Japanese Art and the Rich Legacy of China and Confucianism: Tanomura Chikuden Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Tanomura Chikuden (1777-1835) graced the world of Japanese art because he flowed naturally within the world of bunjin-ga (literati painting) during the Edo Period. He, and other bunjin-ga artists, equally highlight that while Japan was mainly isolated…
Narashige Koide and art of Japan: Intriguing artist Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Yoga (Western-style) portraiture art and expressions of still life by Narashige Koide remain deeply embedded when thinking about this artist. Koide continued to develop through his relatively short life because he died at the age of 43. Near the end of…
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 the mystery of Utamaro Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The distinguished art of Utamaro Kitagawa is known internationally based on his stunning art. This notably applies to the depiction of beautiful women (bijin-ga). However, while Utamaro is internationally famous, his life remains shrouded in mystery based on many areas remaining…
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…
Art of Japan and the influence of the Middle Kingdom (China): Xia Gui and Ma Yuan Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Tensho Shubun was inspired by an array of areas related to China. In the realm of art then this notably applies to Xia Gui and Ma Yuan. Other notable areas…
Art of Japan and homage to Maurice Utrillo: the Hidden Soul Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The French artist Maurice Utrillo (1883-1955), just like the British artist L.S. Lowry (1887-1976), are two of the most predominant artists to hail from France and the United Kingdom in the twentieth century. Of course, internationally, Utrillo is…
Shini-e and Art of Japan: “I leave my brush in the East” Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The world of ukiyo-e in Japan also covered the world of death by mainly commemorating artists, kabuki actors, and musicians through the medium of art. True to nature, farewell poems were included along with posthumous names linking…
Saburosuke Okada and Art of Japan: Impact of Paris Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Saburosuke Okada (1869-1939) was born one year after the Meiji Restoration of 1868 and he would witness many changes throughout his life. This applies to the Meiji Era, Taisho Era, and the early part of the Showa period of history.…
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…
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…
Japanese Art of a Zen Buddhist Priest: Richness of the Middle Kingdom Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Middle Kingdom of China impacted greatly on Japanese high culture and this enabled new ideas, fusions, and to highlight the subtle and unique differences of indigenous culture. Tensho Shubun, a Zen Buddhist priest who was born…
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…
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…
Japanese Art, Tanomura Chikuden, and Bunjin-ga: Rich legacy of China and Confucianism Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Tanomura Chikuden (1777-1835) graced the world of Japanese art because he flowed naturally within the world of bunjin-ga (literati painting) during the Edo Period. He, and other bunjin-ga artists, equally highlight that while Japan was mainly isolated…
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…
Sugawara Mitsushige and Bodhisattva Kannon: Buddhism, Japanese Culture, and the Middle Kingdom Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The passing of time never dampens the beauty of the thirteenth-century Japanese calligrapher Sugawara Mitsushige. Indeed, just like the words of Buddha remain timeless, then images of chapter 25 of the “Universal Gate” representing Bodhisattva Kannon equally…
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 Artist inspired by L.S. Lowry: Japanese context of Northern England Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The contemporary Japanese artist, Sawako Utsumi, is deeply moved by the art of L.S. Lowry (original below). Indeed, several art pieces done by Utsumi relate to playing on certain Japanese themes while focusing on the original. Therefore, in…
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…
Tokiwa Mitsunaga and Art in Twelfth Century Japan: High Culture of A Clouded Sky Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The twelfth-century Japanese artist, Tokiwa Mitsunaga, resided in a world of power politics related to blood and prestigious holy Buddhist temples. Sadly, the passages of time and the tragedy of fire means that originals…
Contemporary Japanese Artist and L.S. Lowry: Distance, Light, and Ideas Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Sawako Utsumi hails from northern Japan and she is a contemporary Japanese artist, who equally adores art from the distant past. True to the nature of Utsumi, her art focuses on the rich traditions of old Japan, while focusing…
Art of Japan and Eishōsai Chōki: Ladies of Beauty in Sublime Simplicity Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Very little is known about the Japanese artist Eishōsai Chōki apart from the rich art he produced. It is widely speculated that he was a pupil under the culturally esteemed Toriyama Seiken just like Utamaro. However, in…
Japan Art: Shadows of Sorrow and No Artistic Redemption for Yumeji Takehisa Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In many nations powerful elites often control and abuse the political system based on special interests and secrecy. Given this reality, many individuals feel like “fodder” because so many dreams fail to materialize for the majority of…
Ogata Korin and Japanese Art: Legacy Heightened by Sakai Hoitsu Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The art of Ogata Korin remains potent because of clarity and his own unique ways. However, at one point it appeared that the winds of time would threaten his legacy. If this had happened then Japanese art would have…
Twelfth Century Japanese Art of Tokiwa Mitsunaga: A Clouded Sky Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The twelfth-century Japanese artist, Tokiwa Mitsunaga, resided in a world of power politics related to blood and prestigious holy Buddhist temples. Sadly, the passages of time and the tragedy of fire means that originals perished. At the…
Utamaro and Japanese Art: Mystery and Bijin-ga Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The distinguished art of Utamaro Kitagawa is known internationally based on his stunning art. This notably applies to the depiction of beautiful women (bijin-ga). However, while Utamaro is internationally famous, his life remains shrouded in mystery based on many areas remaining foggy.…
Japanese Art, Culture, and the Shadow of Shintoism in Modern Japan Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Buddhist temples from various sects appear to dominate the religious discourse in Japan but inwardly the faith of Shintoism remains within the soul, irrespective if cultural, religious, or secular. Indeed, the splendor of ultra-modern cities, for example, Tokyo…
Art of Japan and Kyoto: Nichiren Buddhism and Rinpa Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Japanese historical art is blessed with many forms inspired internally and from the richness of ancient China and Korea. At the same time, religious and philosophical influence naturally flowed within the historical legacy of Japanese art. Therefore, it is fitting…
Art of Japan and Hiroshige: A Different Mirror Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Ando Hiroshige is deemed to be one of the finest artists to bless the country of Japan. On top of this, this amazing artist also influenced famous artists like Van Gogh. Not surprisingly, Hiroshige left behind a lasting impression on the…
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…
