Sanzo Wada

1883-1967

Sketches of G.I. in New Japan: Sanjo Bridge in Kyoto; A Snowy Sight at Hibiya Junction in Tokyo; and Japanese Coming Home on Hakata Pier
(Amerika heitaisan to shin Nihon fukei: Kyoto Sanjo Ohashi; Tokyo Hibiya kosaten no yuki; Hakata-ko no hojin hikiageru)

a set of three woodblock printed postcards, each identified with a title on verso: SANJO bridge in KYOTO illustrating three GIs paused on the span of the famous Sanjo Bridge as a pair of maiko who have caught their attention pass by, signed Horimoto; A snowy sight at HIBIYA junction in TOKYO embellished with hand-applied gofun snow illustrating a military policeman and a Japanese police office on opposite sides of the street directing traffic, initialed S.Y.; and Japanese coming home at HAKATA pier, signed in kanji, Wa; together with original envelope with title and artist in English and publisher's information on verso, ISSUED BY MIHO SHOBO, HAKATA, JAPAN, Printed BY Kyoto Hangain, Kyoto, ca. 1945-50

postcards 3 1/2 by 5 1/4 in., 9 by 13.3 cm
envelope 8 by 4 in., 20.3 by 10.2 cm

The English found on the outer-wrapper indicates that this group of three postcards illustrating scenes of American soldiers mingling with the Japanese during the occupation following World War II were marketed as souvenirs for the GI's. The image of the Hakata Pier near Fukuoka in Kyushu illustrates the American Liberty ship S.S. John Dockweiler (mispelled 'DockWiler') at dock. By 1946, Hakata was a primary processing center for the repatriation of Japanese returning from Korea with 4,000-5,000 arriving daily; and likewise for Koreans returning to their homeland in the care of the Allied 'Liberty Ships.'

References:
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, accession nos. 2006.2030 (Sanjo Bridge in Kyoto); 2006.2033 (Japanese Coming Home on Hakata Pier); 2006.2034 (A Snowy Sight at Hibiya Junction in Tokyo) and 2006:2037 (envelope for postcard series, Sketches of G.I. in New Japan)

(inv. no. C-3052)

price: $225