Taisho Japan (1912-1926) and Uzaki Sumikazu: Postcards and children Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times It is nigh impossible to get a real glimpse into any country through the prism of art, archeology, history books, and so forth. After all, countless monuments throughout history – on all continents – hide the hidden reality of slavery, enforced…
Japanese contemporary artist: Trees, Shinto, and contrast Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Sawako Utsumi is a contemporary Japanese artist who hails from northern Japan. In this art piece, the focus is on her different dimensions to trees that highlight the sublime beauty of nature. The various settings concerning Japanese dimensions and natural landscapes in Europe…
Japan art and the richness of Shin Hanga Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Ito Shinsui (1898-1972) produced a plethora of art concerning landscapes and a connection with the past – related to Shin Hanga. Hence, the modern flows of Japanese art in the Taisho (1912-1926) and Showa periods (1926-1989) fused with…
Japan art and Yokoyama Taikan: A mirror into the brutal world of history Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Yokoyama Taikan (1868-1958) was a child of the Meiji Restoration (1868-1912). He witnessed Japanese militarism and dramatic changes after World War Two. Japan, like all nations, had major political differences – hence, some supported…
Japan art and the last Meiji ukiyo-e flourish Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Notable Japanese art forms, from rinpa to ukiyo-e, continue to impact artistically internally and externally for people who adore art. The world of ukiyo-e blessed the Edo Period (1603-1868). However, despite the revolutionary fervor of the Meiji Period (1868-1912), this art…
Japan art and tragic life of a socialist sympathizer: The state apparatus Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Yumeji Takehisa (1884-1934) witnessed the excessive nature of the state apparatus. This concerns the Meiji Period (1868-1912), the rise of militarism in Japan, and he feared the rise of Nazism after his travels in the early 1930s.…
Japan art by Sakai Hōitsu and Buddhism Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The esteemed artist Sakai Hōitsu (1761-1829) became a holy Buddhist monk in the last few decades of his life. It is easy to imagine Hōitsu reading holy Buddhist scriptures, followed by contemplating his next art piece. The Met Museum says, “Hōitsu was…
Rinpa art in Japan and its link to Nichiren Buddhism Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The rinpa (rimpa) art form in Japan was fully supported by Nichiren Buddhist merchants in the cultural city of Kyoto. These Buddhists followed the teachings of the holy priest Nichiren (1222-1282). Therefore, the exquisite art of rinpa was funded…
Female warrior in 12th century Japan: Tomoe Gozen and art Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Twelfth-century Japan witnessed new power dynamics with the ending of the Heian Period (794-1185). However, for female warriors, including Tomoe Gozen, it highlights the military prowess of women in distant history. Therefore, female warriors – including Tomoe Gozen – would…
Japan art and Takeshiro Kanokogi: A world turned upside down Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Takeshiro Kanokogi (1874-1941) was transfixed by art emanating from France for much of his life. Hence, he traveled often between both nations after becoming established in Japan. Kanokogi was born during the early period of the…
Japan art and Shinto: Mountains in blue, Buddhism, and Kami Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The artist Sawako Utsumi hails from northern Japan. In her art, you often have religious dimensions – some obvious and others with hints concerning numerology and fusing this with religion. Therefore, in this art article, the emphasis is on the…
Japan art and the early life of Kanzan Shimomura Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Kanzan Shimomura (1873 to 1930) was influenced by many art forms. Despite moving to Tokyo at a very young age, the flow of culture emanating from his native Wakayama impacted Kanzan. He was born into a distinctive family concerning Noh…
Japan art: Adorable mixture of trees and the lone Buddhist monk Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Sawako Utsumi is a contemporary Japanese artist who hails from northern Japan. In this article, the focus is on trees and a sole Buddhist monk walking in the winter. After all, the “tree of life” and the cycle…
Japan art and Sakai Dōitsu (1845-1913): Mount Fuji Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Sakai Dōitsu (1845-1913) produced many adorable art pieces. In this article, the emphasis is on Mount Fuji and the foot of this revered mountain in Japan. Interestingly, Dōitsu belongs to a revolutionary period in Japan. This concerns the…
Japan art, China, and Zen Buddhism: Hakuin Ekaku (1686-1769) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Hakuin Ekaku (1686-1769) was a highly revered Zen Buddhist who utilized art, calligraphy, and other cultural angles to promote Buddhism. Rinzai Buddhism was stagnating because many ordinary people felt isolated. Therefore, Hakuin – and Sengai Gibon (1750-1837), a fellow Rinzai…
Tokyo artist during the Edo era: From fishmonger to esteemed art Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Totoya Hokkei (1780-1850) died in the late stages of the Edo Period. Remarkably, he went from being a young fishmonger to studying under Katsushika Hokusai after delving into the Kano School of Art. Therefore, the…
