Yusui Toku “Unai” Series – ‘Chōyō’ 重陽 (Double Ninth Festival) – 1978 Shōwa Era Limited Edition | Kaga Yuzen Style Washi Print

About the Artwork
This exquisite print by Yusui Toku (湯水得), titled 「重陽」(Chōyō / Double Ninth Festival), belongs to the artist’s celebrated “Unai” (うない) portfolio—issued in 1978 as a limited edition of 50 works that pay homage to Japan’s seasonal festivals and poetic symbolism.

In this composition, a doll-like figure dressed in a richly patterned Kaga Yuzen–style kimono holds a branch of blooming chrysanthemums (kiku), the flower of autumn. The vibrant vermilion background radiates warmth and life, symbolizing the celebration of longevity (延寿) and the drinking of chrysanthemum wine (菊酒) during the Chōyō Festival, one of the five ancient seasonal observances (五節句).

The meticulous patterns evoke the refined handcraft of Kaga Yuzen dyeing, while the still composition reflects the meditative grace characteristic of Shōwa-period printmaking.
Printed on handmade washi paper, it captures the harmony between traditional textile art and poetic modernism that defines the Unai series.

Poetic Inscription (Verso)

重陽 (Chōyō)
菊酒延寿 (Kikusake enju) – “Chrysanthemum wine prolongs life.”

Artwork Details

• Artist: Yusui Toku (湯水得)

• Title: 重陽 (Chōyō / Double Ninth Festival)

• Series: Unai (うない)

• Year: 1978 (Shōwa Era)

• Technique: Woodblock / Mixed media print on handmade washi

• Style: Kaga Yuzen textile-inspired

• Edition: Limited to 50 prints

• Publisher: Fuji Art Publishing (Japan)

Collector Highlights

• From Yusui Toku’s iconic Unai portfolio (全50図)

• Features Kaga Yuzen textile artistry in print form

• Represents the cultural theme of longevity and renewal

• Ideal for collectors of modern Japanese prints, seasonal symbolism, or Shin-hanga revival art