A Collection of Fashionable English Words (1887)

Jan 23, 2018



These two Japanese woodcuts by Kamekichi Tsunajima, from a series titled "Ryūkō eigo zukushi" (A Collection of Fashionable English Words), show images of animals, activities and objects each with their Japanese and English names. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) some spelling mistakes have given rise to some interesting new activities such as "Refreshiug" and "Cuting Rice", and the "Gaot", "Hoise" and "Tea Po". The introduction of activities (including the very Zen-like "Looking Moon") give an interesting take on the often more object-orientated Western equivalents. Also worth noting the interesting additions of "Cross Child" rather than simply "Child" , and "Blank Book" rather than "Book".