Recollections of the Bakumatsu and Restoration, Part 2

A carved rat earns an apprentice unexpected praise—and enough silver to buy noodles for the whole household. A stolen plate of sashimi has a more troubling consequence. Takamura Kōun’s recollections begin with workshop humor, then move into the unrest and fighting that mark the end of Tokugawa rule.

This second volume follows Kōun through the Battle of Ueno, a failed attempt at dancing lessons, and the completion of eleven years of apprenticeship. His master helps him avoid conscription, gives him his sculptor’s name, and guides his first steps toward independence. Marriage, care for an ailing mother, and long days of work reveal the practical responsibilities behind an artistic career.

Takamura Kōun (1852–1934), a leading Japanese sculptor, also records an emerging world of national exhibitions, railways, and foreign commissions. His largest early assignment becomes a lively negotiation between Japanese decorative convention and a Western customer’s expectations. These ten chapters are translated in full, with concise notes on historical dates, craft terms, and textual uncertainties. AI-assisted translation.