Dutch winter landscapes based on Hendrick Avercamp by Japanese artist Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The contemporary Japanese artist Sawako Utsumi adores Dutch art. This concerns the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries because this period was a Golden Age concerning the number of esteemed Dutch artists with unique styles (all inspired by Dutch and Flemish Renaissance…
Japan art and Western influence in late Edo and early Meiji Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Utagawa Sadahide (Gountei Sadahide) lived during a period of momentous changes in Japan. This concerns the ending of the Edo Period that began in 1603 and was eclipsed by the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Sadahide was born in…
Japan art and Buddhism – the mirror of life! Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Kaō Ninga was a holy Japanese Buddhist monk who lived during the Nanboku-chō Period. Hence, he lived during a time of major hierarchical differences. This concerns the Nanboku-chō period (1336-1392) and the lasting convulsions of the demise of the Kamakura…
Art of Japan: Depictions of women in Edo Period Modern Tokyo Times Lee Jay Walker The Kyoto artist Nishikawa Sukenobu (1671-1750) was born in the Edo Period. He became famous for his own distinctive artistic style. Thus his rich depictions of women appealed greatly to kimono makers. However, while the imperial city of Kyoto conjures…
Japanese art and the majesty of the sky Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In the four Japanese art pieces selected in this article, the passage of time is irrelevant. Hence, three artists are from the “past” while the other is “now.” However, irrespective of time, art will continue to create joy, passion, wonder, and…
Buddhism and the Japanese calligrapher Sugawara Mitsushige: Bodhisattva Kannon Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The inscription of the Japanese calligrapher Sugawara Mitsushige dates the scroll to 1257. Thus the start of the brief Shoka era. Also, in this period of Japanese history, the famous Buddhist monk Nichiren (1222-1282) spread new ideas and reinvigorated Buddhism…
Japan art and influence of China: Sakaki Hyakusen and Buddhism Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Sakaki Hyakusen (1697-1752) was heavily influenced by the Middle Kingdom (China). Indeed, some believe that he was of partial Chinese descent. Irrespective of this, this notable Japanese artist focused on a broad array of art forms.…
Japan poetry and a life blighted by ill-health: Masaoka Shiki (1867-1902) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The final years of the life of Masaoka Shiki (1867-1902) were filled with pain and long-lasting suffering. Ultimately, his life was cut short from the ravages of tuberculosis and other ailments that stemmed from this. Shiki understood the frailty…
Japan art and Hishida Shunsō: A life cut short Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Hishida Shunsō (1874-1911) hails from Japan. He was born during the Meiji Period that witnessed momentous changes throughout society. However, if you focus on the art of Shunsō, tranquility flows naturally in his art. Shunsō sadly died at a relatively…
Japan art and Gyoshu Hayami (1894-1935) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The artist Gyoshū Hayami (1894-1935) lived during a period of modernization in Japan. At the same time, the political arena was highly explosive – from extreme nationalism to loyal communist supporters. However, in the art of Gyoshū, you feel the richness of culture,…
Japanese art and Tanaka Hōji (1812-1885) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Tanaka Hōji (1812-1885) isn’t the most famous of artists in the land of the rising sun. Despite this, he compiled some notable cultural art pieces. Hōji witnessed enormous cultural, political, and social convulsions throughout his life. Initially, he belonged to…
Japan art and culture: Kaihō Yūshō (1533-1615), Buddhism, and China Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Kaihō Yūshō (1533-1615) lived and breathed Buddhism, high culture, the arts, and the richness of Chinese culture. Yūshō was a lay Buddhist priest who fused the arts, ethics, faith, philosophy, and other aspects of Japanese high…
Japan art and the fusion of ideas: Watanabe Shikō (1683-1755) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artists Watanabe Shikō (1683-1755) was born during the first century of the Edo Period. However, his early life is like a jigsaw with many missing pieces. Therefore, differences of opinion have emerged about Watanabe. Irrespective of this,…
Art of Japan and Ikeda Koson: Hinoki Cypresses Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Ikeda Koson (1803-1868) died in the year that modernization would take place in Japan. He belongs to the dying world of the Edo Period that was replaced by the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Hence, his earlier life was…
Japan art and rinpa: Buddhism and high culture Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times One of the most distinctive art forms in Japan is the delightful cultural art of rinpa (rimpa). This art movement developed in Kyoto in the early Edo Period of the seventeenth century. Therefore, the two founding fathers – Hon’ami Kōetsu and…
The Chinese artist Shen Quan and his stay in Edo Japan: Sublime nature Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Shen Quan (Nanpin) visited Japan during the Edo Period (1603 to 1868). Hailing from China, Shen understood that Nagasaka was a window open to the outside world. In 1731, Shen visited Japan for two years. During…
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