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Mori Sosen / Monkey showman
The meticulously rendered monkey by Mori Sosen is fine, but the lightly and gracefully drawn monkey is also quite good. The history of Monkey showman is ancient, said to have begun as a sacred ritual and for warding off misfortune, and by the Edo period it had become a profession directly under the shogunate, widely enjoyed. This piece radiates the trust between monkey and master.
Kano Yasunobu / A flock of rabbits
This is a rabbit painting by Kano Yasunobu, the founder of the Nakahashi Kano school. The three rabbits, drawn lightly in light ink, are lined up like a Dango, creating an adorable scene.
Tetsuo Somon / Senri oukou (Crabs) (wide hanging scroll)
In the world of art and calligraphy, the phrase "Senri Oukou (千里横行)" represents a crab, with the crab's shell likened to armor. It is said that this motif was adopted as a motif for the furnishings of many samurai from the end of the Muromachi period onwards.
Shibata Zeshin / Tongue-Cut Sparrow (Shita-kiri Suzume)
An grandfather, worried about a sparrow that was chased out of the house after an grandmother cut out its tongue, goes to the mountains to search for it. The painting vividly depicts the grandfather's gentle smile and the sparrow's expression, a mixture of surprise and joy at being reunited. Zeshin has produced many excellent lacquerware works, and this painting is full of humor and charm, showcasing the skill of his technique.
Imao Keinen / Cat
Keinen placed great importance on sketching and is said to have emphasized its importance to his pupils. This work depicts a mischievous kitten playing with a feather broom in a dynamic manner.
Kawanabe Kyosai / Vegetables and a stag beetle (fan painting / framed)
Kyosai is said to have painted everything, regardless of genre. His skillful brushwork is full of charm that draws the viewer into his work. This work makes full use of the shape of the fan surface, and even in the plain brushstrokes, you can get a glimpse of his artistic skill.
So Shiko / The hawk
Perhaps he is searching for prey. His gaze into the distance exudes a sense of tension. So Shiko was a painter of the late Edo period. As the grandson of So Shiseki and son of So Shizan, he inherited the Shen Nanpin school.
Konoshima Okoku / Two hanging scrolls of the cold moon and two mallards
The mallard ducks sleeping on the surface of the water against the backdrop of a hazy moon. A light flurry of snow is falling on the screen, conveying a still, cold feeling.
Yamamoto Shunkyo / The monkey
Perhaps he is enjoying playing alone. This monkey has a very cute expression that looks like he is smiling. It may seem simple to draw, but it captures the characteristics of the monkey very well.
Neagari Tomiji / Birds in spring
This eye-catching, delicate and beautiful Flower-and-bird Painting by Neagari Tomiji depicts a fleeting moment, filled with the bright sunlight of spring.
Konoshima Okoku / Two deer
Okoku has created many animal paintings. His unpretentious compositions show his keen eye for depicting animals as they are in life. At the feet of a deer standing upright, another deer is lying down and relaxing. This imbalance creates a sense of rhythm and interest in the painting.
Hashimoto Gaho / 4 hanging scrolls of flowers and birds in four seasons
This is a set of four scrolls depicting birds in each season. Hashimoto Gaho attempted to innovate Japanese painting under Fenollosa and Okakura Tenshin. The box is signed by his disciple Kawai Gyokudo, and the certification is made by Terasaki Kogyo.
Watanabe Seitei / Two carps under a waterfall
The composition is reminiscent of Maruyama Okyo's "Green Maple and Waterfall," but Seitei's characteristically dry and taut brushwork is effectively showcased. The carp is painted at about 10% of the ink color of the rocks, but the skill of the brushwork makes it seem as if the carps are appearing and disappearing amid the splashing water, vividly coming to life before your eyes.
Ishizaki Koyo / Hazy moon and an egret
Koyo, who was also known as a mountaineer and visited the Himalayas to sketch, created many paintings with gorgeous tropical flowers and birds as subjects. On the other hand, this work depicts a serene space with an egret under a hazy moon, showing the breadth of Koyo's painting ability.
Watanabe Seitei / Two hanging scrolls of Irises and Carps
This is a rare combination of carps and irises. Seitei created a sense of depth and transparency beneath the water’s surface by barely depicting the water itself and instead focusing on the overlapping carps and aquatic plants from a bird's-eye view.
