?????. [Manga sugoroku]. [Manga Sugoroku Game]

[OKAMOTO IPPEI]. ????.

Published by ?????. [Shufunotomo sha]. ??4 [1929]., ??. [Tokyo]., 1929

Colour illustrated sugoroku game sheet, folded as issued, 62.5 x 93cm. Some minor creasing and light browning, edges show some wear, overall very good. This colourful sugoroku game with vibrant illustrations was created and illustrated by Okamoto Ippei, a very popular manga illustrator in early 20th century Japan. He regularly published his cartoons with his comments on the Asahi Newspaper and became well known for his artistry and sharp wit. He was married to Okamoto Kanoko, a flamboyant writer and well known Japanese sculptor Okamoto Taro was his son. This sugoroku was issued as a supplement to the January 1929 issue of Shufu no Tomo (Housewives' Friends), an extremely popular women's magazine of the time. The game's instructions tell us that a person who was born in the Year of Snake (1929 was the Year of Snake) has the right to start first and choose where to start. The game is also played as a fortune telling game predicting the players' luck for the coming year. Each stop in the game represents one of the various stages of life, such as meeting a suitable partner, buying a house, building wealth, and bearing children. It also offers opportunities for light humour amongst the players with comments such as "somebody is admiring you" and "you will be a great beauty in the adolescence". The game is to be played and enjoyed by family members as well guests for as part of their New Year entertainment and enjoyment. The final goal offers the winner a peaceful family life, abundant wealth and thriving children. Such goals were aspirations for many Japanese housewives who were loyal subscribers to Shufu no Tomo. Interestingly, the game shows none of the aspects of militarism which begin to appear in games within just a few short years when the Japanese military and colonial expansion in China began in earnest. Seller Inventory # 169999

Bibliographic Details

Title: ?????. [Manga sugoroku]. [Manga Sugoroku ...
Publisher: ?????. [Shufunotomo sha]. ??4 [1929]., ??. [Tokyo].
Publication Date: 1929
Binding: Soft cover