Akanezumiya Introduction

Welcome to Akanezumiya

Akanezumiya is an Asian antique gallery specializing in Japanese figural art of the Edo period (1600-1863), with a special emphasis on ningyo and Buddhist sculpture. On this website you will find clear, detailed images and descriptions of the pieces we currently have available. Also, you will find full-text editions of some of our published articles, a listing of exhibitions, and a monthly focus topic that we will use to explore different areas of Japanese art. Akanezumiya is located in the Flathead Indian Reservation north of St Ignatius, MT at the foot of the Mission Mountains. get avi to flv program

I am frequently asked two questions: where did the name "Akanezumiya" come from? And secondly, why Montana?

The first relates to an interest in Japanese historical trivia, especially when it directly relates to my area of specialization, ningyo. "Akanezumiya" when translated literally means: "House of the Red Rat"(aka=red, nezumi=rat, ya=house or shop). This is not just a randomly selected name but is actually a personal homage to a once celebrated but now largely forgotten ningyo shop in Edo whose documented existence extends from 1683 through the very end of the Edo period, making it one of the longest continually operated ningyo shops in Japanese history. Найти эхолот Humminbird PiranhaMAX 160 в Екатеринбург

In 1683, a book entitled Teitokukyokashu, which depicted various signature scenes in and around Edo, was published with illustrations by the celebrated ukiyo-e artist Hishikawa Moronobu (1618-1694). For the illustration depicting the famous ningyo-cho or "doll street," Moronobu selected two shops with billowing curtains lively emblazoned with their respective logo. On the right we see the Tachibana-ya with its dramatic orange-blossom crest. While the curtain to the left bears the somewhat more enigmatic image of a large rat, this is the Nezumiya operated by a man named Buzen. The street scene in front is animated with customers lining up to buy large ningyo, a scuffle with a young lad over some real or imagined slight, and a porter proudly carrying away a purchase, probably destined for some military household.

The inclusion of the ningyo-cho in the Taitokukyukashu only gives a small indication of the importance of this street and of the ningyo sold there to Edo culture. Another sign can be found in the various Buukan or official listings of the merchants, artisans and shops selected by the Tokugawa government as official suppliers to the Tokugawa family. In the Buukan for the Kei-o era (1865-1868), right at the very close of the Edo period, we find Nezumiya mentioned again with its proprietor Buzennojo Takeoka Gohei. Some 180 years later the Nezumiya still proudly sold its ningyo to the elite of Edo society. Although no further illustration exists, we can imagine the rat-adorned curtain still fluttering along ningyo-cho. Мы реализуем опоры ЛЭП стабильно высокой надежности

As for the second question, why Montana: A picture is worth a thousand words.

For information and pricing please contact:
Alan Pate
AKANEZUMIYA - Fine Japanese Art
P.O. Box 370, St. Ignatius, Montana 59865, U.S.A.
Tel. 406/745-6717 Fax 406/745-6718
e-mail: alanpate@akanezumiya.com

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