Tamaoki Raiseki / The tiger watches vigilantly for a chance

This is a tiger painting by Tamaki Raiseki, an animal painter who was active from the Meiji to Showa periods. Raiseki studied animal painting on his own, and became recognized by the world for his tiger painting techniques.

2023年8月25日

Takahashi Kyoson / Landscapes of sansha (Three Shrines)

The painting depicts a deer, which is said to be a messenger of the gods, and a sacred mirror hanging from a tree, signifying that the place is shrouded in holiness and pure air.

Tags: closing days of the Tokugawa shogunate, deer, latter half of the Edo period, modern times, pine tree (Pinus spp.), small birds

2021年2月13日

Sugimoto Kenkichi / Discussion about the belly button

The three of them show each other their bellies and discuss them. Looking closely, it seems that the kappa has a navel. Is the kappa, a Japanese monster, a mammal? We don’t know for sure, but the puzzled expressions of the frog and turtle make you laugh.

Tags: modern times

2023年6月8日

Suda Kunitaro / Crane and red plum (square drawing paper)

Suda Kunitaro was an unusual painter who studied aesthetics at Kyoto University and continued to create art while teaching there.

Tags: modern times

2020年5月23日

Sou Shizan / The tiger

Song Shizan, who specialized in flower, bird, and landscape paintings, learned his craft from his father, Shiseki, and was active as a painter of the Nanpin school. While there are many paintings of tigers in the world, such a bold composition is rare, and one can feel the artist’s overflowing energy in this work.

2024年6月10日

Painted by Yamaguchi Soken,inscription by Kagawa Kageki / Sparrow and bamboo

The painting was done by Yamaguchi Soken, one of the Ten Excellent Painters of the Okyo School, and the inscription was written by Kagawa Kageki, a poet from the late Edo period. A sparrow is perched on a thin bamboo stalk, looking as dignified as a samurai.

2021年12月10日

Painted by Sakai Sanryo, inscription by Tomiyasu Fusei / Kappa is happy

This is an adorable piece of art depicting a kappa (Japanese specter) holding a catfish and looking proud and happy. The artist, Sakai Sanryo, was a lifelong friend of Ogawa Usen.

Tags: modern times

2023年4月30日

Painted by Hara Zaichu,inscription by Reizei Tamenori / Playing Turtles

It’s hard not to smile when you see the turtles waking up from a long hibernation and enjoying a leisurely swim.

Tags: modern times, Shijo Faction (of the LDP)

2022年8月22日

Okubo Ikkyu / Sparrows and Snow covered Nanten tree

Okubo Ikkyu was an official painter for the Yokosuka Domain and is said to have been influenced by Western-style painting. This work also has elements of Western-style miniature painting.

2023年4月26日

Okamoto Shuki / Peacock and Pine

Shuki, who excelled at painting peacocks, was known as “Shuki’s Peacock.” With detailed depictions, every single feather is carefully drawn.

2021年11月28日