First illustrated English account of Sumo Wrestling
Aug 4th, 2011 by bachmann
William Kinnimond Burton, a British engineer, spent much of his career in Japan attempting to eliminate several serious epidemics, including cholera, all due to poor drainage and sanitary conditions found in the urban centers. Burton was also an avid photographer, sending several of his works, including dramatic images of the 1891 earthquake, to a number of London magazine publications. Along with Japanese photographer, Ogawa Kazumasa, he founded the Japanese Photographic Society, the first amatuer photographic organization in Japan. Burton was particulary interested in documenting Japanese customs and costumes, and in 1895, along with Ogawa and Professor Jukichi Inouye, he published the first illustrated English account of Japanese wrestling. This extremely rare publication contains an original colour woodblock print and 12 collotype reproductions depicting celebrated wrestlers in various poses and head to head competitions.
Wrestler announced by the umpire
Ozutsu, the "Great Gun", with the writer alongside
- Description:
- [Burton, W. K. Wrestlers and wrestling in Japan. Tokyo : K. Ogawa, [1895].
- Persistent Link:
- http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL:4138751
- Repository:
- Widener Library
- Institution:
- Harvard University
