'Hanando of the Ogiya, Kamuro Momiji and Sakura' - Kikugawa Eizan, 1809-13. From the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston collection. #JapaneseArt #ukiyoe

In Japan, Children’s Day is one of Japan’s five sacred festivals and is held on the 5th of May. It's celebrated by hanging koinobori (carp streamers). This practice is based on a Chinese legend that if a carp is strong enough to swim upstream against strong currents, it can... #JapaneseFolklore 1/2

'Shrine Gate Pass at Rokusozan in Kazusa Province' from the series 'Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji' - Utagawa Hiroshige, 1852. From the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston collection. #ToriiTuesday #ukiyoe #JapaneseArt

'Pacific Ocean, Boshu' from the third Souvenirs of Travel Series - Kawase Hasui, 1925. #ToriiTuesday #shinhanga #JapaneseArt

Otome Inari Shrine, on the grounds of Nezu Shrine in Tokyo. #ToriiTuesday #Shinto #Japan

In Chinese mythology, ink is never just ink. It carries spirit, and within it dwell the Longbin (龍賓), Dragon Attendants, divine keepers of thought, language, and literary gift. It was said that anyone born to write was guided by twelve of these unseen beings. One tale 1/2

In #JapaneseFolklore, tales are told of yonaki-ishi or night-crying stones. These stones cry loudly at night and it is believed to be because they are possessed by a spirit, usually of someone who has been murdered and is seeking revenge. In one story a pregnant woman is... #MythologyMonday 1/2

'Great Lantern at Sensoji Temple' - Kasamatsu Shiro, 1934. #JapaneseArt #shinhanga

The Stroll by Gertrude Abercrombie #Caturday

'Moon Foxes' - in celebration of today's full moon here are three moon foxes basking in the light of a full moon's glow 🦊🌀🌕 #FoxMoon #FoxFriday #FoxoftheDay

'Plovers Flying Across a River above Snow-Laden Reeds' from the series 'Worlds of Things' - Kamisaka Sekka, ca. 1909-10. From the Art Institute of Chicago collection. #JapaneseArt

Symbolising determination, the carp motif was based on the Chinese legend of a carp that swam upstream to become a dragon. The black carp nowadays represents the father, red the mother, and blue the children (originally the eldest son was blue, each new son a different colour).

🎏CHILDREN'S DAY👶 Arriving at the end of Golden Week, 'Kodomo-no-hi' (こどもの日 "Children's Day") celebrates the happiness of children and families. In the weeks leading up to May 5th many homes display dolls and armor (or helmets), symbolizing vitality and strength. #こどもの日 #ChildrensDay

'Autumn Moon from the Main Parlor' - Kikugawa Eizan, ca. 1818, from the Library of Congress collection. #JapaneseArt #ukiyoe

'Bird on Pomegranate Branch' - Utagawa Hiroshige. #JapaneseArt #ukiyoe

'Gold Fish' - Komori Soseki, ca. 1920s. #JapaneseArt #shinhanga

Eight Shadow Figures, by Utagawa Hiroshige, ca. 1842, Japan

Purify and recharge your spirit for the summer! We are accepting applications for the 2026 Nagoshi-no-Harae until June 27th! Please make sure your Hitogata and Katashiro arrive at our shrine office by then. Nagoshi-no-Harae is a yearly ceremony to cleanse ourselves of the misfortune and ...

In 2007 'Greenery Day' (みどりの日 'Midori-no-hi') was moved to May 4th and April 29th we re-rebranded as 'Shōwa Day'. Golden Week, aka Ōgon Shūkan (黄金週間), is one of the most popular times for travel in Japan...but it's off to a rather grey start here in Kyōto☔️ #昭和の日

Happening this weekend in Osaka! I hope to see you there! (Pre-register at the link below!)

Caught in a shower whilst out hunting, Dōkan called at a shabby hut for a raincoat. A young girl appeared, apologised, and handed him a yamabuki branch. Perplexed and furious he stormed home in the rain. #yamabuki #山吹 #Japan #太田道灌

'Miya: Gate of the Atsuta Shrine' from the series 'The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido Road - Utagawa Hiroshige, 1850-51. From the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston collection. #ToriiTuesday #ukiyoe #JapaneseArt

'Rain at Enryakuji Temple' - Asano Takeji, 1953. #JapaneseArt

'Peach Blossoms at Koshigaya in the Eastern Capital' from the series 'Thirty-six Selected Flowers' - Utagawa Hiroshige II, 1866. From the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston collection. #JapaneseArt #ukiyoe

In Chinese #folklore, the missing cat in the zodiac is no accident. It is the mark of a betrayal. When the Jade Emperor summoned the animals to race for their place in the calendar, the clever rat asked to ride on the ox’s back, then jumped ahead at the finish to claim first. 1/2

The beauty & calm of rain: ‘The Yerres, Effect of Rain,’ Gustave Caillebotte, circa 1875

In Chinese #mythology, the Golden Crow (金乌) burns at the heart of the sun. In Han legend, it was one of ten solar crows nesting in the Fusang tree beyond the eastern sea, each rising in turn as their mother Xihe guided the sun’s chariot across the sky. 1/2

Small personal Shinto shrine. Japan

An Ofuda 神札 is a sacred talisman inherently connected to the Kami-sama. It is often made of rice paper and/or 檜 Hinoki wood (Japanese Cypress). Depending on the Kami-sama connected to the Ofuda they can bring different blessings, such as good fortune, happiness, safety, success, or good health.

