About NIHONKOSHO
Before you decide whether to buy from us, let me tell you who we are and how we work.
Hello — a little about us
Thank you for finding your way here. I am Japanese, born and still living in Japan.
Even living here, we rarely encounter ukiyo-e prints in our everyday lives — the art form is only accessible on limited occasions. I was not drawn to Japanese fine art at all in my younger years. Even as a Japanese, I had only ever seen ukiyo-e through the textbooks we used at school.
Then a friend living abroad unexpectedly asked me to find an ukiyo-e print. That request began my journey into the world of woodblock prints. While on that quest I discovered that the illustrations in old books had been created by ukiyo-e artists themselves, and from that day the appeal of these prints and of antique books drew me a little further in.
When I got my hands on an original ukiyo-e print for the first time, I was astounded by its beauty and its remarkable handiwork. I have been enamored ever since.
Why I opened this shop
Something else came to my attention on that same journey. For people living abroad, it was almost impossible to find a store in Japan that would sell them an original ukiyo-e print. And when they did find one, more difficulties waited: the store would not ship overseas, or the asking price was far too high.
Wanting to own one of these pieces was not enough. Buying one simply was not easy.
So I opened this online store, wanting a place where people anywhere in the world could touch the beauty of traditional Japanese art and antique books, and shop without stress. That is still the whole of what we do.
Sincerely,NIHONKOSHO
What we sell
- Japanese woodblock prints — both original ukiyo-e and hand-printed reproductions
- Antique Japanese books, and books on Japanese art
Much of it is hard to find even in Japan. With the antique pieces we rarely come across the same item twice, so what is on the shelves keeps changing.
How to judge a piece before you buy
Old paper carries its age on the surface, and that is exactly what you will want to see before you decide.
Every listing has a condition note and a full set of photographs. Please study the photographs closely: they are part of the description, and for a sheet that is a century old they will tell you far more than any sentence I could write.
I want you to know exactly what you are buying. If a piece has a flaw, you will find it in the photographs before you decide.
How your order reaches you
Every order is packed by hand. Of everything we do, this is the part our customers praise most — we know because we ask them, in a short survey after their order arrives.
Every parcel then travels with a tracking number, from our door to yours.
What our customers say
“This is probably the best wrapped package I've ever received - the book was wrapped in plastic which was inside a box which was wrapped in a waterproof shipping envelope which was placed in the shipping box. That's a huge plus considering I live in an area with extreme & unpredictable weather. The book was in pristine condition when it arrived. It looks beautiful and can't wait to flip through the stunning prints. Thank you!”
Customer in United States · Antique book
“Website description and photos were extremely accurate. Excellent service and speedy delivery and my book was so well packed it arrived in perfect condition.
Highly recommended!”
Customer in United Kingdom · Antique book
“I teach my students the history of Manga. They were impressed by the book. They cannot believe it is the actual book printed a century ago and not just a reproduction. I love to create authentic feelings in my students. Thank you”
Customer in Saudi Arabia · Antique book
“The book, a present for my wife, arrived quickly and was packed with great care. The book itself is in far better condition than we expected, as the seller described some age damage, but could hardly find the marks. With a book this old its signs of age are signs of being used and loved.”
Customer in Australia · Antique book
“This print arrived carefully and safely packed. The quality of the print exceeded my expectations. It’s beautiful. The website is easy to navigate and any queries were informative and prompt. I couldn’t be happier with the service, product and delivery.”
Customer in Australia · Woodblock print
“Expertly packaged, and shipped, shows the dedication and professionalism of this vendor. Fabulous rarities in a lost art are hard to find, and NIHONKOSHO delivers.”
Customer in United States · Antique book
Every order is prepared and checked in our own shop.
Every parcel travels with a tracking number, door to door.
A condition note on every listing, with photographs to judge it by.
Any questions before you order? Write to us — every message is read and answered by someone here.