Art of Japan: Beauty inspired by nature 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 were now…
Rinpa art: The bridge of Edo and Meiji on his artistic soul 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…
Rinpa art and freestyle: Nineteenth-century Japanese artist 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 the traditions…
Art of Japan: Beauty in simplicity! 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 internal exhibitions continue to inspire. Nichiren Buddhism…
Art of Japan: Buddhist Monk and Winter 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. However, her faith is embedded…
Japan art and Sakai Dōitsu: His heart belonged to the old world Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The artist Sakai Dōitsu (1845-1913) was born during a very revolutionary period in Japan. This applies to the Meiji Restoration (1868-1912). However, Dōitsu firmly belongs to the rich world of rinpa (rimpa) art. Hence, while Dōitsu witnessed…
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 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 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…
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 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 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.…
The brief fleeting flower of the Japanese artist Shigeru Aoki Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Shigeru Aoki (1882-1911) blossomed quickly but family problems and then tuberculosis would soon take him from this world. Hence, the promising artistic flower of Aoki parted before even reaching 29. This sad reality means that nobody…
Japanese Zen Buddhist artist and the influence of China 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 on…
Japanese art and Blackley Forest: The spirit of Judy Doggett Walker and fighting dementia Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The contemporary Japanese artist, Sawako Utsumi, was asked to pay homage to the late Judy Doggett Walker (1934 to 2019) who resided in Manchester, England. Of course, unlike other art pieces by Utsumi, this art…
Japanese artist and her colorful and spiritual nuance of Maurice Utrillo Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Sawako Utsumi is a delightful contemporary Japanese artist who hails from northern Japan. In her latest art piece, she focuses once more on Maurice Utrillo (1883-1955). However, as usual, her nuance to the original by Utrillo is reshaped…
Sōami (1472-1525) and art of Japan: Aesthetics, Buddhism, and the Middle Kingdom 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…
Japanese art and the brief artistic life of Shigeru Aoki (1882-1911) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Shigeru Aoki (1882-1911) blossomed quickly but family problems and then tuberculosis would soon take him from this world. Hence, the promising artistic flower of Aoki parted before even reaching 29. This sad reality means that…
Esaias van de Velde by modern Japanese artist: Legacy of Dutch Art 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, the same artist who…
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…
Japan art and Confucianism: The Bleak reality of Seppuku for a thoughtful artist Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The artist Watanabe Kazan (1793-1841) highlights the fact that social mobility could break the alleged stratification of old Japan. After all, he was born into a samurai family that was relatively poor. Despite this, Watanabe paid…
Contemporary Japanese Art and Shintoism: The spirit of Sawako Utsumi and the Kano School Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Sawako Utsumi is a contemporary Japanese artist who hails from the land of the rising sun. In this art article, the emphasis is on the individualism of Utsumi who is paying utmost respect to two…
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,…
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…
Watanabe Kazan and Japan Art: Ideals of Confucianism to bleakness of Seppuku Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The artist Watanabe Kazan (1793-1841) highlights the fact that social mobility could break the alleged stratification of old Japan. After all, he was born into a samurai family that was relatively poor. Despite this, Watanabe paid a…
Art of Japan and Homage to Aert Van Der Neer Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The artist Aert van der Neer (1603-1677) belongs to the Dutch Golden Age of art but sadly his life was blighted by poverty. It is difficult to imagine the real world that engulfed Dutch artists in the sixteenth and…
Art of Japan and Kobayashi Kiyochika (1847-1915) Tomoko Hara and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Kobayashi Kiyochika (1847-1915) fought on the wrong side of history if you happen to be a pro-Meiji supporter during his early years. The alternative view is that he fought on the side that desired to preserve the status quo…
Japanese Art and Power of Mount Fuji Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Mount Fuji in Japan means many things to different individuals because of the symbolic importance of this highly impressive and unique mountain. Internationally, Mount Fuji is famous and for individuals flying to Japan for the first time, then the view is amazing…
Contemporary Japanese Artist inspired by the Kano School: Shinto Priest and Adorable Landscape Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Kano School of Art is extremely renown for its deep roots that began in the later parts of the 15th century, to the ultimate demise of this art form when modernization altered the landscape of…
Modern Japanese Artist: The Fading Spirit of Kano Chikanobu Awakened by Shintoism Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The contemporary Japanese artist Sawako Utsumi in her latest art piece titled The Fading Spirit of Kano Chikanobu Awakened by Shintoism, provides an adorable individual approach. This applies to a fusion of homage to Kano Chikanobu (1660-1728)…
Japanese Artist Inspired by Diverse Art Themes: Hayami and Flows of Time Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Gyoshu Hayami (1894-1935) sadly passed away at a relatively young age. However, despite this, the power of history and momentous changes influenced his artistic soul. Indeed, Gyoshu Hayami highlights much about the history of Japanese art based…
