Momotaro (Peach Boy) is a Japanese folktale about a young boy who was found floating down a river inside a giant peach. He grew up to be a hero who defeated a band of fierce oni with the help of his talking animal companions (a dog, a monkey, and a pheasant). 🎨Suzuki Harunobu, 1890. #MythologyMonday

Happy Solstice, whichever side of the planet you happen to be on. 🎨1. 'Treasure Ship and Rising Sun' - unknown artist, ca. 1920s. 2. 'Miyajima in the Snow' - Tsuchiya Koitsu, 1937. #JapaneseArt #solstice

'Snow at Kinkakuji Temple' - Koichi. #JapaneseArt #Japan #snow

'Sunshine after Snow at the Kannon Temple, Asakusa' from the series 'Twenty Views of Tokyo' - Kawase Hasui, 1926. #JapaneseArt #shinhanga

#AshmoleanAdvent Day 21: Snowy Bridge Today’s advent calendar treat is a woodblock print titled Yuhi Hill and Drum Bridge at Meguro by Japanese master printmaker Utagawa Hiroshige. The unusual arched bridge in this wintry landscape was known as a ‘drum bridge’ because of its shape.

Fu Takenaka - Golden Pavilion #ShinHanga #Woodblock #Print #JapaneseArt #Ukiyo-e

Just a reminder that if you missed my last Kickstarter, you can still pre-order books and traditional Fukui crafts from our Backerkit store. Traditional yokai craft stocks are extremely limited and won't be available afterwards! echizen-wakasa.backerkit.com/hosted_preor...

I submitted my claim for the Anthropic Copyright Settlement case today. www.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com If AI tech bros violated your coprights work to feed their slop-vomiting machines, sign up for the settlement here. Burn these fuckers and their empire of AI slop to the ground. 🔥👿🔥

❄️ Tōji ❄️ 冬至 ❄️ Winter Solstice ❄️ Today marks the shortest day and longest night of the year in the northern hemisphere, when the sun sits at its lowest point in the sky. In Japan, this day is known as Tōji, a seasonal turning point that signals the gradual lengthening of days ahead. #tōji #winter

On the winter solstice in Japan it's traditional to take a hot bath with yuzu citrus fruits floating in the water. (There aren't usually yokai and capybaras in the tub with you, but you can hope!😂) It might be good for your health and good luck, but even if not, yuzu smell awesome #FolkloreThursday

Yuki onna is a fearful #yokai appearing on snowy winter nights. She glides across the snow with her blue lips and transparent skin. Her icy gaze can be deadly and she will suck the life force out of you and leave you to die in the snow. #FolkyFriday #JapaneseFolklore 🎨Sawaki Suushi

This Japanese print by an unknown artist titled 'Snow Demon' (ca. 1930s) depicts a demon or god creating snow. It seems to be part of a series depicting weather gods. #FolkyFriday #JapaneseArt

Although Santa has readily been embraced in Japan, there was another cheerful, big-bellied figure bringing cheer to children long before old Father Christmas arrived on these shores... Image thanks🙇‍♂️ - mag.japaaan.com, harashobo.com & scholten-japanese-art.com #Japan

Hossumori - [Tsukumogami] - An old “hossu” which after nine years of being handled by a zen master, came to life, it began sitting lotus style in deep meditation. Much like Daruma, it stares with an unrelenting gaze, seeking enlightenment. Perhaps it is unstoppable... samkalensky.com/products/hos...

In #JapaneseFolklore kama itachi is a #yokai that in English translates as sickle weasel. They look like weasels with spiky fur and long razor sharp claws and appear riding on dust whirlwinds, sometimes barking like dogs. They move so fast that they become basically... #FolkloreThursday 1/3

'Waterfall at Maple Slope, Shin-Kiyomizu Temple' from the series 'One Hundred Views of Osaka' - Nansuitei Yoshiyuki, 1860. #JapaneseArt #ukiyoe

'Iki Province: Shisa' from the series 'Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces [of Japan]' - Utagawa Hiroshige, 1856. #JapaneseArt #ukiyoe #hiroshige

'Momiji no ga' from the series 'Eastern Figures Matched with the Tale of Genji' - Kikugawa Eizan, 1818. From the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston collection. #JapaneseArt #ukiyoe

'Sunset Glow of the Maple-leaf Seller' from the series 'Eight Views of Dances in the Modern Style' - Suzuki Harunobu, 1769. From the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston collection. #JapaneseArt #ukiyoe

'The Autumn Colors at Mount Takao' from the series 'Fifteen Views of Kyoto' - Tokuriki Tomikichiro, ca. 1950s. #JapaneseArt

🙏🍀'THE SEVEN GODS OF FORTUNE' (七福神)🪙💸 O New Year's god this year too send help! とし神やことしも御世話下さるる -Kobayashi Issa (小林一茶). Trans. David Lanoue. As the year draws to a close, images of seven cheerful figures (often riding a treasure laden boat) begin to appear all over Japan. #七福神 #sevengodsoffortune

Adding to my #lifegoals!

Apologies that I haven't been posting as much this past week. Unfortunately some health issues have made a very unwelcome reappearance. I'm hoping things will be back to normal soon-ish. In the meantime, here is a beautiful flower print. 🎨'Flowering Iris' - Ohara Koson, 1934.

