Nihon Joshi Reishiki Taizen (Comprehensive Etiquette for Japanese Women / 日本女子禮式大全)
Fujiyama Sakae (Compiler/Editor)
📚 Genre
Cultural Non-Fiction, Household Management, Etiquette and Manners
🏢 Publisher
Toyodo (Tokyo / 東京 富山房)
📅 Publication Year
c. 1910-1920 (Taisho Era)
🔢 ISBN
None (Pre-ISBN era)
About This Book
A comprehensive pedagogical guide intended for the education of women in the early 20th century. It covers formal etiquette, traditional ceremonies, posture, and social behavior expected of the 'Good Wife, Wise Mother' (Ryōsai Kenbo) ideal. The cover features a Meiji/Taisho-era illustration of a winged female figure (an 'Angel' or 'Goddess' motif common in early Western-influenced Japanese art) set against a bold red and silver target/sunburst background with a laurel wreath.
Book Details
Language
Japanese (Classical/Kyūjitai kanji characters)
Pages
Approximately 150-300 pages (Typical for this series)
Edition
Fourth Edition (indicated by 四版 on the cover)
Series
Part of the Katei Kyōiku (Home Education) series
Target Audience
Adult Women, Young Women in finishing schools, Educators
Collector Information
Condition
Fair to Poor. Significant creasing and folding to the top left corner, visible foxing and staining on the cover, edge wear, and paper loss at the corner. The metal grommets/binding holes indicate it may have been part of a string-bound or folder set.
Estimated Value
$40-$80 USD. While historically interesting, the significant physical damage and the fact that it is a 4th edition rather than a 1st edition limits its value to niche ephemera collectors.
Rarity
Uncommon. While not a unique document, survival rates of paper schoolbooks from this era are low due to wartime paper shortages and general wear/disposal. However, Toyodo was a major publisher, so numerous copies were originally produced.
Historical Significance
Significant as an artifact of the Taisho-era educational push for women. It represents the transitional period where traditional Japanese values were being repackaged in modern, Westernized aesthetics to create a 'modern' Japanese identity.
Collector Notes
Collectors should focus on the integrity of the silver ink and the interior illustrations, which are often woodblock or early litho style. To preserve, this item should be stored in an acid-free archival sleeve to prevent further yellowing and crumbling of the wood-pulp paper typical of the Taisho era. Value is highly dependent on the condition of the graphics.
Similar Books
Joshi Sahō (Manners for Women) by Shimoda Utako; Onna Daigaku (The Great Learning for Women) by Kaibara Ekken; Taisho-era Home Management series (Katei no Tomo).
Notable Features
Features high-quality silver metallic ink; includes the 'Fourth Edition' marker; stylized lithograph cover art blending Japanese traditionalism with Western Art Nouveau influences.