FEATURED BOOK REVIEW

Katayama, Ichiu. Ed. 1992 (Heisei 4).

Ichui-Kai Suiseki Catalogue. Quintessence of Suiseki Display. (雨会水石譜水石飾りの真髄),

Ichiu-Kai, Tokyo. 216 pages. Limited edition of 500 copies.

By Hiromi Nakaoji

Katayama Ichui, founder of the Keido School of Display, led a four-year effort to assemble photographs of a range of tokonoma-based suiseki displays. This volume presents the four seasons of displaying suiseki, beginning with winter, then spring, summer, and autumn, following the principles of display developed by Katayama. Each display is carefully curated and serves as an excellent visual example of how to decorate a tokonoma with suiseki and associated objects. The photography is outstanding, and the book’s oversized format allows readers to see every detail in each display.

In addition to the suiseki displays, this book includes descriptions of 13 famous makers of tables, suiban, and tempai, as well as a chronology of Ichui-kai and a list of its members. Ichui-kai is a suiseki club established by Katayama. The book’s preface was written by Katayama.

Rating: Excellent, a must-have for serious students of the Keido School of Display