Japanese artist illuminates a classic Dutch art piece by Hendrick Avercamp Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The contemporary Japanese artist Sawako Utsumi is once more focusing on the world of Dutch art. This time it is Hendrick Avercamp (1585-1634), unlike past art pieces that focused on Esaias van de Velde (1587-1630) and Aert van der…
Japanese artist touch to Esaias van de Velde: Light of Japan on Dutch art of yesteryear Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Another stunning art piece by the Japanese artist, Sawako Utsumi, is illuminated by the unique angle and a delightful color scheme to the original done by Esaias van de Velde. In the past,…
Japan art and Kanzan Shimomura: Famous son of Wakayama and his early artistic life in Tokyo Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The artist Kanzan Shimomura (1873 to 1930) is a famous son of Wakayama and just like this part of Japan is rich in culture and faith, Kanzan also had a spiritual and cultural…
Japanese art and Takeshiro Kanokogi: Influence of Jean-Paul Laurens and Emile-Rene Menard Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Takeshiro Kanokogi was born in 1874 during the infancy of the Meiji Restoration that began in 1868. Yet, by the time of his death in 1941, much had changed about Japan. Therefore, one can…
Art of Japan and Matsumura Goshun: Impact of high culture, Yosa Buson, and the shadow of death Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Matsumura Goshun was born in 1752 during the Edo Period in Japan and he provides an impressive glimpse into the rich heritage of high culture. In the early period…
Japan poetry and Tendai Buddhism: The historian and poetic Buddhist monk Jien (1155-1225) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Buddhist monk Jien was born in 1155 and he passed away from this world in 1225. Yet, despite the passages of time, his historical writings and poems leave a lasting legacy. Therefore, Jien provides a…
Japanese Art and Ito Shinsui: the stunning art of his early golden period Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Ito Shinsui (1898-1972) is a pivotal Japanese artist of the twentieth century. Hence he blessed the Taisho and Showa periods of Japanese history through the medium of art. Equally important, the Shin Hanga art movement meant…
Art of Japan and Nishikawa Sukenobu: From the Empress to Prostitutes Modern Tokyo Times Lee Jay Walker The Japanese artist Nishikawa Sukenobu (1671-1750) was based in the cultural city of Kyoto and he created a distinctive style. Indeed, his rich depictions of women appealed greatly to kimono makers. However, while the imperial city of Kyoto…
Japan art and the paths of Shintoism and Buddhism: Holy men in the snow without Abraham Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In the second part of Sawako Utsumi’s art that focuses on Buddhist and Shinto holy men in the snow, the contemporary Japanese artist once more works a treat. Of course, the art itself…
International animation fans in mourning over the death of Isao Takahata: Grave of the Fireflies Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times If individuals adore animation, then the all-time classic Grave of the Fireflies will always hit a chord. The inspiration behind this most moving anime was Isao Takahata (1935-2018), who sadly just passed away. However,…
Buddhist artists from China and Japan: Kaihō Yūshō (1533-1615) and the shadow of Liang K’ai (1140-1210) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The path of Buddhism in China and Japan knows many roads because of various sects. Equally important, the thought patterns of Buddhism and cultural impact are extremely diverse in China and Japan. This…
Confucianism and the piety of the Japanese artist Watanabe Kazan (1793-1841) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Watanabe Kazan (1793-1841) was a very thoughtful artist who came from Japan. Ethics wise, the morality and wisdom of Confucianism impacted greatly on this exceptional artist. Therefore, Watanabe focused on helping ordinary people in the Tahara Domain…
Ninth Century Japanese Art: Kose Kanaoka and the Cultural Richness of the Middle Kingdom Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times A great deal of information isn’t forthcoming in the English-speaking world when it comes to Kose Kanaoka. Indeed, even conjecture remains about the art he produced. This is based on the last known surviving…
Japan poetry and impact of the Middle Kingdom: Abe no Nakamaro (698-770) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The eighth-century Japanese scholar and poet, Abe no Nakamaro (698-770), belongs to the cultural world that was inspired by the Middle Kingdom (China). From a very young age, he showed exemplary skills suited to the world of…
Great 2018 Winter Olympics for Japan: Female Speed Skaters led the way Noriko Watanabe and Chika Mori Modern Tokyo Times The 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea is one that will stay in the memory of all Japanese lovers who adore sport. Hence, the welcoming city of Pyeongchang in South Korea will stay etched in…
