The Case of the Sharaku Murders by Katsuhiko Takahashi Read Free Book Online

old-fashioned Japanese quality to them. How strange , he thought.
    â€œI think they’re what are called Akita School paintings,” Mizuno said matter-of-factly.
    Ah, no wonder they look old-fashioned , thought Ryohei. Based in Akita Prefecture in Northern Japan, the Akita School of Dutch (which meant Western) Painting — Akita ranga in Japanese—had flourished in the 1770s, around the same time the pioneering ukiyo-e artist Torii Kiyonaga had been active in Edo two hundred years ago. As an art historian, Ryohei felt he should have been able to identify the paintings on his own just by looking at them. But his attention had been focused on Kiyochika, who, as far as he knew, had no connection to the Akita School.
    â€œAnyway, I didn’t buy the book for the pictures,” Mizuno went on. “If they’d been by Shozan or Naotake instead of some unknown artist that’d be different. It was only Kiyochika’s preface that piqued my interest.”
    â€œThat makes sense,” Ryohei agreed. As any expert knew, Satake Shozan and Odano Naotake were the best-known painters of the Akita School.
    â€œBut then when I read it I was disappointed. I doubt I’ll be able to sell it. I just put that label on out of desperation…”
    Ryohei looked at the price. It was eight hundred yen.
    â€œIf you’re interested you can have it,” Mizuno offered, reading the look on Ryohei’s face. “Maybe it will come in handy for your research.”
    â€œThat’s very nice of you but I couldn’t…”
    Ryohei was indeed interested. For Kiyochika to have written the preface to a book of paintings unrelated to ukiyo-e must mean he had some connection to either the author or the publisher. Who knows—it might yield something interesting , he thought.
    â€œDon’t worry. You bought a book from me already,” Mizuno said with a smile, taking the book from Ryohei. Then, removing the label, he handed it back to him. “Please accept it as a gift.”
Great Paintings from the Collection of the Master of
Mountain Lake Villa
    Preface
    In these abundant times there is no shortage of books, and each passing month brings more and more. But most appeal to popular tastes and passing fancies. They are mere trifles that contribute nothing to our field. This is something scholars like myself greatly regret.
    Thus it is that we welcome the publication of this catalogue of paintings from the collection of the late Sato Masakichi, a.k.a. Master of Mountain Lake Villa, which I have been eagerly awaiting for some time now.
    I came to know Sato when I was living in Shizuoka Prefecture. He grew up in a small village in the mountains and at one time aspired to make his name in the world as a scholar. But due to circumstances beyond his control he was forced to abandon his formal education without finishing middle school. Coming from an old and well-respected family, with many art connoisseurs among his friends and relations, he acquired an extensive knowledge of painting from an early age and through self-study nurtured a great love of art. When he came of age, he was conscripted into the army and thereafter had to make his own way in the world, for family reasons. He eventually found his way to Akita Prefecture and spent a number of years in Kazuno County, working in the mining town of Kosaka.
    After I left Shizuoka I did not see Sato again for over thirty years. When we at last reestablished contact with one another I began to visit him often. I still remember fondly my stay with him from November 23 to 28 of last year.
    On September 17 of this year, Sato was killed in the historic flooding that hit the Kosaka area. I was deeply saddened when I heard the news.
    Fortunately, the flood spared Sato’s paintings and I heard that his widow intended to collect them into a book. I was delighted. In this way I know his love of painting will never die. On his behalf, I pray that many