We cannot ship to the USA due to suspension of the postal services from Malta. (Please read below). On auction is the print Gion Festival from the series Twelve Views of Kyoto. The Gion Festival, or Gion Matsuri, is a month-long festival held annually in Kyoto, Japan, throughout July, culminating in the Yamahoko Junko parade on July 17th and 24th. It's one of Japan's three most famous festivals, originating as a purification ritual to appease the gods during times of plague. The festival features elaborate floats called yamahoko, traditional music, dance, and various ceremonies, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle and enjoy the festive atmosphere. Born in 1917 in Kyoto City, Taizo Minakawa graduated in 1935 from the Kyoto Municipal Arts and Crafts School of Design. As a Modern artist, Taizo earned fame as a dyer, producing textile designs using wax resist, and also created a number of woodblock prints. His work has been exhibited around the world and published in several books. Minakawa incorporates simplified blocks of color and strong black outlines with a handsome use of negative space to create a bold modern style. Many accolades and awards to his credit include: The Kyoto City Dyeing Works Exhibition in 1938 Mayor's Award 1941 Bunten Exhibition 1945 1st Nitten Exhibition 1966 1971 Appointed Director of Contemporary Crafts Artists Association Appointed Councilor of Nitten Exhibition 1980 Appointed Executive Director of Contemporary Crafts Artists Association 1984 Kyoto Prefectural Culture Award for Distinguished Service 1987 Director of All Japan Dyeing and Weaving Crafts Association 1988 Medal of Honor with Dark Blue The print is in excellent condition. It has never been framed and always stored in a dark place. Due to the introduction of the import tariff system in 2025, Maltapost has suspended all postal services to the USA until further notice. If you live in the USA, you will need to give an alternative address outside of the USA for shipments. Otherwise, please refrain from bidding.