Thanks so much for your comment! (And sorry for not replying sooner; weekends usually find me assiduously trying not to spend too much time online!) I envy that you have this print and that you were able to purchase it from his studio; I don’t have it, and of course I covet it, like many Saitos! I only own one — I think it’s called Competition for a Charm — but I’ve never seen it online in any of the galleries. It is of two identical roosters that overlap, and perhaps I’ll post a photo. My mother claims she saw it going at Sotheby’s for a ridiculous amount of money. But that’s all I know about it.

My grandparents were in Japan in the 50s, which is when they acquired it. I love sosaku hanga prints, my mother has slowly been giving me all the prints she has. My grandparents were apparently partial to Junichiro Sekino; I currently have 4 of his prints, and I believe my mother still has another 2 or 3.

Except for the prints that I’ve inherited, my collection is really quite modest. There are a lot of wonderful artists –including contemporary woodblockers — whose beautiful pieces are available for very reasonable prices. It is those I actively collect.

Thanks for stopping by, and please do comment again!