Yusui Toku “Unai” Series – ‘Danki Giku’ 弾琴菊 (Dancing Chrysanthemum) – 1978 Showa Era Limited Edition Kaga Yuzen Washi Print

About the Artwork

This graceful composition, titled 「弾琴菊」(Danki Giku – “Dancing Chrysanthemum”), is part of the Unai (うない) limited edition series by Yusui Toku (湯水得), produced in 1978 during Japan’s Shōwa period.
It depicts three children running joyfully across patterned ground planes, their small figures adorned in richly detailed Kaga Yuzen–style kimono that shimmer with rhythmic energy. The composition’s diagonal design evokes musical movement — a dance of life and laughter — framed in serene pastel tones of blue, gold, and gray.

Through the refined precision of color and pattern, Yusui Toku transforms childhood play into a visual poem — one that balances spontaneity and harmony in perfect Japanese elegance.

Poetic Inscription (Verso)

弾琴菊 (Danki Giku)
よきことをきく

(To hear beautiful things —
like the sound of strings
and the laughter of children —
this is joy.)

This brief waka-inspired verse captures a moment of grace and purity, reflecting the musicality of innocence that defines the Unai collection.

Artistic Symbolism

The chrysanthemum (kiku) symbolizes longevity, renewal, and imperial beauty in Japanese art. Combined with the imagery of playful children, Yusui Toku reinterprets this ancient motif as a celebration of youthful vitality and aesthetic balance.

His use of Kaga Yuzen–inspired patterns and Nihonga-style restraint exemplifies the Shōwa modernist revival of classical arts — merging traditional craftsmanship with contemporary poetic vision.
As with all works in the Unai series, this piece harmonizes childhood purity, textile artistry, and the lyrical soul of Japan.

Artwork Details

Artist: Yusui Toku (湯水得)
Title: 弾琴菊 (Danki Giku / Dancing Chrysanthemum)
Series: Unai (うない)
Year: 1978 (Shōwa 53)
Medium: Woodblock / mixed media print on handmade washi paper
Style: Kaga Yuzen–inspired textile motifs with Nihonga soft tones
Edition: Limited to 50 prints
Publisher: Fuji Art Publishing (Japan)

Collector Highlights

• Features Yusui Toku’s signature fusion of Kaga Yuzen textile design and poetic modernism

• A rare 1978 limited edition from the Unai series, printed on fine washi paper

• Symbolizes joy, purity, and renewal through the chrysanthemum motif

• Ideal for collectors of Japanese fine art, Unai editions, Shōwa-era prints, and Yuzen-inspired works