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Telegraphic Address "IMPHO TOKYO"

Imperial Hotel
Tokyo

(2)

Returning for a minute to old masters, he told me that Duveen had had an exhibition two years ago of English portraits and landscapes, which he had advised him would be a fizzle, and was. Even this was held primarily for the [[strikethrough]] mme [[/strikethrough]] members of the English and American colonies here who had settled permanently here and had large homes.

I then mentioned Matsukata, Fukushima, and Shiobara, three names associated with modern things. The first, as you know, has sold many of his things in Paris, has practically nothing left, and is completely out of the market. His pictures were bought in the days when he was living in Paris. Likewise Fukushima, who has some things for sale, but wants to sell them here privately, and not through a European dealer. Shiobara has very little and is out of the market. All these men are bust, and Matsukata is involved in a huge financial flop with his whole family. I talked to Yashiro further about getting to know these or other men who might be possibilities, but he hedged quite a bit, and assured me that it was even more difficult to get into certain homes here than in France. Further, it must be explained (which I have heard from many other people since) that where one finds a collection in the home, even of Oriental things, it is never exhibited, whether it be paintings, bronzes, porcelains, prints, etc. but is kept in a "go down", as it is considered very vulgar taste to display one's possessions. Should the collection be shown by any chance, it takes three or four servants a day to bring these things out, very slowly, one by one. 

Regarding dealers, they are all pretty worthless and sly devils, irresponsible finacially, and totally incapable of handling our stock. I am seeing one tomorrow, however, who is supposed to be the best of the lot.* Eumorfopoulos, Hobson, and two others from the British Museum are here now, andare having the greatest difficulties getting into certain homes and borrowing things for the big Chinese Exhibition at Burlington House next year. (I saw the things the Chinese Government were lending in an exhibition in Shanghai, but was not very impressed). Yashiro's parting words were that the only interest was on the part of the new generation, educated to western ideas, and centered rather mildly on modern

*Worthless

Transcription Notes:
Reopened for Editing 2024-02-06 20:06:05 MS -added paragraph breaks for readability per previous SI feedback. -fixed typos. -changed XXX to [[cross-out]] XXX [[/cross-out]] NOTE: CORRECTION OF CORRECTION: XXX is essentially the same as "cross-out" and gives no useful information; I have inserted the letters that were struck over by X's (mme). Also, "strikethrough" or "crossed-out" is the term to be used, not "cross-out" (THANK YOU! I COULDN'T SEE THE mme MS) -left justified back to review. ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-06 20:41:26 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-06 20:55:46 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-06 21:21:10