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Category: Art
Geisha – Guardians of Traditional Japanese Art
Geisha 芸者literally means: “person who practices the arts” Geisha are women who dedicate their lives to traditional Japanese arts and use their talents to entertain clients during banquets and shows. Originally the profession of geisha could be practiced by both men and women and their profession was officially recognized towards the second half of the 18th century.… Read more
Talks about architecture and urban planning
Very welcome to these talks (although, in this case, it is through a written article) that we will surely enjoy by sharing the interest that arises in any person for the arts in general and in this case, for architecture that brings together its attributes of beauty and harmony, with those who organize the spaces… Read more
Wagasa – Traditional Japanese Umbrella
Wagasa (和伞) are traditional Japanese umbrellas, made of bamboo 竹 (wood) and washi 和纸(traditional Japanese paper). They were first introduced to Japan from China in the early Heian period (794-1185). The older form of wagasa umbrella was quite different from today’s traditional Japanese umbrellas in that they looked more like a straw hat with a cape and were… Read more
Washi, Traditional Japanese Paper
Washi paper (和紙) is one of Japan’s most important artistic products. Over 1,300 years of production, it has formed the backbone of many other Japanese art forms. In fact, washi paper is so ingrained in Japanese culture that there are literally cities built around washi paper making. (You can watch the video of this post… Read more
Japanese with the Nobel Prize for Literature
Three Japanese-born authors have won the Nobel Prize for Literature since it was first awarded in 1901: Kawabata Yasunari in 1968, Ōe Kenzaburō in 1994, and Kazuo Ishiguro in 2017. Each is believed to have had a correspondingly strong Japanese rival. Tanizaki Jun’ichirō for Kawabata, Abe Kōbō for Ōe , and Murakami Haruki for Ishiguro.… Read more
Kintsugi – The art of mending with gold
Kintsugi金継ぎ is a traditional Japanese technique for repairing broken pottery, glassware, etc. using gold since “kin” means “gold” and “tsugi” means “joint or splice” . Although gold is used in its repair, the material that is mainly used is a lacquer known as urushi , which is made from the sap of the urushi tree… Read more
Katsushika Hokusai – Ukiyo-e artist and an icon of Japan
Katsushika Hokusai 葛飾北斎(c. October 31, 1760 – May 10, 1849) known simply as Hokusai, was one of Japan’s foremost Ukiyo-e artists. His masterpiece is considered the series of landscape paintings “ Fugaku sanjurokkei ” or “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji” as well as his collection of model drawings for his disciples known as “ Hokusai… Read more
Masterpieces of Art and Cats in Ikebukuro Tokyo
Immerse yourself in the wonderful world of the CAT ART Exhibition , where you can admire masterpieces by famous cat painters such as Johannes Ferneko and Leonardo Nya Vinci . The exhibition features more than 60 feline artworks at the Marui department store in Ikebukuro until August 29, 2021. If you are an art fan,… Read more
Nanbu Tekki – Metal Teapots from Japan
Nanbu Tekki, are iron teapots dating from the early 17th century, when the feudal lord of the Nanbu area, who ruled in the present city of Morioka, Iwate Prefecture, invited several chagama, or iron craftsmen, from Kyoto. After this, various craftsmen specializing in the production and forging of teapots were invited to Nanbu from all… Read more
Kendo – The Way of the Sword
Kendō (剣道, lit. ‘way of the sword’) is a modern Japanese martial art, descended from kenjutsu . Originally, it was mainly practiced by samurai. Today it is considered a discipline in which the mind and body face each other in a sporting challenge. The Japanese sword may have emerged around the Heian Era (794-1185) used… Read more