Senjafuda – from Kanda and Jimbocho

Senjafuda – from the areas of Kanda and Jimbocho

Typical design of a senjafuda – including the names of the pilgrim and the area they are from. In this case the area signifies they are from Kanda and Jimbocho. Picture obtained from the collection of Aishokan Nakagawa Shobo bookstore.

The phenomenon of senjafuda dates back to the late 18th century. They were originally made by pilgrims to paste on the walls of temples and shrines as a sort of devotional graffiti. Later they became collector’s items, and by the middle of the 19th century they had become miniature masterpieces of woodblock printed art. Senjafuda depict a dizzying variety of themes with meticulous craftsmanship and vivid, stylish graphic design.

https://glam.uoregon.edu/yokaisenjafuda/page/welcome