• Yusui Toku Unai Series Karako 唐子 1978 Showa Japanese woodblock print, children playing, traditional kimono, Kaga Yuzen style on washi paper
  • Yusui Toku Unai Series Karako 唐子 1978 Showa Japanese woodblock print, children playing, traditional kimono, Kaga Yuzen style on washi paper
  • Yusui Toku Unai Series Karako 唐子 1978 Showa Japanese woodblock print, children playing, traditional kimono, Kaga Yuzen style on washi paper
  • Yusui Toku Unai Series Karako 唐子 1978 Showa Japanese woodblock print, children playing, traditional kimono, Kaga Yuzen style on washi paper
1 4

Yusui Toku “Unai” Series – ‘Karako’ 唐子 (Chinese Children) – 1978 Shōwa Era Limited Edition | Kaga Yuzen Style Washi Print

Yusui Toku “Unai” Series – ‘Karako’ 唐子 (Chinese Children) – 1978 Shōwa Era Limited Edition | Kaga Yuzen Style Washi Print

¥8,900 JPY
¥8,900 JPY
Sale Sold out
Taxes included.

About the Artwork
This charming piece, titled 「唐子」(Karako) — literally “Chinese Children” — is part of the Unai (うない) limited edition series by Yusui Toku (湯水得), created in 1978 during Japan’s Shōwa period.
The karako theme originated in classical Japanese and Chinese art, representing innocence, happiness, and the hope for prosperity.

In this composition, several young children in ornate patterned robes dance and play in joyous motion. Each garment is rendered in exquisite Kaga Yuzen–inspired textile designs, with soft pigments and fine outlines that evoke the timeless art of kimono decoration.
The warm amber background harmonizes the figures, creating a sense of nostalgic light and celebratory unity.

Poetic Inscription (Verso)

唐子 (Karako)
ほめられて嬉し 唐子を集めうし
(To be praised brings joy — gathering the happy children together)

This simple haiku-like verse captures the spirit of innocence and shared delight, echoing the playfulness of the scene.

Artistic Symbolism

  • The karako motif was a popular subject in Edo-period paintings and ceramics, symbolizing cultural exchange and the blending of artistic traditions.

  • Here, Yusui Toku reinterprets it through a Shōwa-modern aesthetic, merging delicate nihonga coloration with poetic restraint.

  • The theme resonates with Unai’s broader vision — the celebration of pure childhood as a mirror of Japan’s enduring heart.

Artwork Details

  • Artist: Yusui Toku (湯水得)

  • Title: 唐子 (Karako / Chinese Children)

  • Series: Unai (うない)

  • Year: 1978 (Shōwa 53)

  • Medium: Woodblock / mixed media print on handmade washi paper

  • Style: Kaga Yuzen–inspired patterns and gold undertones

  • Edition: Limited to 50 prints

  • Publisher: Fuji Art Publishing (Japan)

Collector Highlights

  • Depicts the traditional karako children motif — symbol of joy and abundance

  • Executed in fine washi with elegant pigment layering

  • Reflects postwar Japan’s revival of classical art forms through Shin Nihonga modernism

  • Ideal for collectors of Japanese childhood imagery, Yuzen textile design, and Shōwa-era poetic works

Low stock: 1 left

View full details