Japan art and the last Ukiyo-e knell of the Meiji Era: Western artists inspired by Japan Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Ukiyo-e art is especially linked with the Edo Period (1603-1868) but while this art form was being forced into the shadows based on the modernizing ramifications of the Meiji Period (1868-1912), the fact…
Japanese Art and Kano Michinobu (1730-1790) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Kano school of art blessed Japan for many centuries after the founding fathers were born in the fifteenth century. However, like all traditional art forms, the Meiji Restoration of 1868 and endless modernization would eclipse the longevity of Kano artists. Despite this,…
Japan is having a great 2018 Winter Olympics: Kodaira and Hanyu win respective Gold Medals Sawako Uchida and Chika Mori Modern Tokyo Times The 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea is going swimmingly for Japan in Pyeongchang based on the current rich haul of ten medals. Indeed, while Japan was extremely unlucky not to win…
Kano Eitoku (1543-1590) and richness of Japanese art despite the warring times 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…
Zen Buddhist priest Mokuan Reien and Japanese Art: Fourteenth century 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 other…
Art of Japan and Kaihō Yūshō (1533-1615): Buddhism and high culture Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The impact of Buddhism on the art of Kaihō Yūshō (1533-1615) is abundantly obvious and the same applies to the role of this faith throughout his life. Of course, Yūshō isn’t alone when it comes to the enormous…
Japanese Art and Kano Sanraku (1559-1635): Centralization and continuity Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Kano Sanraku (1559-1635) witnessed the power processes of the centralization of Japan that ultimately led to the unification of this nation under the Tokugawa Period of 1603-1868. Naturally, the art world of Japan also witnessed new art…
Chinese Artist Shen Quan (Nanpin) and the window of Nagasaki in Japan (1731-1733) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The window of Nagasaki in Japan enabled the Chinese artist, Shen Quan (Nanpin), to enlighten several important Japanese artists for roughly two years during the relative isolation of the land of the rising sun. Of course,…
Art of Japan and Soga Shōhaku (1730-1781): Deep admiration of the Muromachi Period (1336-1573) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Soga Shōhaku (1730-1781) is a very intriguing artist because he wasn’t conventional. Equally important, Shōhaku did not follow the artistic trends of the Tokugawa Period. Instead, he was adamant that his artistic soul should dictate…
Art of Japan and Kose Kanaoka: Illusive Spirit of a Ninth Century Artist and the Middle Kingdom Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Tragically, a fire in the seventeenth century destroyed the last known documented art piece by Kose Kanaoka. It is known that Kose Kanaoka was born in the early ninth century and that…
Yosa Buson and Japanese Poetry: In the footsteps of Matsuo Bashō 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…
Famous Japanese Buddhist Warrior of the Twelfth Century and Japanese Art: Rich Legacy of Benkei Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Saito no Musashibo Benkei (1155-1189) is a famous and highly esteemed Japanese warrior of the twelfth century. Not only is Benkei revered for his loyalty, prowess, and knowledge but also he is deeply admired…
Japanese Landscapes by Kuniyoshi Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Utagawa Kuniyoshi is among the crème de la crème of ukiyo-e artists because his artwork remains powerful in modern times. Kuniyoshi, just like other famous Japanese artists like Ando Hiroshige and Katsushika Hokusai, was very diverse. This is because the window of a new Japan…
Japanese Art and the two paths of Buddhism and Shintoism: Faith in the Snow without Abraham Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The latest art piece by Sawako Utsumi, a contemporary Japanese artist who hails from Northern Japan, utilizes the snowy landscape by highlighting the respective strengths of Buddhism and Shintoism despite terrible adversity. Of…
Pierre Bonnard, Japanese Art, and his early artistic life: le Nabi très Japonard Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The artist Pierre Bonnard is known for his love of Japanese art. Despite this, the actual cultural impact of the land of the rising sun remains open to debate outside of art. However, he wasn’t nicknamed…
Yukio Mishima and the spirit of a genius based on the soul of history: The last great Japanese writer Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Japan witnessed many shifting sands since the Meiji Restoration of 1868 based on modernity, liberalism, nationalism, Westernization, reaching out to the past, forging a new future, and other convulsions that…
Japan Artist inspired by Alfred Sisley: Tranquility through Japanese eyes and cultural warning Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The artist Alfred Sisley painted many adorable landscapes through the medium of impressionism. Yet, to many individuals with limited knowledge of art, his name remains relatively unknown in comparison with other impressionist artists. However, this doesn’t…
