Early 20th Century Illustrations from Japanese Children's Books

I imagine that yes is the only living thing

E. E. Cummings







Okamoto Kiichi, Land of the Little Birds, 1929



Koga Harue, May Motifs, 1932



Koga Harue, Mid-winter Night's Dream, 1931



Onchi Koshiro, The Akebia Flower, words by Kitahara Hakushu, 1928



Hatsuyama Shigeru, Elephant and a Child, 1931



Hatsuyama Shigeru, Roasting Chestnuts, words by Yokose Yau, 1928



Kawakami Shiro, Pheasant Village, 1929



Kawakami Shiro, The Insects' Journey, 1927



Honda Shotaro, Working Children, 1928



Honda Shotaro, The Swallow's Architecture, 1923



Honda Shotaro, The Insects' Orchestra, 1922



Takei Takeo, Wood Crafts, words by Takei Takeo, 1928



Takei Takeo, Color Tape Crafts, 1927



Takei Takeo, Clay Crafts, 1927



Takei Takeo, Origami, 1927



Takei Takeo, Bean Crafts, 1927



Takei Takeo, Always Together, words by Mizutani Masaru, 1931



Takei Takeo, Mountain Climbing, 1929



Okamoto Kiichi, Jumping Rope, 1928



Okamoto Kiichi, Diving, 1928



Okamoto Kiichi, Seesaw, 1928


Image Source
The International Library of Children's Literature / National Diet Library