Japan art and Mount Fuji: Suzuki Kiitsu in color by Sawako Utsumi and the flow of Sakai Hōitsu Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese contemporary artist, Sawako Utsumi, once more produces an adorable art piece based on rinpa (rimpa). In the past, Utsumi heavily focused on Sakai Hōitsu (1761-1828) in relation to rinpa.…
Japanese Art and the influence of Katsukawa Shunshō (1726-1793) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist called Katsukawa Shunshō isn’t particularly famous outside of Japan. Indeed, even in Japan, he is hardly among the first individuals to think about when focusing on artists during the Edo Period. Yet, Shunshō’s legacy is extremely rich…
Art of Japan and Tensho Shubun: Middle Kingdom to the power of Buddhism Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Tensho Shubun was deeply influenced by landscape artists from the Middle Kingdom (China). Indeed, Shubun is noted for being one of the founding fathers of introducing Chinese-style ink painting in the land of…
Japan art and stunning angle to Sakai Hōitsu who belongs to the Edo Period by Sawako Utsumi Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In the latest art piece by Sawako Utsumi, this contemporary artist focuses on the rinpa (rimpa) finesse of Sakai Hōitsu (1761-1828). Hōitsu, himself, adored Ogata Kōrin (1658-1716) and in time he revitalized…
Japan poetry and the female poet Komachi: Heartfelt passion from the distant past Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese female poet, Ono no Komachi, was born in the ninth century. It is widely reported that she was born in 825 and passed away from this cold earth in the year 900. However, the…
Ito Shinsui and Japanese art: Poverty to continuity Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The artist Ito Shinsui (1898-1972) leaves a lasting legacy because he produced many stunning pieces of art. His artwork came to the fore during the Taisho and Showa periods in Japan, whereby he became famous for stunning images of beautiful women.…
Japan poetry and Yosa Buson: Footsteps of Matsuo Basho Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The poetry of Yosa Buson (1716-1784) in Japan is highly acclaimed because his haiku reached the hearts of many. Indeed, despite being a distinctive artist during the Edo Period, it is his haiku that stands out. Hence, the fame that…
Japanese art and Sōami (1472-1525): Aesthetics, China, and Zen Buddhism Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist, Sōami, is known for an array of areas linked to high culture in the land of the rising sun. Hence, he is strongly linked to Japanese aesthetics and the power of high culture that impacted greatly…
Kano Sanraku (1559-1635) and art of Japan: The world of power concentration Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Kano Sanraku (1559-1635) belongs to a time of major change in Japanese society. Hence, he witnessed the power processes of centralization under several warlords. This culminated with the emergence of the Tokugawa Period that lasted from…
Poetry of Japan and Arakida Moritake (1473-1549): Ambiance of Shintoism and Iio Sogi Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In time, the poet Arakida Moritake (1473-1549) became the symbolic head Shinto priest of the prestigious Inner Ise Shrine. Hence, with the Shinto faith meaning so much to Moritake, one can only imagine the inner-peace this…
Ando Hiroshige and Japan art: Sexuality, landscapes, and becoming a Buddhist Monk Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Internationally, Japanese art is known for the richness of various cultural angles during the Edo Period and early Meiji era. Following on from this, few Japanese artists are so internationally famous like Ando Hiroshige (1797-1858). Despite this,…
Art of Japan and the female warrior Tomoe Gozen: The onna-bugeisha Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Tomoe Gozen is a famous female warrior in Japan who highlights the reality that women played various roles in Japanese society, outside the subservient model often portrayed. Indeed, even before the emergence of the samurai, females had learned…
Art of Japan and Sado Island: Trilogy of Nichiren in the Snow during his exile Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Nichiren (1222-1282) is one of the most famous Buddhist teachers to emanate from Japan. Yet, he was very outspoken during his lifetime and this led him to be exiled and embroiled in the political…
Hell or heaven can’t defeat the futility of life The beauty of life fades by the woe of age and time All that once was near, now but a blurred memory Even the joy of the early dew is now dead God and gods are meant to provide light Yet, the death of nature…
Zen Buddhism and Japanese Art: Taking Rinzai Buddhism to the rural poor Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The holy Buddhist monk Hakuin Ekaku revived the school of Rinzai Buddhism based on taking Zen Buddhism far and wide. Indeed, his upbringing meant that he never lost touch with people at the bottom of the ladder,…
Japan art and one-sided love: Frailty of life despite his boundless love of Paris Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Yuzo Saeki is one of the most intriguing artists to have left the shores of the land of the rising sun. Sadly, his time on this earth was extremely limited because he perished when he…
