Go Back

Collection Of Sugoroku [Japanese Board Games]

c1909-1933. Thirty-three colour and process lithographs, sizes range from 39.5 x 54.7cm to 107 x 79cm. Two with missing portions to edges, some with repaired minor tears to edges, old folds and slight foxing or stains overall. Linen-backed.

Sugoroku (‘double-sixes’) are Japanese board games that can be traced back to the twelfth century, but became popular in the seventeenth century. They originated for adults as a dice-based contest for gambling, but as commercial publishing expanded in twentieth century Japan, they became more oriented towards children’s board games. While sugoroku were made for recreation, some carried political, nationalistic or educational messages as government agencies, the military, educators and companies appropriated the format. Subsequently, the games began to reflect Japan’s “popular culture, political agendas, and messages about social values, gender roles, race, and national identity.” Ref: Princeton University; NLA.

Themes in this collection include voyages around the world, sport, landmark aviation in Japan, transport, the 1922 ‘Peace Exhibition’ in Tokyo, a woman’s work and proper behaviour, animals, the school life of Japanese girls, and Japanese bombers during WWI. A detailed list is available upon request.

.
Item #CL189-7

Price (AUD): $38,500.00  other currencies