Ofuji Of The Yanagi Shop
Japanese
Wall Scroll

Ofuji of the Yanagi Shop

This features the young beauty Ofuji (お藤) working in the Yanagi storefront.

This is a giclee-printed reproduction of a very old Japanese woodblock print. This was made months ago, rather than centuries ago. This reproduction is actually 4x bigger than the original by area (twice the width and twice the length) which makes a bigger/better presentation to enjoy in your home.

Original artist: Ippitsusai Bunchō / 一筆齋文調 (1725-1794).

Original woodblock was created in Japan, Meiwa era, within the Edo period, around 1769.
On the left, this artwork is signed 一筆齊文調画 which is the artist's signature with the character for painting, 画, at the end - indicates he is the original painter/creator. His stamp reads "Mori uji" - Mori being his real surname.

This features the beautiful Ofuji sitting at the front of the store as a "come-on" (kamban musume, literally, "signboard girl").
Beside her is the small grindstone used to crush the gallnuts found on sumac (nurude) into the black powder painted onto their teeth by married women of that period.
Ofuji is preparing packets of the powder and the split-bamboo toothbrushes with which this was applied.
The advertisement on the wall behind her, written under the willow-branch emblem of the store, gives the name of the powder as "Genji Perfumed Gallnut Powder" (Genji Nioi Fushi).

The Yanagi trademark was crossed scrolls in a circle on a fan (which you can see printed on a few surfaces behind her). To the right of her head in the background is a small painting of the Chrysanthemum Boy (Kikujido), a classical Chinese, hence elegant, subject of the time.

Down the left-hand side of the design is a poem printed in white against the faded background: Keuchi surunurude Ofuji no okami kana... "As they dye their teeth, with gallnut powder, does Ofuji slip them a glance?"
The poem contains a pun on the word okami, which can mean both "sideways glance" and "married woman" (who would of course blacken their teeth).

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I purchased a woodblock print, produced from the original design in about 1914. I used this (which has excellent colors) to create the image for this larger reproduction. The original is less than 6" wide and is for sale if you are interested. Probably under $100 if you want to make an offer. Since I have already made a printing master image, I don't need the original anymore, so I can let it go for a bargain price.

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More about the artist

Ippitsusai Bunchō (一筆齋文調) was active as an artist between 1755-1790. Like many ukiyo-e artists, his life is shrouded in mystery. His date of birth is unknown, but his real surname at birth was Mori. The year of his death is probably between 1790 and 1794.

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About Real Japanese Woodblock Prints

Woodblock printing, often considered the precursor to the modern printing press, was first developed in China and later brought to Japan, where artists refined the technique into a unique art form. In Japan, these prints are called 木版畫 ("Moku Hanga"). Most were created during the Edo period (1603–1867), though production continued into the early 20th century.

Japanese artists would first create a "template painting" depicting scenes of daily life, including women washing clothes, men writing poetry, samurai battles, and occasionally more dramatic subjects. These template images, known as 浮世絵 (Ukiyo-e, or "Floating World"), were then carved into wood by skilled artisans. Another specialist applied wet ink or pigments to the carved blocks, and a sheet of handmade paper was pressed on to create the final print. This collaborative process produced vibrant, detailed artworks much faster than hand-painting hundreds of copies.

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About This Reproduction

Original Japanese woodblock prints from the Edo period can sell for $800 to $20,000. Our prints are high-quality reproductions, crafted to capture the look and feel of the originals, though experts will recognize them as reproductions.

We use authentic handmade kozo (mulberry) paper—the same paper Japanese printmakers used centuries ago. Archival, UV-resistant pigment inks ensure long-lasting color, with laboratory testing showing up to 95 years of fade-free enjoyment if kept out of direct sunlight. Each reproduction is carefully color-corrected and restored, bringing the Edo period artwork to life for your wall.

Printing on delicate handmade paper is challenging. After testing multiple high-end printers, we found the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-2000 delivers the precision and quality needed, using 12 archival inks and 18,432 nozzles. Each print is then sent to our Beijing workshop, where it is mounted into a handmade wall scroll, ready-to-hang without the need for expensive framing, giving your piece an authentic Japanese look.

Because the original artist has long passed, these works are public domain. In some cases, we license high-resolution scans of original prints, or even scan 200-year-old originals ourselves. This dedication ensures you receive a stunning Japanese woodblock print reproduction at an affordable price, making traditional Asian art accessible to everyone.

Want a custom wall scroll or unique print size? Just contact us!

We can print larger sizes, choose your preferred paper texture, and select silk brocade colors. Ready-to-frame prints can ship in days, while custom wall scrolls may take several weeks. Either way, the result is a truly one-of-a-kind piece of Japanese art.