Connect Japan and the world through Japanese spirituality｜ Japan Cross Bridge｜Tokyo
Express Japanese art and culture to the world
I love to make cherry blossom themed artworks, so I wanted to hold my solo exhibition during the cherry blossom season. I am really grateful that I could hold my first solo exhibition in a nostalgic Japanese old house near Meguro river, Tokyo, where cherry blossoms are really famous. This exhibition is already one of my best memories.
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The difference between 龍(Ryu) and Dragon
I started painting 龍(Ryu) and now I am attracted to 龍(Ryu）.
When we try to translate 龍(Ryu) into English, it is often said “dragon”.
However, dragons in European countries and 龍(Ryu) in Eastern countries like Japan are totally different.
In eastern countries and Japan, 龍(Ryu) is called “RYUJIN” and it is a god.
On the other hand, in European countries, dragon is a bad evil creature.
They look alike but they are not the same.
Dragon has wings and its face is more like a lizard, on the other hand, RYUJIN’s face is more like a snake.
What is in common is, they are both imaginary reptile creatures.
Personally, I like Japanese RYUJIN better, as RYUJIN has a longer body and looks cool.
Japanese RYUJIN can often be seen at temples or shrines.
At the entrance of temples and shrines, there is a water running spot, called “Temizusha”(手水舎).
This is a place to cleanse our hands and mouth before entering temples and shrines.
There, you can see water is running from RYUJIN’s mouth.
RYUJIN has been believed to be a god which brings rain and brings good harvest.
We see many Kakejiku paintings of RYUJIN going up to the sky, surrounded with rain clouds which RYUJIN created by itself.
There is also a sacred ball which RYUJIN holds.
It is called “Cintamani stone”, which makes your dream come true.
RYUJIN god is a very precious, good luck symbol.
That is why we have RYUJIN god Kakejiku hanging scrolls hung in the house since ancient times.
By the way, why does good luck god have that scary face…?
Hanging RYUJIN Kakejiku hanging scroll doesn’t make kids get scared at night…?
But there is a reasonable reason.
In order to fight and get away the evil spirit, RYUJIN has such a scary face.
Same as Tiger Kakejiku.
We often see Tiger glared at us with its powerful scary eyes on Kakejiku.
That is to fight and get away the evil spirit.
Anyway, I am attracted to RYUJIN,
and my RYUJIN art is increasing little by little…
“RYUJIN god is a god of water. Human beings cannot live without water. That means we human cannot live without RYUJIN god.”
Drawing RYUJIN god is a great practice of life for me.
Tiger on Kakejiku art
Tigers are one of the very popular subjects on Japanese Kakejiku art.
Kakejiku is Japanese traditional hanging scroll.
It is hung on the wall in Japanese style room, especially on alcove “Tokonoma”, since ancient time.
Tiger is a powerful animal, and Tiger painting on kakejiku has an important meaning.
When tiger is glaring at this way, that means tiger is glaring at the evil in your place.
Tiger’s powerful eyes are believed to have the power to beat the evil.
So tiger’s scary expression is protecting your place and the people living in your place.
Tiger painting Kakejiku has a strong good luck power.
Crane birds – Japanese good luck symbol
We, Japanese have a deep connection with crane birds since ancient times.
The beautiful crane birds can be seen in many occasions, such as Japanese old stories, music, paintings, and so on.
Crane birds are not just beautiful but also thankful, as they are symbols of long life, prosperity and a good luck.
In Japanese phrases, we have “crane birds live a thousand years, turtles live a ten thousand years”
Also crane bird’s voice is said to reach to the heaven, as they cry loudly.
When crane birds make a couple, they stay forever and never separate.
So we symbolize crane bird couple as “good married couple”.
Especially at weddings, we use crane birds in many situations, for special wedding kimono pattern, for wedding venue decorations, or on celebratory statement.
As crane birds are grateful good luck symbols, we believe that owning something with crane bird motif will bring us a good luck and a healthy long life.
I love to paint these beautiful birds, crane birds on my hanging scrolls too.
Orizuru is a crane bird made with Origami.
Origami is Japanese traditional paper art and kids activities.
It is said to be brought to Japan by Buddhist monks around the sixth century, however there is no evidence about this and the origin of Origami is unknown.
