Frog Lover in Edo period- 松本奉時 ー 蛙をこよなく愛した江戸中期の絵師
ロゼッタストーンを持ってる蛙/ with Rosetta stone
ファラオバージョン／Egyptian King
This frog by Hōji Matsumoto has been appearing all over London recently. Not only can it be seen at the British Museum, but original stickers were also on sale at the Royal Albert Hall, which hosted the Grand Sumo London Tournament from 11 to 15 October 2025.
ロイヤルアルバートホール、力士バージョン/ Sumo wrestler
松本奉時 ー 蛙をこよなく愛した江戸中期の絵師
Hoji Matsumoto 〰️
松本奉時 ー 蛙をこよなく愛した江戸中期の絵師 Hoji Matsumoto 〰️
Even after thoroughly searching Rooms 92–94, the Japanese Galleries at the British Museum, this frog is nowhere to be found. So why, then, is it lined up in such abundance in the museum’s gift shop?
Christmas ornament
北斎と同等の扱い／Just as popular as Hokusai
More frogs
Got these souvenirs - お買い上げ
The British Museum, home to one of the world’s finest collections of ukiyo-e prints
When the London International Exhibition was held in 1862, Japanese paintings attracted considerable attention in Britain. It’s hardly surprising—after all, Japan’s more than 200-year period of seclusion had only just ended in 1854, following Commodore Perry’s arrival. One can easily imagine how captivated people must have been by Japanese art, which they were seeing for almost the first time. The British Museum was quick to take notice of Hokusai’s prints, reportedly acquiring its first work as early as 1860.
Five years later, the Exposition Universelle was held in Paris, where Japanese art once again became a sensation. This enthusiasm developed into Japonisme, a widespread fascination with all things Japanese that profoundly influenced artists such as Monet, Degas, and Van Gogh.
The British Museum’s ukiyo-e collection began with Hokusai. Collectors and scholars soon followed, and their efforts greatly expanded the collection. Much of the museum’s current holdings of Japanese prints were acquired through donations and bequests from these early collectors. It is thought that Hōji Matsumoto’s collection was also incorporated into the British Museum during this period.
名家画譜 Meika Gafu 1814
copy right@ British Museum 大英博物館サイトより転載
Hōji Matsumoto’s frog appears in Meika Gafu (Album of Master Drawings), a collection of works by various artists published in 1814 and now held by the British Museum. Out of the museum’s more than eight million objects, only around eighty thousand can be displayed at any one time, so although this piece is not part of the permanent exhibition, it has been shown in the past.
This charming, eye-catching frog occupies a prominent place in the museum’s gift shop. With its bold composition, dynamic brushwork, and expressive face, it remains a work that feels remarkably relatable—even to viewers today.
松本奉時ってどんな人？Who is Hoji Matsumoto?