'Sun Bathing' - Kozaki Kan. #Caturday #JapaneseArt

'Cat and Ornaments' - Inagaki Tomoo. #Caturday #JapaneseArt

🥣RADISH GOBBLING😊 It's time once again to eat up Daihōon-ji's (大報恩寺) blessed daikon for another year of protection against sickness and disease. On December 7th and 8th about 5000 radishes are cooked and 10,000 meals consumed during the 'Radish Boiling Festival' (大根焚 'Daikon-daki'). #大根焚 #daikon

Have you ever noticed how snow seems to melt faster right around a tree? That's the work of a yokai called Yukinbo, a one-legged child who hops in circles around tree trunks after it snows. #folklorethursday art by @samkalensky.com

Namahage go door to door at new years in the north of Japan, brandishing knives, calling "are there any crybabies here?," chastising bad children and lazy people, and eating and drinking sake offered by the families they visit. #FolkloreThursday

What has two legs, zero arms, and breathes fire from its nostrils and souls from its mouth? Today's yokai, that's what! Read more for free on my Patreon below: www.patreon.com/posts/igyo-n...

🐗🙏1000 BOARS HELP FOUND A TEMPLE📿🐗 Known affectionately as 'Matsu-no-dera' (松の寺 the 'Temple of the Pine'), Yoshimine-dera (善峯寺) is the 20th of 33 temples on the famed Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage (西国三十三所). It is a famous spot for enjoying hydrangea in early summer, and the fall colours.

Utagawa Hiroshige I (Japan, 1797–1858) #Grasshopper and Begonia Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink & color on paper Horizontal yotsugiri (quarter ôban); 11 x 16.6 cm Poem: Shûkaidô/ sono ha wa nani o/ kata-omoi 秋海棠 その葉は何を 片思い MFA Boston 21.8647 collections.mfa.org/objects/236264 #JapaneseArt #Insects

#AshmoleanAdvent Day 8: Black Bear Cub Painted by Japanese artist Mori Shūhō, this small bear looks directly out at the viewer while it sits uneasily on a ledge amid the snowflakes. Shūhō was a member of the Mori School of artists who specialised in lifelike depictions of animals. 🐻 EA1964.95.F

#AshmoleanAdvent Day 10: Evening Snow at Kiyomizudera This woodblock print shows a view from inside the Kiyomizudera Temple in Kyoto on a snowy evening by Kawase Hasui. Snow falls steadily, forming drifts on the wooden balcony. Through the pillars, two figures can be seen looking out.

'Late Autumn in Kai' - Yamataka Noboru, ca. 1980's. #JapaneseArt

Nopperabo is a strange supernatural phenomenon from #JapaneseFolklore. This yokai appears just like any normal human, but it is far from ordinary because it has no face. Generally nopperabo aim to scare unsuspecting victims out of their wits. They lurk... #WyrdWednesday 🎨Matthew Meyer @yokai.com 1/4

Itsumade are strange bird-like chimera in #JapaneseFolklore. They have a human face with a pointed beak, a snake's body, sharp claws and huge wings. They appear in the sky at night, flying in circles crying out 'itsumademo' which means 'until when?' #LegendaryWednesday 🎨Matthew Meyer @yokai.com 1/2

#WyrdWednesday #yokai

'Mt. Fuji and Red Torii' - Kawase Hasui, ca. 1930s. #ToriiTuesday #shinhanga #JapaneseArt

Boroboroton - [Tsukumogami] - A tattered and torn patchwork kotatsu comforter, after decades of collecting dust came to life, out of moth eaten holes rolled empty eyes, Now, the ragged covers roam, seeking vengeance against an empty hearted owner who threw it away! samkalensky.com/products/bor...

On the west wall of the Ming Hall in Yu Cui Pavilion, a quiet moment unfolds. A woman in a butterfly-embroidered golden robe gazes into her mirror. Pearls and jade shimmer softly against a humble cloth headscarf that lowers her hairline, tempering opulence with restraint. In this 1/2 #art #painting

A light in the dark.

Sasuke Inari Shrine in Kamakura. #ToriiTuesday #Shinto #Japan

'Torii at Itsukushima' from the series ' Views of the Famous Sights of Japan' - Kobayashi Kiyochika, 1896. #ToriiTuesday #ukiyoe #JapaneseArt

'Maple Trees at Mama, Tekona Shrine and Linked Bridge' from the series 'One Hundred Famous Views of Edo' - Utagawa Hiroshige, 1857. From the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston collection. #JapaneseArt #ukiyoe

'Eagle' - Ohara Koson, ca. 1936. #JapaneseArt #shinhanga

"It is not unbearable to see maple leaves fall, Scattering on the moss-covered ground. It is unbearable to feel the wind grow chilly, And see the whole sky darkening." This poem inspired Utagawa Hiroshige to create the 1832 #ukiyoe print titled 'Moon Seen Through Leaves' as part of a series ... 1/2

'Monkey and Moon' - Ohara Koson, ca. 1910. #FullMoon #shinhanga #JapaneseArt

'Autumn Moon at Ishiyama Temple' from the series 'Eight Views of Omi' - Utagawa Hiroshige, 1857. #FullMoon #ukiyoe #JapaneseArt

On my last trip to Japan I discovered an intriguing Japanese Buddhist goddess called Marishiten who was introduced to Japan from India via China. She is depicted in various forms (both female and male) and was said to ride a chariot drawn by seven boars, or to ride upon a boar. #FolkloreThursday 1/6