Contemporary Japanese artist and L. S. Lowry in Full Bloom by Sawako Utsumi Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The contemporary Japanese artist, Sawako Utsumi, adores a plethora of different art styles fused from her native Japan and a mixture of European artists. This notably applies to the Dutch Masters of the sixteenth and seventeenth…
Japanese art and the small window of Nagasaki: The Chinese artist Shen Quan (Nanpin) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Chinese artist Shen Quan (Nanpin) had a limited opportunity and a narrow window to view Japanese culture. This is based on entering the narrow window of Nagasaki for roughly two years because Japan was…
Buddhist monk Jien and a window into old Japan (1155-1225): Poetry and history Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The elite nature of Japanese Buddhism began to change dramatically during the Kamakura Period (1185-1333) because many famous Buddhist leaders in this period would take the faith to all and sundry. Officially, the new era of…
The poetry of old Japan: Yamabe no Akahito and the devoutly Buddhist Emperor Shōmu Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Yamabe no Akahito belongs to the world of eighth-century Japan when Nara was the cradle of high culture in this nation. In truth, the jigsaw of his life is extremely difficult to piece together.…
Japanese art, Goshun, and the influence of Buson: The artistic heaven on earth Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Matsumura Goshun (1752-1811) created countless stunning art pieces that reflect nature and serenity. Indeed, some of his art pieces create a collective illusion of beauty, passivity, and a way of life that is based solely…
The last throes before the ghost of time Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times A lifetime of friendship becomes distant. Moments of confusion grow from minutes to days. Loved ones often erased. The river once flowed and reached my heart. Now the flow is lost. Art hangs on many walls, like eyes reaching into my…
Buddhist art and the Japanese priest Mokuan Reien: The Middle Kingdom and Mu Qi Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese Zen Buddhist priest Mokuan Reien was born in the thirteenth century in the land of the rising sun. Like many Japanese Buddhist holy men – artists and people of culture – the Middle…
Contemporary Japanese artist and adorable landscape titled “Hakone in Natural Splendor” Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The contemporary Japanese artist Sawako Utsumi recently produced another adorable art piece that focused on the natural landscape of Hakone. True to the nature of Utsumi, she bypassed the possibility of focusing on Mount Fuji that can be…
Soga Shōhaku went against the grain in the eighteenth century: Art of the Muromachi Period Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Soga Shōhaku (1730-1781) went against the grain in the eighteenth century because he was greatly influenced by the Muromachi Period. This period, dated 1336 to 1573, but officially coming into existence…
Japanese poet of bygone years: Kakinomoto no Hitomaro Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese waka poet Kakinomoto no Hitomaro belongs to the world of the seventh century and the very early eighth century, prior to perishing from this world. His legacy remains in the vestiges of Japanese high culture because he belongs…
The richness of Japanese art during the warring times: Kano Eitoku (1543-1590) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Kano Eitoku (1543-1590) says much about the various dynamics of the Azuchi-Momoyama Period and the warlord Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582). This applies to the growth of Japanese art and culture despite the warring period that…
THE JAPANESE FILM FESTIVAL UNVEILS 2018 PROGRAM The Japanese Film Festival (17 Oct. – 2 Dec.) today announced its full program and first two guests for 2018: Australian-born rising star Shioli Kutsuna (Deadpool 2), delivers a stellar performance in highlight indie comedy Oh Lucy! and renowned Japanese auteur Isao Yukisada, for his turbulent coming-of-age drama…
Art and Poetry: Typhoons and earthquakes take asunder to this cold earth In a flash, all love that was embraced was over The beauty of the child, the lady, the male, the grandparents, all gone No time to say goodbye or to protect The chanting Buddha, the prayer to Christ, the longing of the…
Sengai Gibon and Rinzai Buddhism: Artistic Outreach and Buddhist Contemplation Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The inner-soul of Sengai Gibon (1750-1837) was always multidimensional and the flow that linked all fusions was Buddhism. Artistic wise, we will never know the real capabilities of Sengai because his art and writings were based on simplicity,…
The reality of poverty for the Japanese artist Eisen and his independent nature Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Keisai Eisen (1790-1848) learned to be independent at an early age because he chose a path that was fraught with economic danger. In a sense, Eisen represents aspects of “the real Edo period” for individuals who…
Art of Japan and Kiyoo: Social and political convulsions but artistic continuity Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Kawamura Kiyoo (1852-1934) created many amazing pieces of art during a period of rapid political change. He was born in the old world of the Edo Period (1603-1868) and he witnessed the modernization of…
