■ Explanation
The book lacks both a title page and a colophon, and the identities of the author and the illustrator are unknown. In the lower righthand corner of the back cover is a cinnabar seal impression 3.8 centimeters long and 2.3 centimeters wide, its characters indicating the ownership of copyright. More specifically, it translates as follows: "Printed on 10 May 1895, published on 13 of the same month;
19 Motoiwai-cho, Kanda Ward, Tokyo; publishXX (one undecipherable character) and printed by Sei Hirose." On the front cover is an indication that the book was published by Kelly & Walsh, the sole agent for Hasegawa Kobunsha, which published Crepe-paper books, but there is no other evidence of a connection with Hasegawa Kobunsha, and the facts of the publication remain unclear. As for the authorship, the credit "words and music by S.L.G." is printed on the cover, but it is impossible to specify a person or group from these initials. If the aforementioned seal impression is authentic, the book was published in 1895.
Subtitled "A topical song of Japan," the book is a collection of songs. The first four pages are occupied by a piano score, on which the first verse is written. The score is followed in order by six verses, one each for an introductory greeting and the five scenes showed "Ochayas" (i.e., Teahouses), Ricksha-man, Antique Shops, Beggars, and Passport Check. Each verse is written on a two-page spread together with pictures corresponding to the content and a glossary with romanized Japanese entries and their definitions in English. The title "My Japanese" apparently derives from this glossary. |