EDITORIAL: Right now an outstanding selection of paintings and prints by Utamaro can be seen in the British Museum. Later this year the selection, except the erotic prints will also be on view in the Chiba City Museum in Japan. Even in the context of Western art Utamaro is considered a great artist and I am sure you would not want to miss this unique opportunity to see the highlights of Utamaro's oeuvre in such perfect condition. The exhibition comes with a scholarly catalogue and if you intend to visit the exhibition you should read John Fiorillo's well-timed contribution to this issue of Andon 'Poetry, emotion, and form in Utamaro's Tôsei koika hakkei '. He has made a detailed study of this series of half-length double portraits of lovers, showing Utamaro's refinement in combining arresting beauty of style and composition with human emotions. From the feminine elegance of Utamaro to the male boldness of Kuniyoshi is quite a step. Elena Varshavskaya is working on the Taiheiki eiyûden, a series of warrior prints designed by Kuniyoshi around 1848. Here we publish the first fruits of her work, the annotated translation of the text on three prints from that series. Collectors not able to read Japanese will welcome the wealth of historical information about the heroes and Ms Varshavskaya's article will certainly enhance your appreciation of this popular series. In the wake of the two leading articles we have a short technical communication on discolouring pigments and several reviews of books and exhibitions. One contribution, that by Roger Keyes, is rather belated, but we did not want to withhold you his opinion on our Yoshitoshi exhibition catalogue, which owed so much to his preliminary studies.