Chinese art and Shen Quan: A brief period in Japan but a lasting legacy Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Edo Period (1603-1868) is known for keeping foreign people out and gradually closing the country. However, the past cultural bonds that shaped Japanese high culture preserved. Hence the small window of Nagasaki enabled a…
Japan art and the Reflection of Time: Hōitsu and the Persimmon Tree by Utsumi Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In another stunning art piece by the contemporary Japanese artist Sawako Utsumi, she focuses on a classic by Sakai Hōitsu (1761-1829). However, in her reflection, the dynamics change in relation to the color scheme, meaning,…
Zen Buddhist art of Japan: Hakuin Ekaku and teacher of all Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Hakuin Ekaku (1686-1769) revived Rinkai Buddhism in Japan because his roots never left him. Indeed, he was a holy Buddhist preacher who connected easily to ordinary people. Therefore, he understood the complexity of Buddhism in the countryside and…
Japan poetry and Okura (660-733): Influence of Confucianism and East Asia Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Yamanoue no Okura (660-733?) lived a dynamic life by the standards of the day. Of course, many areas of his life remain shrouded in mystery based on the passages of time. Therefore, it isn’t fully known if he…
Art of Japan and Torii Kiyonaga: Images of serenity Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Many individuals in modernized nations often look back to an imagined time of serenity. Of course, the reality is most likely different. Yet aspects of cultural identity and continuity appeal. Therefore, irrespective if art emanates from China, France, Japan, or…
Japanese tenth-century poetry: Mibu no Tadamine and the Middle Kingdom (China) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese poet Mibu no Tadamine reached his height during the late ninth and early tenth centuries. It is known that he was active in the Heian court between 898-920. Therefore, one can imagine his world through the…
Japan tourism and Nara: The legacy of Buddhism and high culture thrives Tomoko Hara and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times The delightful city of Nara is the birthplace of Japanese high culture and today this angle shines brightly. Hence, domestic and international tourists flock to this amazing part of Japan. Indeed, the region of Kansai…
Japan art and Goshun (1752-1811): The richness of Chinese and Japanese high culture Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Matsumura Goshun (1752-1811) was brought up in a world where high culture was supreme. He was the eldest child of six children and born into a wealthy family. Therefore, from a young age,…
Japanese art and rinpa: Buddhism, Maple trees, and a lovely stone lantern Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The delightful school of rinpa (rimpa) art covers a notable art form that hails from Japan. Rinpa spans many centuries and in modern times this art form continues to represent Japanese high culture. Therefore, international and…
Japan art and Morimura Hōgi (1805-1862): High culture and continuity Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Morimura Hōgi followed in the rich traditions of rinpa (rimpa) art and the cultural traits associated. This relates to art, poetry, the tea ceremony, and other areas of high culture. Hōgi belongs to the Edo period in Japan and…
Japanese death poems: The final flicker of Prince Ōtsu (663-686) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prince Ōtsu (663-686) knew his fate after being condemned to death. Hence, his death poem survives the passages of time, unlike others before him. Ōtsu knew that pain awaited and one can only imagine his inner-feelings. Deeming himself innocent…
Japanese Buddhist art and Kaō: Fourteenth-century art and the Middle Kingdom Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese painter Kaō Ninga belongs to the world of the fourteenth century. Hence, this Buddhist holy monk imbued high culture and religion within his art. Therefore, immediately you can feel art, Buddhism, cultural dimensions, and ideas. Artistically…
Japanese art and Suzuki Reitan (1792-1817): Early death before full bloom Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Suzuki Reitan (1792-1817) died before his art could bloom like a beautiful flower. Equally, belonging to the world of rinpa (rimpa) art, his focus was on learning past art and techniques while being schooled. Reitan…
Japan art and Sakai Oho (1808-1841): The rhythm of art and Buddhism Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Sakai Oho (1808-1841) belongs to the world of Japanese rinpa (rimpa) art. Despite living a life based on art, high culture, and the rhythm of Buddhism, it ended too soon. His father was a holy Buddhist priest…
Japan art and Kamisaka Sekka (1866-1942): A delightful dream world Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The artist Kamisaka Sekka (1866-1942) lit up Japanese art during his time on this earth. Of course, lovers of Sekka exist far and wide in modern times based on his adorable art. From a very young age, it was…
Japan art and Sakai Hōitsu: The Persimmon Tree and delightful Crow Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Sakai Hōitsu (1761-1829) produced countless stunning art pieces during his lifetime. Interestingly, in the last few decades of his life, he became a Buddhist monk and lived a life of solitude. In the art of two delightful pieces…
