RYU dragon live painting with Samurai 士魂流水 at Tokyo Samurai Theater
November 18, 19, 2022, I had a great opportunity to collaborate with Samurai 士魂流水 at Samurai Theater Tokyo.
In total 6 shows, I painted RYU dragon Kakejiku at each opening.
I painted in around 10 minutes with Samurai performing behind me.
When I entered, I prayed to the small shrine there first, then bowed to the guests with the Japanese traditional way.
I am really grateful that I could paint in this bushido spirit atmosphere.
Most kakejiku hanging scrolls I painted there were sold to the guests on the spot.
Thank you so much for this opportunity.
YouTube videos of Kyoto & Nara temples and shrines visit
We published our Tokyo/Japan Explore spots YouTube videos, about “Kyoto & Nara trip”.
There are 8 videos about Kyoto & Nara temples and shrines visit.
They are about visiting not well known popular tourist spots (some are famous already though), but more meaningful and powerful power spots.
By visiting those places, we Japanese believe we can connect to our guardians and will get better luck.
During my visit there, I had great opportunities to dedicate my RYU dragon kakejiku to Oomiwa shrine in Nara, and to Kifune shrine in Kyoto.
We hope these videos will give you some ideas of places to visit when you come to Japan!
Nara videos
Kyoto videos
I won an award at Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum ZEN art exhibition
I won an award at Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, ZEN art exhibition!
I am so grateful that so many people voted for my artworks here.
It is such an honor to win an award from over 700 artists from all over Japan!
Thank you so much for supporting me all the time.
Dragon Art Festival in Yurakucho 2022
20th ZEN art exhibition in Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
47th ZEN art selected Ginza Exhibition 2022
47th ZEN Art Selected Ginza Exhibition was held from April 12th to April 17th in Ginza, Tokyo.
Thank you very much for this opportunity!
It was a wonderful experience, thank you so much!!
2022 Shihomi Solo Exhibition in Tokyo “ZEN・SAKURA EXHIBITION”
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.
How to paint RYUJIN（龍神）on YouTube
The difference between RYUJIN (龍神) and Dragon
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.
