The Old Pagoda (Koto) E

Produced in 1966 in an edition of fifty, this woodblock print returns to the old pagoda subject with the designation "E" and the subtitle "Koto" (old capital), linking the structure to the ancient capital cities of Nara or Kyoto. The musical tag in the cataloging likely refers to the Japanese word koto meaning "old" or "ancient" rather than the stringed instrument. Sasajima's sustained exploration of pagoda imagery across multiple prints reflects a deep engagement with these Buddhist architectural forms as subjects for meditation. The numbered edition format indicates this print was produced with collector distribution in mind. Six years after his 1960 pagoda print, this version likely shows an evolved treatment, possibly more abstracted or more focused on the relationship between the ancient structure and its surrounding environment.