Cover and illustration of the magazine Hototogisu

Hototogisu was a magazine devoted to haiku and was first published in the city of Matsuyama by MASAOKA Shiki and his friend, YANAGIHARA Kyokudo, in 1897. Publication was later moved to Tokyo under the management of TAKAHAMA Kyoshi. It is also famous for having serialized NATSUME Soseki's novel Wagahai wa neko de aru (I am a cat). Shown here are illustrations that appeared on the front and back covers as well as inside volumes 8 through 15 of the magazine. Many of these works are by well-known artists such as NAKAMURA Fusetsu, ASAI Chu, SHIMOMURA Izan, and HASHIGUCHI Goyo.