FREE Standard Shipping on USA orders over $125
FREE Standard Shipping on USA orders over $125
Dating to Japan’s Meiji era, this colorful hikifuda was created as an advertisement for Sakagami Tomokichi, an Osaka seafood wholesaler specializing in shioboshi (salt-dried fish) and katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes), an essential ingredient used to make traditional Japanese dashi.
At the center is Ebisu, one of Japan’s Seven Lucky Gods and the traditional patron of fishermen, merchants, prosperity, and good fortune. His appearance was particularly fitting for a seafood business. Ebisu beams as he holds an enormous red sea bream, or tai, a fish closely associated with celebration and good luck in Japan. Its symbolism is reinforced by a play on words: tai appears in medetai, a Japanese expression meaning auspicious or worthy of celebration.
The print is a hikifuda, a type of advertising handbill distributed by Japanese merchants to customers, particularly around the New Year. Rather than simply printing the name of a business and its products, merchants surrounded their advertisements with colorful images of gods, prosperity, abundance, and other lucky symbols, encouraging customers to keep and display them.
Sakagami Tomokichi operated in Osaka’s Semba district, historically one of the city’s great centers of commerce and wholesale trade. Osaka itself was famously associated with the nation’s food trade, making it an important center for merchants dealing in products such as fish, dried bonito, and other culinary staples.
The imagery continues the theme of prosperity throughout the composition. Bamboo and a sacred shimenawa rope surround Ebisu and his enormous catch, adding further symbols associated with good fortune and auspicious occasions. At the same time, the business information and telephone number reflect the increasingly modern commercial world of Japan at the turn of the 20th century.
Originally created as an everyday advertisement for a seafood wholesaler, this hikifuda is a wonderful example of how Japanese merchants combined commerce with traditional beliefs and imagery. More than a century later, it offers a fascinating glimpse into Osaka’s historic food trade, Japanese advertising, and the enduring symbolism of Ebisu and his lucky sea bream.
Size: 13.5" x 20"
Condition: Very Good, Age-appropriate wear. Paper toning in accordance with the print's age. Marks/stains as per photo. Wear around the edges and minor paper loss might be present in some prints. Please refer to each print's image to get a better understanding of the condition.
Age-appropriate wear. Paper toning in accordance with the print's age. Marks/stains as per photo. Wear around the edges and minor paper loss might be present in some prints. Please refer to each print's image to get a better understanding of the condition.
We us a widely recognized 6 scale system to grade our posters.
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All of our posters are guaranteed to be authentic and as described in the product description to the best of our knowledge and belief, and in good faith. Quite simply, if you are not satisfied with your purchase for any reason, simply contact us within 14 days of receipt and we'll gladly accept your return, providing the item is in the same condition as it was sent.
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Authentic Vintage Posters- RETURNS
7514 Girard Ave
STE 1615
La Jolla, CA 92037
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