Tattoo Sleeves Instant Kabuki By toshidama The adjacent photograph shows a relatively new trend for very cheap, disposable tattoo sleeves… to what end, I’m not sure. I thought I’d try one on in the interests of researching the fashion in the kabuki theatre for representing heroes and villains illustrated in ukiyo-e prints and later imitated by huge [...]
Japanese Art and Yamamoto Shoun: Adorable Artist Born in Kochi (1870-1965) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Meiji, Taisho and Showa periods of Japanese history were extremely dynamic and chaotic because you have many bright periods followed by dark moments in history. However, just like the phoenix rises, then in the final years of [...]
Kunichika & Warhol – Seeing Stars By toshidama The superstar is no new phenomenon nor is the intimate relationship between entertainer and publicist a product only of modern mass media. I’m interested here in Kunichika and his close relationship with two very famous kabuki actors of the late nineteenth century; and how similar that is [...]
Japanese Art, Traditional Fashion and a Living Connection in Modern Japan Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Ukiyo-e art in Japan focused on many themes during its “golden period” in the Edo period and carried on into the Meiji era. The world of Japan comes alive visually within many areas of ukiyo-e art because of [...]
Onnagata – A Woman’s Manner By toshidama Literally “woman’s manner” (onna kata), the use of male actors for female roles in kabuki theatre is one of the most confusing obstacles in viewing Japanese prints. In some prints the obvious theatricality; the exaggerated stage make-up and costume; the mie – the cross-eyed expression at the peak of [...]
Japanese Women in the Early Days of Photography: Ogawa Kazumasa Tomoko Hara Modern Tokyo Times The photography of Ogawa Kazumasa in this article is based on images of Japanese ladies in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century. In each image you will find nothing revolutionary nor will you find a “hidden mystery.” However, [...]
Japanese Art and the World of Ukiyo-e: International Impact and Pushing the Boundaries Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese art form called ukiyo-e relates to many aspects of Japanese culture throughout the Edo and Meiji period. This is because this amazing art form was expansive and despite government interference from time to [...]
The Enigmatic Japanese Cuckoo By toshidama For those familiar with, or interested in Japanese woodblock prints, the image of the falling cuckoo (above) will perhaps be familiar but perplexing. This enigmatic bird, drawn identically each time, appears in woodblock prints from the early 1830’s right into the twentieth century. The bird is sometimes (as in the case [...]
Japanese Art, Sesshu Toyo and the Influence of China: Art, Zen Buddhism and Mystery Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Sesshu Toyo (1420-1506) during his lifetime was highly revered in Japan and China because of his artistic talent related to the visual arts. He was educated with the intent of being a Rinzai Zen Buddhist [...]
Yukio Mishima and Haruki Murakami: Iranian Revolution, Nationalism and Liberal Monoculture Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Haruki Murakami and Yukio Mishima provide insights into two different worlds, irrespective if this applies to religion, fiction, peace, corruption, nationalism and a whole array of different and complex areas. If two words were used called “banality” and [...]
Art and Fashion in the Eyes of Yōshū Chikanobu: Edo, Meiji and Western Influence Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In modern day Japan the fashion scene is electric in major cities like Kobe, Osaka, and Tokyo. This applies to crème de la crème fashion and independent styles and the fusion of Japanese fashion, European [...]
David Bowie… Pop Goes Kabuki By toshidama Ukiyo-e artists have used kabuki, (traditional Japanese theatre) as subject matter for their woodblock prints more or less since its inception in the seventeenth century. David Bowie started experimenting with kabuki for his stage shows in 1973. By the time of his Aladdin Sane tour he was wearing actual kabuki costumes [...]
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