Maruyama Okyo / Turtles playing under the rising sun
A mother and her baby turtles playing leisurely together. The Japanese pond turtle is now designated as an endangered species, but it seems that in the Edo period it was kept as a pet. In the past, it may have been possible to see many of them in nearby rivers.
Takeuchi Seiho / Crows fighting in the snow
Three crows fighting violently in the air, searching for food. The vivid brushwork is striking. It was exhibited at the "Takeuchi Seiho:A Destructive and Creative Force" exhibition held at the Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art in 2023.
Kato Eishu / The tiger
Eishu specialized in painting flowers, birds and animals. His brushwork is soft, and you can feel his delicate gaze and warmth towards living creatures. This tiger is no different, and rather than being ferocious, it seems relaxed, as if it is yawning leisurely.
Yamamoto Baiitsu / Pine tree and flowers and birds
The painter Baiitsu also worked as an official painter for the Owari domain in his later years. This is a painting created at the age of 69, three years before he became the official painter for Owari.
Kikuchi Hobun / Cherry blossoms and water birds
This painting depicts a peaceful nature scene that evokes the spring weather.
Sou Shizan / The tiger
Sou 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.
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Watanabe Nangaku / Children playing with rabbits
Although European rabbits were introduced to Japan during the Muromachi period (1336-1573), albino rabbits were first seen in the painting done by Nangaku's teacher, Maruyama Okyo, in 1784 in the Edo period.
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Ukita Ikkei / Setting sun and a flock of crows
Ukita Ikkei is also known as Tomioka Tessai's master of Yamato-e painting. This work vividly depicts a flock of crows.
Yamamoto Koitsu / Four seasons, Flowers and Birds, A pair of medium size six-panel folding screens
Yamamoto Koitsu was a central figure in The First Japanese Manufacturing and Trading Company (起立工商会社) and created many drafts for the company's production.
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Kimura Buzan / Figs and a rooster
Kimura Buzan (1876-1942) is still known as one of the best colorists at the Japan Art Institute. His style of painting is elaborate and elegant and has an air of serenity.
Kano Yasunobu / Two hanging scrolls of a cat and a rabbit
Is this a cat or a rabbit? This is a work that seems to generate a Zen-like question.
Ikegami Shuho / Like snow
This is an emotional painting in which the falling cherry blossom petals are likened to snow.
Mori Tetsuzan / A rabbit in Autumn
Mori Tetsuzan was an expert at painting animals, and he accurately captured the characteristics of the rabbit with his brush.
Cho Gessho / Cranes dance in the sunlight
Three cranes are flying in the golden sky. It is a celebratory scroll suitable for New Year's Day.
Kaneko Kinryo / Monkeys playing with bees
The plants and animals painted by Kaneko Kinryo, the teacher of Watanabe Kazan and Tsubaki Chinzan, are full of unique charm and a sense of depth.
Yamaoka Tesshu / Beckoning cat and Calligraphy
Since Tesshu found profound meanings in cat's behavior, beckoning cats may have been somewhat close to him.
Mori Sosen / Hirsute Raspberries and a monkey
Sosen, who excelled in painting monkeys, is said to have spent several years observing monkeys in the mountains and fields. This is a heartwarming piece depicting a monkey engrossed in eating Hirsute Raspberries.
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Tomita Keisen / Spring snow in the garden
A little snow has accumulated on the red and white plum blossoms and nandina. The plum blossoms make us feel the arrival of spring.
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Hine Taizan / An Egret in a Lotus Pond
Taizan excelled at landscape painting, but he also captured the vivid figures of living creatures in his flower-and-bird paintings.
Maruyama Okyo / A heron with willow trees in the rain
The pale, light ink used in the painting creates the feeling of the humid atmosphere of a rainy day.
Konoshima Okoku / Deer playing in the snow
A herd of deer playing on a frozen, snowy mountain. This is a painting that fully demonstrates Okoku's artistic ability.
Kano Chikanobu / Sparrow and mayfly
Mayflies are used as a seasonal word to symbolize transience. The sight of a sparrow going after a mayfly caught in a spider's web could be seen as a symbol of the survival of the fittest.
