Taito City Culture Guide Book, Visiting Calligraphy Museum

Ttrademark Labels of the sake "Masumi"

Shinjuku, Nakamura-ya

Osaka-ya

Fusetsu met Shiki Masaoka in the agency of painter Chu Asai in 1894, and came to deal with the illustration of the newspaper. Interchange with Shiki began with the new world of the illustrator, too. His recognition as a painter rose with a value of the illustrator, and undertaken illustrations and the cover design from the eminent writers of Meiji. Fusetsu undertaken the illustrations of Touson Shimazaki, Souseki Natsume and Sachio Ito’s the most important book.

Haiku magazine “Hototogisu”(little cuckoo) cover picture
"Hototogisu" was started by Shiki’s friend Kyokudou Yanagihara in1897, and magazine’s title was based on Masaoka's pen name.

Haiku magazine “Hototogisu”(little cuckoo) cover picture

The illustration of the "Waga-hai wa Neko de aru"(I am a cat) first edition book.
Souseki Nathume’s(1867-1916) "I am a cat"(1905) and "Botchan"(1906) were appeared in "Hototogisu". [Click the image to see details.]

Covers of the child magazine "Shounen Sekai”(boy world), and Literary magazine "Bungei Kurabu, a spring of the pear orchard".

"Souseki-Koji Shokan"(The third)
Souseki's letter addressed to Fusetsu. A date is October, 29th in Meiji 38(1905). Souseki wrote that the first edition of “I am a cat” was reprinted now for it was sold out only twenty days, and this popularity was thanks to the Fusetsu’s illustration. [Click the image to see details.]