[LION FILMS]

Yaji-san Kita-san Tokaido hizakurige [The Tokaido travels of Yaji and Kita]

EARLY ANIME 'TOY FILM'

Original 35mm. film reel with 80mm. tin canister. Small crease towards beginning of film reed, rusting to tin and some parts of prints labels chipped, a good copy. Japan, Lion Katei Film, Pre-War c. mid-, 1930.

£450.00

An early example of an anime telling of the well-loved story, Tokaido-chu Hizakurige, or The Shank’s Mare.

The Tokaido-chu Hizakurige was originally written by the celebrated Edo-period author Jippensha Ikku (1765–1831) and published in parts over a twenty-year period at the beginning of the nineteenth century. The protagonists of the story are Kitahachi and Yajirobe (often shortened to Kita and Yaji), two ordinary men who embark on a journey along the Tokaido from the capital city of Edo to the ancient city of Kyoto. They are a classic comedy duo who deem themselves far savvier than they really are. Along their travels they encounter all kinds of people and stop at various inns. Their clumsy, aloof manner leads them into dangerous situations, such as a particularly memorable incident where they burn themselves in a boiling hot bath at one of the inns.

In this anime version the two characters travel the Tokaido, but around the 1930s. The film opens with Kita and Yaji crossing Nihonbashi, before venturing out into the countryside. In keeping with Jippensha’s original characters, they encounter all kinds of dangers. They hitch a ride with a stranger, who drives them up a hill and into a tree. They are then ambushed by bandits who fire a canon in their direction. Later, they cleverly avoid the bandits by jumping into a pond and disguising themselves as lotus leaves. This film was clearly intended to amuse children, which it does with immense charm.

The present film reel is what was known as an omocha-eiga or ‘toy film’. These were typically short animated films that were made for children. Special projectors were made that could be used at home to screen these films. Lion Katei Film was one of a few companies that made such films and projectors, issuing a series of films in lovely canisters for children to collect and share with friends. These were particularly popular from the Taisho and early Showa periods.

Stock No.
253919
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