KAMISAKI (Sunao).
Santoka Kusaku wo kizamu katazome ehon: Sake [Stencil-dyed picture book of Santoka's poetry: Sake]
A FINE PAIRING
A fine pairing: Santoka’s poetry on sake, with atmospheric illustrations by Kamisaki. The limitation for this book was 100, but Kamisaki made a few kazonbon or ‘house copies’, of which the present copy is one.
Santoka Taneda (1882–1940) was a poet known for free-verse haiku, which did not follow the conventions of the usual 5-7-5 syllabic structure. Though born into immense wealth and privilege, his life was far from idyllic. When Santoka was just eleven, his mother tragically ended her life by drowning in the family well, an image that would continue to haunt him.. Mental struggle followed, and in his adult life he became an alcoholic, attempting suicide a number of times. Despite his difficult past, Santoka opened a sake brewery with his father in 1906 and wrote poetry on the subject.
The present title masterfully brings Santoka’s lamentations on sake to life. Kamisaki produced another illustrated book of Santoka’s poetry, on the theme of ‘Journeys’. It is particularly poignant to consider this book on sake in the context of Santoka’s struggles, as well as his sake brewer career.
Very rare.
