Review of Tokyo Ueno Station by Renae Lucas-Hall Special Contribution: Renae Lucas-Hall According to Wikipedia, the author Yu Miri was born in Yokohama to Korean parents. Her abusive father worked in a pachinko parlour and her mother was a bar hostess. She was bullied at school and made to feel like an outsider. Years later,…
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…
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 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…
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…
Yokoyama Taikan and art of Japan: Creativity and the sentiments of the time Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Yokoyama Taikan (1868-1958) was born in the prefecture of Ibaraki but he moved to Tokyo in 1878. This period of history in Japan would witness many events because time didn’t stand still during the Meiji, Taisho,…
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…
Art of Japan and Asai Chu: The altered artistic landscape Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Meiji Restoration of 1868 led to many social convulsions and like all revolutionary periods you had many winners and losers. This applies to individuals who could adapt to the rapid changes in society. Hence, the art world was…
Japanese Art and Culture under Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582): Christianity to Liberalization Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The warlord Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582) was extremely multi-dimensional despite his harsh reputation. This single figure in Japanese history laid the foundation stone for the centralization of Japan based on his tenacity, creativity, openness to new thought patterns –…
Ito Shinsui opened up the “old mirror” of Japanese art Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Ito Shinsui (1898-1972) is one of the greatest twentieth-century artists to emanate from Japan. Despite his early adorable landscapes, Shinsui is extremely famous because of his art related to depicting beautiful ladies (bijin-ga). In other words, Shinsui, just like…
Landscapes of Manchester by a Japanese artist: Blackley Forest, Heaton Park, and the River Irk Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The contemporary Japanese artist, Sawako Utsumi, fuses the art world of Japan and Europe based on an array of areas. For example, from the inspiration of traditional Dutch art to the cityscapes of Paris.…
Japan Artist and the Frailty of Life: Yuzo Saeki and his one-sided love affair with France 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…
Yorozu Tetsugoro and Japanese Art: independent artistic soul Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Yorozu Tetsugoro was born in 1885 and died of tuberculosis in 1927 after severe complications from pneumonia that finally took its toll. Sadly, all too often many artists in this period died young and the same fate awaited…
Japanese Art and the Harsh Reality of Life: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The artist Tsukioka Yoshitoshi literally lived in two worlds and this applies to not only the Edo Period and Meiji Period but also to his chaotic lifestyle. However, despite this, Yoshitoshi produced stunning art and he was extremely productive.…
Japanese Art and the Real Eternity’s Gate of Yuzo Saeki in the Mirror of Van Gogh Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Shortly before Van Gogh died he painted “At Eternity’s Gate” in 1890 after doing the same image as a lithograph eight years before. The image of this art piece is extremely powerful and…
Art of Japan and the enigmatic Tsukioka Yoshitoshi: Creativity to Depression Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Tsukioka Yoshitoshi literally lived in two worlds. This applies to not only the Edo Period and Meiji Period of Japanese history but also to his chaotic lifestyle. However, despite this, Yoshitoshi produced stunning art and…
European Art: Paul Gauguin and L.S. Lowry Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times L.S. Lowry (1887-1976) became one of the greatest artists in Britain during the twentieth century despite facing many obstacles related to his artistic style. After all, his style was very individualistic alongside being extremely broad. Northern English people can certainly relate to…
Ukiyo-e Art of the Meiji Era is Undervalued Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Meiji period (1868-1912) was very dynamic in many ways because of new thinking, modernization, radical change, and a plethora of other factors, altered the cultural landscape in all major cities. However, the countryside often ticked to a different beat despite…
Land of the Rising Sun and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901) adored Japanese ukiyo-e just like many famous international artists who fell in love with this art form. Interestingly, Toulouse-Lautrec’s famous lifestyle would have fitted in well with the environment of Yoshiwara in Tokyo, which is famous…
Art of Japan and Changing Times through the Eyes of Yoshu Chikanobu (1838-1912) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Yoshu Chikanobu (Toyohara Chikanobu) lived between 1838 and 1912, therefore, much of his art highlights the changing nature of Japan. The opening up of Japan after the Meiji Restoration provided many new dreams for Japanese citizens.…
Japanese Art and Ito Shinsui: A Lasting Legacy Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The artist Ito Shinsui (1898-1972) is a notable twentieth-century artist from the land of the rising sun. This applies to the amazing sophistication and grace of so many art pieces. Also, Shinsui didn’t negate the rich traditions of Japanese art despite…
Japanese Artist and Landscapes of Manchester: Blackley Forest, Heaton Park, and River Irk Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The contemporary Japanese artist, Sawako Utsumi, fuses the art world of Japan and Europe based on an array of areas. For example, from the inspiration of traditional Dutch art to the cityscapes of Paris. Similarly, her…
Art of Japan and the Mysterious Reality of an Artist from a Samurai Background Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Isoda Koryusai is a man of mystery even today because much remains up in the air about important aspects of his life. Koryusai was born in 1735 and died in 1790. He became active during…
Art of Japan and Edgar Degas: Fusions of Ideas Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Ukiyo-e inspired many artists in distant lands and this includes Edgar Degas, who came to admire this Japanese art form. Edgar Degas (1834-1917) was born in Paris into a wealthy family and he was blessed to study at the Ecole…
Ike No Taiga and Art of Japan: Influence of the Middle Kingdom and Humble Background Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Edo Period is famous for isolating Japan from the outside world and equally known for stratification. This applies notably to events prior to the last few decades of the demise of the Edo…
Art of Japan and the Real Eternity’s Gate of Yuzo Saeki in the Mirror of Van Gogh Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Shortly before Van Gogh died he painted “At Eternity’s Gate” in 1890 after doing the same image as a lithograph eight years before. The image of this art piece is extremely powerful…
Tourism in Japan and Stunning Fukushima: Ura-Bandai, Abukuma Cave, and Koriyama Tomoko Hara and Michel Lebon Modern Tokyo Times Fukushima is a stunning prefecture in Japan that is awash with amazing landscapes where people can escape the stresses of life. Koriyama is the commercial capital of Fukushima prefecture and for many tourists, this city is…
Art, Christianity, Culture, and Liberalization under Famous Japanese Warlord Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The warlord Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582) was extremely multi-dimensional despite his harsh reputation. This single figure in Japanese history laid the foundation stone for the centralization of Japan based on his tenacity, creativity, openness to new thought patterns – and understanding…
Western Style Portraiture by the Japanese Artist Yasui Sotaro Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The sublime Japanese artist Yasui Sotaro (1888-1955) lived during a time of momentous changes. He witnessed the dynamics of a new Japan that emerged after the Meiji Restoration of 1868 that erased much of the Edo era. On top of…
Breathing Art and Endless Passion by Paul Gauguin and L.S. Lowry Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times L.S. Lowry (1887-1976) became one of the greatest artists in Britain during the twentieth century despite facing many obstacles related to his artistic style. After all, his style was very individualistic alongside being extremely broad. Northern English people…
Japan Art and Humble Background of Ike No Taiga: China, Isolation, and Stratification Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Edo Period is famous for isolating Japan from the outside world and equally known for stratification. This applies notably to events prior to the last few decades of the demise of the Edo Period because…
Japanese Artist Inspired by the Flows of Europe: Fujishima Takeji Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Fujishima Takeji was born in (1867-1943) Kagoshima and he studied brushwork techniques in 1882 from Togaku Hirayama. However, in 1884 Fujishima Takeji moved to Tokyo and at first he studied traditional Japanese painting under Gyokusho Kawabata but the pull…
