kabuki, portraits, warriors, bijin-ga, still life, figures.
Original prints by Tsuruya Kokei can be found in collections including British Museum, Honolulu Museum of Art, ukiyo-e.org, Minneapolis Institute of Arts.
Woodblock Prints by Tsuruya Kokei (86)
Nakamura Utaemon in a Courtesan Role
1989
Woodblock print
Ichikawa Monnosuke as Miuraya Shiratama
Sept. 1989
Woodblock print
Actor Onoe Shōroku II as Kudō Suketsune
January 1989
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
Onoe Shoroku as Kudo Suketsune in the play
1989
Woodblock print
Onoe Baiko VII as Masaoka 七世尾上梅幸の乳人政岡 / Bust portraits VIII (Design 4) 第八期大首絵シリーズの４
October 1990
Woodblock print
The Tayu (High-ranking Courtesan)
Woodblock print on ganpi paper with mica
Nakamura Kichiemon in a Role
1990
Woodblock print
Onoe Baiko as Masaoka
Oct. 1990
Woodblock print
Actor Nakamura Kichiemon II as the Footman Unpei
March 1991
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
Nakamura Tomijuro as Soga Goro
May 1993
Woodblock print
Kataoka Takao I as Fireman Matsukichi
Woodblock print on ganpi paper
Bust Portrait Bando Tomisaburo V as Matsukaze- Design no 148
1994
Woodblock print
Bando Tamasaburo V as Ama Matsukaze
Woodblock print on ganpi paper with mica
Nakamura Jyakuemon as Ginpei's Wife Oryu
August 1995
Woodblock print
Ichikawa Danshiro IV as Akushichibyoe Kagekiyo
Woodblock print on ganpi paper with mica
Ichikawa Ennosuke as Onna Sendo Oen
Sept 1997
Woodblock print
Ichikawa Danjuro XII as Sasaki Taketsuna in "Kamakura Sandaiki"
Mokuhanga (Japanese woodblock)
Ichikawa Danjûrô XII in the role of Nangô Rikimaru in the play Benten Musume Meo no Shiranami
Mokuhanga (Japanese woodblock)
Ichikawa Danjurô XII in the role of Soga no Gorô in the play Uirouri
Mokuhanga (Japanese woodblock)
Ichikawa Danjurô XII as the hero Kamakura Gongorô in the play "Shibaraku"
Mokuhanga (Japanese woodblock)
Unpei - Plate No 125
Not set
Woodblock print
Kataoka Nizaemon XIII as Ishikawa Goemon in the play Sanmon Gosan no Kiri
Mokuhanga (Japanese woodblock)
Irises
Woodblock print
Onoe Baiko VII as Masaoka 七世尾上梅幸の乳人政岡 / Bust portraits VIII (Design 4) 第八期大首絵シリーズの４
Woodblock print