Omocha-e

Omocha-e (Japanese: 玩具絵, "toy prints") is a genre of Japanese woodblock prints ukiyo-e created as picture books and toys for children.^[1] The genre was considered inferior to prints of kabuki actors (yakusha-e) or prints with beautiful women (bijin-ga).^[2]

There were many types of Omocha-e, including paper dolls to be dressed (kisekae-e), matching-picture games (e-awase), board games (such as sugoroku), dioramas to be cut out and assembled (tatebanko or kumitate-e), and encyclopedic compilations (monozukushi).^[3]

Omocha-e by Utagawa Yoshifuji
Omocha-e with horses
Omocha-e from the picture album "Sugoroku"
Omocha-e with cats and women from the picture album "Sugoroku"
New Patterns for Summer Costumes
New Print of Hoko Float to Assemble
Newly Published Comic Picture of Cats
Cats in backstage at Kabuki theater

References

^ "The World of Omocha-e : Opinion : Chuo Online". yab.yomiuri.co.jp. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
^ Chen, Minjie (2 February 2018). "Before Pokémon and Yo-kai Watch: A Window onto One of the Earliest Unique Forms of Japanese Animé at the Cotsen Children's Library". Cotsen Children’s Library. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
^ Tara M. McGowan (2013). "The Designs of Kawasaki Kyosen: Envisioning the Future of a Vanishing World through Toy Pictures (Omocha-e)". The Princeton University Library Chronicle. 74 (3): 320. doi:10.25290/prinunivlibrchro.74.3.0320.