The oldest mention of Origami is the poem written by Ihara Saikaku in 1680.
Now “ORIGAMI” is well known in the world.
Orizuru – crane bird made with Origami paper-, is one of the famous Origami art.
In Japan, we use Orizuru in many occasions, such as prayer for health or peace, as crane birds are symbols of a long healthy life and a good fortune.
By making miniature Orizuru and putting it in jewelry, the jewelry becomes good luck charm.
There are so many Koi ponds in Japan everywhere and you can enjoy seeing beautiful Koi fish swimming.
We use Koi fish paintings on many art crafts, such as Kakejiku hanging scrolls, Kimono patterns, dishes, etc, as Japanese good luck symbols.
Japanese people have a strong connection with Koi fish since ancient time.
Especially, “Nishiki goi” koi fish is beautiful and highly valued.
Red & white color (sometimes with black) Koi fish is a popular Nishiki goi.
Golden color Koi fish is also a kind of “Nishiki goi”, and is believed to bring us a wealth.
So making miniature 3D koi fish is very important for me.
I can create a miniature 3D beautiful Japanese world in jewelry with them.
Also, Using this good luck symbol Koi fish, and adding power stones, I can make the jewelry a powerful good luck charm.
I love to imagine people wearing my good luck jewelry and being happy!
World heritage -Mt. Fuji
Mt. Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan, the altitude of 3,776m.
It is well known not just in Japan but in the world as the world heritage site.
The reason Mt. Fuji was selected as a World Heritage Site, is not only for its value as a famous mountain of nature and beauty, but also for the faith held by the Japanese in the existence of Mt. Fuji and its value as a source of art born through Mt. Fuji.
Since ancient times, Japanese people felt divinity in Mt. Fuji and admired it as the symbol of spirituality.
They looked up Mt. Fuji and prayed.
How did Mt. Fuji become a mountain of prayer?
Mt. Fuji is the symbol of “mountain worship”.
“Sangaku-shinko ” 山岳信仰” is a faith worshipping mountains as being sacred.
So what is “Sangaku- shinko” -mountain worship?
Japan is an island country, of around 75% of the land being occupied with mountains and forests.
This fact already made people have strong connections with mountains.
In the old days, the souls of the dead who left their bodies were thought to climb mountains.
When Buddhism was transmitted, people started to believe the souls of the dead climbed the mountain and they would become Buddhas at the summit. As a result, the mountain has come to be regarded as the most sacred place where God and Buddha live together.
There are many shrines in and around mountains, and of course Mt. Fuji also has shrines called “asama shrine”浅間神社“ on its summit and around it as well.
That is because Mt.Fuji is God himself.
On the other hand, Mt. Fuji is a beautiful active volcano.
There has not been a major eruption in the last 300 years since the last eruption of 1707, but it has a history of being feared not only as beautiful but also as a scary mountain.
Asama Shrine, which is scattered throughout the Mt. Fuji area, also has a deep desire to calm the terrible disaster.
In Western Europe, nature, including mountains, should be conquered by the power of God. There is a big difference from Japan, which feels the sign of God and Buddha from rich nature and thinks that the mountain is a god.
That is the reason that Mt. Fuji is very special mountain for Japanese people.
And as a source of art, famous painters and artists left behind their works that were in some way in connection with Mt. Fuji, especially since Edo period.
From folding screen paintings, fusuma paintings, hanging scrolls, the pilgrimage mandala, which is the object of faith, and as well as the decoration of crafts such as costume patterns, daily fixtures, and furnishings, countless figures of Mt. Fuji were drawn.
I myself, love to draw beautiful Mt. Fuji.
Mt. Fuji has the power to captivate a person from a first look.
I always love to express Japanese beauty and symbols in art, such as paintings and jewelry.
Making Japanese scenery in 3D paintings in accessories is one of my favorite ways of expressing them.
Using resin allows me to make 3D world, by applying paintings in different layers.
It takes time and energy, but the slow procedure of making 3D painting jewelry excites me all the time.
And when it’s done, my affection to these jewelries becomes the special one.
Drawing good luck Japanese symbols, such as Mt. Fuji, Sakura cherry blossoms and Koi fish, and adding power stones, I can make these jewelry into special good luck items.