'Right Amount of Happiness' - Taniuchi Masato. #Caturday #JapaneseArt

This wonderful carving of a tiger with her cub is actually a netsuke, a carved toggle used to attach purses or other smaller items to the traditional Japanese kimono. It was made by Japanese carver Kokei, dates back to the late 18th century and measures just 2.5cm in height!

In just over a week I'll be in Osaka to talk about yokai. There's still time to pre-register!

Mossy sort of a morning. #Arashiyama #嵐山 #Sagano #嵯峨野 #Kyoto #京都 #Japan #moss #kyotorain

A scene from the Kabuki play ‘Zen’aku Ryoumen Konotegashiwa’. Konotegashiwa (Platycladus orientalis) is a type of Chinese hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa); whilst the underside of hinoki leaves is usually white, this variety is green on both sides. Hence, the title is as you have translated it.

'Passing Spring' - Nishijima Katsuyuki, late 1900s. #JapaneseArt

In late 19th century Japan, firemen wore a distinctive form of kimono-style jacket. Each was a berspoke creation with a painted design emblazoned on the back. They tended to depict scenes from myths and legends. They are portable artworks. “ Text by Professor Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones

It was a challenge and a pleasure to incorporate yokai and Japanese art into these images for #MTGStrixhaven The dortabō and ouni are both classic yokai and worked really well with their cards' concepts. The rabbits from Hop To It (and ouni's robe) are inspired by the animals from chōjū giga.

'Plovers Flying Across a River above Snow-Laden Reeds' from the series 'Worlds of Things' - Kamisaka Sekka, ca. 1909-10. From the Art Institute of Chicago collection. #JapaneseArt

In Chinese folklore, Zhong Kui Marries Off His Sister (鍾馗嫁妹) turns a demon-slayer into an unlikely matchmaker. Fierce enough to terrify spirits, Zhong Kui arranges his sister’s marriage to his loyal friend Du Ping, then leads the wedding himself: beard wild, slightly drunk, 1/2

It’s #BatAppreciationDay 🦇 on a #FabricFriday so please appreciate this awesome 19th c. Japanese kosode decorated with embroidered lucky #bats: KOSODE WITH BATS Edo - Meiji, 19th century silk twill, paste-resist dyed, embroidery; 67⅜ × 48⅞ in National Museum of Japanese History / NGA DC #JapaneseArt

This formal robe would have been worn by a high-ranking official, possibly at the Chinese imperial court. The shape is based on a traditional Han Chinese design with some adaptations to the clothing style of the Manchu rulers of the Quing dynasty.

'Kitten and Wool' - Aoyama Masaharu, ca. 1950s. #Caturday #JapaneseArt

This gorgeous cat also seemed to enjoy visiting the Meigetsuin Zen Temple in Kamakura. #Caturday #Japan

In Northern Song(960-1127) art, Emperor Huizong turns cranes into an omen of refined power and celestial grace. Twenty birds sweep across the sky, hovering, gliding, dipping low, each alive with its own rhythm, while the palace roof below holds the scene in poised stillness. 1/3

In ancient Chinese folklore, a talking cat is never just a curiosity. It signals that the world has slipped out of joint. When the military commissioner Yan Zunmei fell into madness, he overheard a cat remark to a dog, “The commissioner has lost his mind,” 1/3 #caturday

Happy International #BatAppreciationDay 🦇! Takahashi Bihō (Japan, b.1873) #Bat and Moon, c. 1928–30 Woodblock print (shin hanga / kachō-e), ink & color on paper Sheet 10 3/4 x 11 3/16 in. (27.3 x 28.4 cm) MIA P.77.28.46 collections.artsmia.org/art/91665/ba... #JapaneseArt

'Tamamo no Mae Transforming into a Fox' - Utagawa Sadakage. #PhantomsFriday #yokai #ukiyoe #JapaneseArt

'Bloody Ghost' from the series 'Difficult to Distinguish between Good and Evil' - Adachi Ginko, ca. 1885. #PhantomsFriday #ukiyoe #JapaneseArt

One of the most unusual remnants of the Lake Biwa Canal is a very European looking aqueduct, the 'suirokaku' (水路閣), almost concealed within the leafy precincts of Nanzen-ji (南禅寺)🌉💦 #水路閣 #aqueduct #Kyoto #Nanzenji #南禅寺 #琵琶湖疏水

'Fashionable Women of Ohara in Spring' - Kikugawa Eizan, ca. 1804-18, from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston collection. #JapaneseArt #ukiyoe