Japan art and Sakai Dōitsu (1845-1913): The richness of rinpa art Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Sakai Dōitsu (1845-1913) belongs to the world of Edo and Meiji despite dying in the early Taisho period. Like many artists who spanned a similar timeline he witnessed enormous convulsions. However, despite the modernization of…
Japan art and Yamamoto Kōitsu (1843-1905): Mysterious Heron and a Crane Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Yamamoto Kōitsu (Kōichi) was born in the Edo period and died during the revolutionary Meiji era. However, the exact years of his birth and death are not set in stone but reportedly 1843-1905. It is known that he…
Japan art and Hishida Shunsō: Faithful cats and nature Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Hishida Shunsō (1874-1911) never had nine lives, unlike the saying goes for cats. However, the stunning art of Shunsō means he lives on long after his death. This is based on the stunning art he produced. In the second…
Japanese art and Hayami Gyoshū (1894-1935): Camellia Petals Scattering Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Hayami Gyoshū (1894-1935) was born in Tokyo and art would become a way of life from a very young age. Like other artists born in the Meiji Period (1868-1912) a new Japan was dawning. Hence, the old traditional art forms…
Japanese art and Sakai Hōitsu (1761-1829): Buddhist monk and sublime art Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Sakai Hōitsu firmly belongs to the Edo Period and one can imagine his way of life. This relates to art, culture, literature, and religion. Equally important, the imagination focuses on the simplicity of life and…
Japanese art and Ishizaki Kōyō (1884-1947): The flow of Rinpa Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Ishizaki Kōyō (1884-1947) was born into a wealthy family in the prefecture of Toyama. During his lifetime, he witnessed the modernization of the Meiji period, to the liberalizing period of Taishō, and the nationalist period of…
Art of Japan and the richness of Culture: Kanzan Shimomura (1873 to 1930) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Kanzan Shimomura (1873 to 1930) was born during the early years of the Meiji Period (1868-1912). This period was revolutionary for Japan based on modernization and enormous cultural and economic convulsions. Despite this, Kanzan was molded…
Japanese art and Suzuki Kiitsu (1796-1858): Late Edo artist of Rinpa Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Suzuki Kiitsu (1796-1858) created many stunning pieces of art. Ironically, despite belonging to the late Edo period, his stature continues to grow in the modern world. In recent years in Japan, many refined art exhibitions…
Japanese art and the richness of Ikeda Koson (1803-1868) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The life of Ikeda Koson (1803-1868) is difficult to put together because many areas remain unknown. Yet, he was blessed to study under the renowned Sakai Hôitsu (1761-1828). Hôitsu firmly belonged to a very different Japan that was steeped by…
Japanese art and Hishida Shunsō (1874-1911): Hope to the shadow of death Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The artist Hishida Shunsō was born during the dynamic period of Meiji (1868-1912). However, despite the Meiji era not lasting so long, Shunsō died before the ending of this period of Japanese history. Hence, he died at…
Japanese art and the Bleak Midwinter of the Buddhist Tree of Life Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Sawako Utsumi fuses a stunning landscape with a wandering Buddhist monk in the bleak midwinter of Japan. Indeed, the religious angle, be it Buddhism, Christianity, or Shintoism, is a theme that pops up often in her art.…
Zen Buddhism and art of Japan inspired by the Middle Kingdom (China) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Middle Kingdom (China) enticed the thirteenth century born Japanese Zen priest, Mokuan Reien, based on various religious and cultural factors. Of course, the role of China was extremely important for Japanese high culture, religion, philosophy, and…
Classical poetry of Japan from bygone years: This fleeting world! Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Mibu no Tadamine is a Japanese poet who belongs to the early Heian poetry scene. In truth, not much is known about his actual birth and death. Thus, little is known about the things that reached his poetic heart.…
Japanese Art and Poetry of Yosa Buson: A bat flits in moonlight Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The poetic skills of Yosa Buson (1716-1784) are extremely legendary inside Japan despite the passages of time. Indeed, despite some notable art pieces by Buson, it is his words belonging to the world of haiku that stand…
Japanese art and Torii Kiyonaga (1752-1815) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese woodblock (ukiyo-e) artist Torii Kiyonaga was a very innovative artist who helped to enhance the prestige of the Torii School. Indeed, despite Kiyonaga not belonging to the Torii family, he still rose to the top and adopted this esteemed name. Kiyonaga…
Contemporary Japanese art and the mirage of time in the bleak midwinter Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Sawako Utsumi hails from northern Japan and in her latest landscape, you can depict the partial influence of Suzuki Kiitsu (1796-1858). Yet, unlike Kiitsu who focused on rinpa art, the latest stunning art piece by Utsumi is…
