SoraNews24 —Japan News—

NEC’s creative collaboration with digital artist Atsuki Segawa shows us what it might have looked like if computers existed in Japan during the Edo Period!

Japan
(animated GIFs • art • Atsuki Segawa • LAVI • NEC • Sanjushichi Segawa • ukiyo-e)

Kabuki and geisha cats appear as cute purses based on famous Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints

Oona McGee
Feb 7, 2016

Edo-period artwork gets the cute cat treatment in Japan.

Japan
(art • cats • cute • cute. cats • Felissimo • geisha • kabuki • ukiyo-e • woodblock prints)

These ukiyo-e style renditions of Lupin the Third characters just might steal your heart!

Kay
Feb 3, 2016

Well, now we know that the stylish characters of the hit anime Lupin the Third look awesome as ukiyo-e drawings in traditional Japanese clothing!

Japan
(anime • art • Lupin the Third • manga • ukiyo-e)

Kobayashi Kiyochika expertly captures light and shadow in these gorgeous ukiyo-e prints 【Art】

Preston Phro
Jan 28, 2016

If you love art, you’ll definitely want to check out Kobayashi’s prints!

Internet, Japan
(art • illustrations • Kobayashi Kiyochika • painting • ukiyo-e)

New York Public Library releases digital images of valuable ukiyo-e and photographs of old Japan

Oona McGee
Jan 21, 2016

From breastfeeding mothers to merchant towns and an evening party with kimono-clad girls in Kyoto, these newly released artworks and photos of old Japan are simply captivating.

Japan, USA
(Edo • history • kimono • old photos • photos • samurai • ukiyo-e • ukiyoe)

Edo-period ukiyoe woodblock prints of animals and mythical beasts now available for free online

Oona McGee
Nov 26, 2015

Lovers of art, history and animals are celebrating the release of an exclusive set of ukiyoe woodblock prints from 1857 that are now free to download and share online.

Japan
(animals • art • graphics • history • mythology • tradition • ukiyo-e • ukiyoe)

See America through the eyes of Chiura Obata, a Japanese artist from the early 1900s

Scott Wilson
Nov 20, 2015

Chances are you’ve never heard of Chiura Obata. Well, all that changes now.

Japan, USA
(art • artist • California • paintings • sumi-e • ukiyo-e • WWII)

The newest Ghost in the Shell ukiyo-e print is available for pre-order and looking beautiful

Preston Phro
Nov 2, 2015

In September, we introduced you to the new line of Ghost in the Shell ukiyo-e prints being prepared by OtakuWorks Inc. The first print was a relatively simple but beautiful take on the original movie poster, and while this second entry is equally limited and beautiful, its inspiration comes from a slightly different source: it’s based on the 24-hour Cherry Blossom Stakeout scene from the newest film!

Internet, Japan
(art • awesome • Ghost in the Shell • ukiyo-e)

Adorable, whimsical pictures of animals painted by old-school Japanese masters

Krista Rogers
Sep 28, 2015

Japanese ukiyo-e painters from the Edo period (1603-1868) are now famous throughout the world for their exquisite woodblock prints depicting everyday Japanese life and the natural world. Such master painters are less well-known, however, for their humorous contributions to the art world, which often feature whimsical scenes of anthropomorphic animals. Fortunately for us, though, these types of pictures are experiencing a recent wave of popularity among Japanese Internet users, and these images are simply too cute for us to just pass up. We’ve got fish, cats, puppies, monkeys, and a few more surprises from the masters in store for you after the jump!

Japan
(animals • art • cute • paintings • sumi-e • traditional • ukiyo-e • whimsical • woodblock prints)

If you’ve got the cash, you can pre-order this stunning Ghost in the Shell ukiyo-e print

Preston Phro
Sep 5, 2015

A critical darling, Ghost in the Shell may well be one of the most beloved anime in history. Its compelling story, engaging characters and beautiful art all combine to make one of the most exciting franchises we can name, so it’s little surprise that 25 years after its release, the film remains a fan favorite to this day.

In celebration of the first film and the entire franchise, a special product has been announced: a limited-edition series of ukiyo-e prints featuring images from Ghost in the Shell! But when we say limited-edition, we really do mean limited — only 300 copies will be made!