Irie Hako / Longing for spring
A dog with the dignified appearance is lying down in a clear snowy landscape. The red plum blossoms give a subtle feeling of spring.
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Haruki Nanmei / A deer under the moon
Nanmei had a gentle personality and many patrons, and it is said that Yamauchi Yodo, the lord of the Tosa domain, favored Nanmei so much that he had him live next door to his villa. This work was painted when Nanmei was 81 years old.
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.
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Kankeko Kinryo / Joyful sparrows, plum blossoms, and confederate roses
Kaneko Kinryo was skilled in flower-and-bird paintings in The Nanpin style of painting. The three sparrows have different, adorable expressions. This work was painted in 1794.
Yamamoto Baiitsu / Red peach blossoms with two swallows
Swallows migrate to Japan with the arrival of spring. In this work, they are depicted together with peach blossoms, creating a scent of spring on the screen.
Matsumura Keibun / Peach blossoms and a small bird
The plump-looking Eurasian bullfinch is attractive. It appears that they love flower buds, and will even pluck off buds that are just starting to open. This work was exhibited at the "Edo-Painting Drawing Class" held at the Fuchu Art Museum in 2023.
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Hirowatari Ganpi（Koshu）/ Pine trees and a small bird in the snow
Aside from the subtle use of blue in the pine needles, the monochrome world spreads out, giving it a sense of tranquility. It was exhibited at the "Edo-Painting Drawing Class" held at the Fuchu Art Museum in 2023.
Maruyama Okyo / Persimmons and a warbling white-eye
The transparent expression of the persimmon makes it look fresh and delicious. The dynamic brushwork and the splendid composition are impressive. This work was exhibited at the "Edo-Painting Drawing Class" held at the Fuchu Art Museum in 2023.
Sugimoto Kenkichi / Discussion about the belly button
The three of them show their bellies to each other and have a discussion. If you look closely at its belly, it seems that the kappa has a navel. Is the kappa, a Japanese monster, a mammal? We do not know for sure, but the puzzled expressions on the frog and turtle's faces make you laugh.
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.
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.
Tosa Mitsuoki / 3 Hanging scrolls of rising sun and quails
Mitsuoki, a representative painter of the Tosa school in the Edo period, was especially known as a master of quail paintings.
Okada Kakyo / Lions under the moon, A six-panel folding screen
Two lions gather under a thin moon like a cat's claw. This folding screen painting was painted by Okada Kakyo, a student of Japanese painter Kikkawa Reika.
Mori Ippo / Hakuzosu(The fox spirit) under the moon
Hakuzosu is said to be a fox spirit disguised as a monk. Hakuzosu stands alone in a withered autumn field. Looking up at the moon, what is he thinking?
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Mori Sosen / A deer
As expected from Sosen, who specialized in painting monkeys, his expression of the texture of the stiff fur is superb.
Kimura Buzan / Tree peony
Perhaps sparrows are standing in the snow. The cute sparrows attract me and make me smile.
Kishi Renzan / Family of tigers under the pine tree
This is a tiger painting with strong eyes, but the overall image is somewhat cute. Tigers of this era were drawn from the imagination, so apart from the pattern on its back, it has a very cat-like appearance.
Kano Chikanobu / A horned owl with the old tree
The Chinese name for this owl "Tsuku" means "arboreal rabbit", and it is said it is because the owl's horn-like feathers resemble the long ears of a rabbit. Although owls have a dignified appearance, the owl depicted in this work has full of cuteness that is unique to Edo animal paintings.
Yoshimura Kokei / A Japanese Bush Warbler on a willow tree
A Japanese Bush Warbler is resting on a willow tree that has not yet budded. It was painted by Yoshimura Kokei, one of Maruyama Okyo's ten famous pupils.
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.
Kishi Chikudou / Frozen willows shining at sunrise
It beautifully expresses the icy cold scenery is slowly melting in the morning sun.
Ganku / Tiger
At the time, tigers were generally depicted from the imagination, but it is said that Ganku obtained a tiger skull from a Chinese merchant and covered it with tiger skin before sketching.
Matsumura Keibun / Two birds flying over the waves
His skill to express waves with just a single brush stroke of ink is truly outstanding. Two plovers flying around under the moonlight. The depiction of the quiet waves invites a sense of tranquility, so quiet that you can almost hear the sound of their wings.

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