{"product_id":"momotaro-or-the-little-peachling-the-first-book-in-the-iconic-hasegawa-collection-of-old-japanese-tales-with-meticulously-restored-original-19th-century-ukiyo-e-art-by-kobayashi-eitaku","title":"Momotaro; or, The Little Peachling: The First Book in the Iconic Hasegawa Collection of Old Japanese Tales with Meticulously Restored Original 19th Century Ukiyo e Art by Kobayashi Eitaku","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"mso-ansi-language: EN-US;\"\u003eIn the late \u003cb style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;\"\u003e19th\u003c\/b\u003e century, during the vibrant \u003cb style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;\"\u003e\u003ci style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"\u003eMeiji\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e era, a pioneering Tokyo publisher named \u003cb style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;\"\u003e\u003ci style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"\u003eHasegawa Takejirō\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e (\u003cb style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;\"\u003e1853–1938\u003c\/b\u003e) embarked on an extraordinary cultural mission. Recognizing the growing global fascination with Japan, \u003cb style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;\"\u003e\u003ci style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"\u003eHasegawa\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e sought to bridge the East and the West by translating traditional Japanese folklore into Western languages. The result was a legendary collection of traditional Japanese folktales — a series of exquisitely crafted masterworks that enchanted readers worldwide and became widely known as the \u003cb style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;\"\u003e\u003ci style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"\u003eJapanese Fairy Tale Series\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"mso-ansi-language: EN-US;\"\u003eHasegawa’s brilliance lay in his refusal to compromise on artistic quality. He gathered the finest talents of his generation to bring these ancient oral traditions to life. To render the texts into English with poetic clarity and historical charm, he commissioned renowned Western scholars and orientalists, most notably \u003cb style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;\"\u003e\u003ci style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"\u003eDavid Thompson\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003cb style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;\"\u003e\u003ci style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"\u003eBasil Hall Chamberlain\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, and \u003cb style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;\"\u003e\u003ci style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"\u003eLafcadio Hearn\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"mso-ansi-language: EN-US;\"\u003eEven more spectacular was the visual presentation. \u003cb style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;\"\u003e\u003ci style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"\u003eHasegawa\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e employed celebrated master artists of the \u003cb style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;\"\u003e\u003ci style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"\u003eUkiyo-e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;\"\u003e\u003ci style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"\u003eNihonga\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e movements—such as \u003cb style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;\"\u003e\u003ci style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"\u003eKobayashi Eitaku\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003cb style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;\"\u003e\u003ci style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"\u003eToyohara Chikanobu\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, and \u003cb style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;\"\u003e\u003ci style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"\u003eSuzuki Kason\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e — to create the illustrations. Every page was a seamless synthesis of storytelling and fine art. The English texts and dramatic, colorful imagery were meticulously hand-carved onto traditional wooden blocks by master craftsmen, making the lettering an inseparable, living part of the artwork itself.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"mso-ansi-language: EN-US;\"\u003eOriginally, these volumes were printed on fine mulberry paper and then underwent a complex, labor-intensive process of manual crinkling to produce \u003cb style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;\"\u003e\u003ci\u003echirimen-bon\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e (crepe-paper books), giving them a unique, cloth-like texture. Because the initial print runs were small and sold primarily to international visitors, well-preserved original editions have become exceptionally scarce and highly collectible treasures.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"mso-ansi-language: EN-US;\"\u003eThis premium edition, compiled under the direction of \u003ci\u003eShigeru Yahara\u003c\/i\u003e, pays faithful tribute to \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eHasegawa\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e’s magnificent heritage. The historical woodblock prints and integrated hand-carved texts in this volume have been lovingly and meticulously restored by hand. By cleaning every ancient line and reviving the brilliance of the original \u003cb style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;\"\u003e\u003ci style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"\u003eMeiji\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e-era color palettes, this edition proudly preserves the authentic soul, visual depth, and historic elegance of \u003cb style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;\"\u003eOld Japan\u003c\/b\u003e for generations to come.\u003ci style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"mso-ansi-language: EN-US;\"\u003e-----------------\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"mso-ansi-language: EN-US;\"\u003eBOOK DETAILS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"mso-ansi-language: EN-US;\"\u003ePublisher ‏:    Yahara Press (2026)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"mso-ansi-language: EN-US;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage :   English\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePaperback : ‎ 40 pages \/ 11 x 8.25 inches\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Shaolin Kung Fu Online Library","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":53130193305882,"sku":null,"price":8.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0776\/8476\/9050\/files\/Momotaro_or_The_Little_Peachling_The_First_Book_in_the_Iconic_Hasegawa_Collection_of_Old_Japanese_Tales_with_Meticulously_Restored_Original_19th-Century_Ukiyo-e_Art_by_Kobayashi_Eitaku.jpg?v=1792483988","url":"https:\/\/shaolinkungfulibrary.com\/products\/momotaro-or-the-little-peachling-the-first-book-in-the-iconic-hasegawa-collection-of-old-japanese-tales-with-meticulously-restored-original-19th-century-ukiyo-e-art-by-kobayashi-eitaku","provider":"Shaolin Kung Fu Online Library","version":"1.0","type":"link"}