And they won’t come cheap either…

Japan
(art • awesome • Ghost in the Shell • ukiyo-e)

Three fantastic Japan-themed exhibits at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts set to end soon

Krista Rogers
Jul 10, 2015

2015 has been a good year for lovers of Japanese art in Boston. The city’s phenomenal Museum of Fine Arts has hosted not just one, but three special exhibitions of Japanese art so far this year, along with its newly restored Japanese garden outside. The most hyped of all of these is an exhibition dedicated solely to Katsushika Hokusai, one of the most important ukiyo-e painters and printmakers of the Edo period who’s best known as the creator of The Great Wave off Kanagawa.

Besides the Hokusai collection, the museum is also hosting a particularly powerful exhibit displaying the work of 17 photographers in the wake of the 2011 Tohoku triple disasters, along with a lighthearted exhibit showcasing prints of some whimsical Japanese toys and games. As all three of the exhibitions are preparing to wind down within the next few weeks after hosting thousands of visitors over the past months, we thought we’d take a moment to share some of their highlights with you!

Japan, USA
(3/11 • art • Boston • hokusai • MFA • tsunami • ukiyo-e)

Combine your love of Godzilla, ukiyo-e and fashion with these fresh kicks from TeeFury

Evie Nyan
May 13, 2015

Recently, we brought you the news that you can now view an online animated sketchbook version of works by famous Japanese Ukiyo-e artist Hokusai. But what if you’re not content just looking at beautiful art online? What if you could see it every time you look down at your feet? Well, with these awesome printed sneakers from TeeFury.com, you can get some culture into your wardrobe while still looking cool!

Oh, and as an added bonus, they’ve stuck Godzilla’s ugly monster mush into the design, too!

Global, Internet, Japan
(art • artist • culture • fashion • Godzilla • hokusai • shoes • sneakers • ukiyo-e • woodblock)

Tokaido ukiyoe series by Hiroshige now free to share, we celebrate with five favourites

Oona McGee
May 11, 2015

Lovers of Japanese art and history will be familiar with the world-famous set of ukiyo-e woodblock prints known as “The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido.” Created in the 1800s by famed artist Utagawa Hiroshige, the collection is a series of landscape paintings from each of the post stations on the ancient coastal walking route from Edo (Tokyo) to Kyoto and is frequently praised for the way it captures the spirit and essence of old Japan.

While the masterful works have garnered fans around the world, when it comes to sharing the images online, things haven’t been so easy. Now, limitations have been lifted and the beautiful series is free to share without copyright restrictions. What better way to celebrate the good news than to share some of the best with you, our dear readers?

Internet, Japan
(art • Edo • history • Tokaido • ukiyo-e • Utagawa Hiroshige • woodblock prints)

【TBT】Your favorite Nintendo games as traditional Japanese prints

ロケットニュース24
Nov 13, 2014

Ukiyo-e Heroes are a group of artists who work in the medium of tradional Japanese woodblock printing (ukiyo-e), a style most strongly associated with Japanese culture. This group has turned their facebook page into a virtual gallery displaying their favorite muse: video games.

Japan
(anime • manga • nintendo • TBT • ukiyo-e • woodblock)

Macabre Japanese ukiyo-e reveal gothic side to art of the floating world【Pics】

Cara Clegg
May 29, 2014

When you think of Japanese ukiyo-e, or woodblock prints, you probably think of Hokusai’s beautiful landscapes in his Thirty Six Views of Mount Fuji, or the stylized prints of beautiful courtesans in traditional Japanese dress. But there are also many pieces of Japanese art and ukiyo-e from the Edo to the Meiji period (between 1603 and 1912) that represent a more mythical and macabre side of Japan.

The following is a collection of 20 pieces that all contain skulls or skeletons in some form, many of them by renowned and famous artists of the time.

Japan
(art • hokusai • Japanese art • skeleton • skull • ukiyo-e • ukiyoe • woodblock)

Talented artist imagines what Game of Thrones would look like in feudal Japan

Philip Kendall
Jan 21, 2014

Having learned the hard way that some TV series exist simply to keep viewers hanging for years (yes, Lost, I am looking at you), I have to admit that I gave the TV adaptation of Game of Thrones a wide berth for quite some time after it first aired. A few months and the contraction of a very nasty cold later, I found myself in bed with a heap of medication, a DVD box-set and little else to do. By the time I was back on my feet, I was a huge fan of the series (and may have run “Game of Thrones blonde girl” through Google a couple of times) and swallowed, along with the last of the medicine, my usual stubborn pride by telling friends that I was ready to join in their nerdy conversations and even read the books that they had all finished with years ago.

Little did I know, though, that the TV show could be made all the more awesome by recreating some of its more memorable scenes in the style of Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints, with all of my favourite characters looking like they reside in feudal Japan rather than Westeros.