Daisuke Kikuchi - The Japan Times

CULTURE / Art

May 21, 2014

Shoko Uemura (1902-2001) was the eldest son of renowned nihonga (Japanese-style) painter Shoen Uemura (1875-1949). Like his mother, Shoko trained in nihonga, and he became widely acclaimed for his kachō -ga (paintings of flowers and birds). Known to challenge the refined compositions of traditional painting, he made innovative changes to nihonga style. For example, in his depiction of a peacock — a favorite subject of the master Okyo Maruyama (1733-1795) — Uemura trimmed part of one of the bird's wing, making it more dynamic, appearing as it if it had just moved out of the frame; May 27-July 6.

Events / Events In Tokyo

May 15, 2014

Visit some of Tokyo's top museums for free

Museums sometimes get the unfair reputation of being a bit boring, which is one reason why International Museum Day could exceed your expectations.

Events / Events Outside Tokyo

May 15, 2014

Fun ways to teach kids eco-friendly concepts

Global warming, nuclear energy, deforestation, pollution, toxic waste — the list of environmental issues that play on our minds is long, but teaching future generations not to repeat the mistakes we made needs a soft touch. In the run-up to the June 5 World Environment Day, the Kitakyushu Environment Museum, with the support of local organizations and businesses, is holding its biggest environmental awareness event of the year. Titled Mirai Hotaru Day, the event, which takes place May 18, is aimed at kids and families and offers various attractions designed to inform and entertain.

CULTURE / Art

May 14, 2014

'Chic Gentlemen and Elegant Ladies: Fashion in Japanese Painting'

The concept behind Cool Japan fashion may go back further than you think. Shifts in fashion styles have been documented in art for centuries, and Japanese art history has much to reveal.

CULTURE / Art

May 14, 2014

'Watercolorist: Tojiro Oshita'

As a writer, editor, presenter and designer, Tojiro Oshita (1870-1911) possessed many talents that contributed to and influenced his more famous work as a painter. He is often referred to as the father of Japanese watercolor painting, and his 1901 publication "Suisaiga no Shiori" ("A Guidebook to Watercolor Painting") became a seminal influence on young artists. His art magazine, "Midue," launched in 1905, is also still published today.

CULTURE / Art

May 14, 2014

'A General Collection: Marc Chagall Lithographies'

Modernist Belarussian-Russian-French artist Marc Chagall's world was a colorful and imaginative one. He worked with many mediums, including oils, woodcut prints and etching. In the late 1940s, however, the color lithograph became one of his favorite art forms and he became renowned for his use of layered colors, a technique that allowed him to pursue and hone his vibrant style.

CULTURE / Music

May 8, 2014

the Hiatus to swap guitars for synths on 'Keeper of the Flame' tour

Who says you can't go home again? After breaking from what it knows best, the Hiatus is set to return to the live-house venues that it built itself on, following a nationwide tour that took it in a different direction.

CULTURE / Music

May 8, 2014

the Hiatus "Keeper of the Flame"

With fourth album "Keeper of the Flame," the Hiatus chose to emphasize digital production, moving away from the more organic style of natural instrumentation found on its previous release, the "Horse Riding" EP. The change comes alongside a reshuffle in the band's membership and has resulted in a more dramatic atmosphere overall.

Events / Events Outside Tokyo

May 8, 2014

Roses to inspire life in the pink

Don't panic if you almost forgot that it's Mother's Day on Sunday. The International Roses and Gardening Show could be just the ticket to stay in Mom's good graces. Why not give her a gift of flowers and then take her to an event showcasing nearly a million different roses, arranged by breeders and flower artists from Japan and overseas.

Events / Events Outside Tokyo

May 8, 2014

Entertainment takes to the streets of Ibaraki

Street performances, known as daidōgei in Japan, are usually performed at random, so to see many shows all at once is a rare opportunity. The Hitachi Kokusai Daidogei in Ibaraki has invited 30 artists from Japan, France, China and England for a wide variety of performances, all taking place this weekend.

CULTURE / Art

May 7, 2014

'Collection Exhibition 2014: Spiritual World'

For this year's "Collection Exhibition," the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography reevaluates the relationship between Japanese religious culture and visual arts through a pilgrimage of photographs, videos and other works of the museum collection. In search of aspects of spirituality that have been lost to the modern world, works here date from the early 19th century to today, and include 168 photographs, about half of which are being exhibited to the public for the first time.

CULTURE / Art

May 7, 2014

'Leandro Erlich: The Ordinary?'

"The Swimming Pool" by Leandro Erlich is not one you can dive into. From above it appears as a regular deep pool of shimmering water, but it is actually only 10 cm deep. Suspended over a glass sheet, the "The Swimming Pool" can also be viewed from below. Such playfulness in interpretation turns an ordinary, everyday object into something extraordinary — a feature of Erlich's works that often toy with human perception.

CULTURE / Art

May 7, 2014

'Toward the Modernity: Images of Self & Other in East Asian Art Competitions'

Open exhibitions, known as kouboten in Japan, not only give young unrepresented artists the opportunity to submit and show their work, but also play an important role in the arts, often determining trends and artistic advances. Kouboten became popular in Asia after the first Japanese-government-sponsored national Bunten exhibition of 1907. Soon after, similar shows were organized in Seoul, Taipei and Changchun, each supporting regional arts.

Events / Events Outside Tokyo

May 1, 2014

Hula into the long weekend

Hawaiian culture experienced a bit of a boost recently as the denizens of Tokyo's trendy Harajuku neighborhood began snacking on the U.S. island's foods.

CULTURE / Art

Apr 30, 2014

'Best Selection 2014'

Since 2012, the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum has been holding annual exhibitions in collaboration with selected arts groups and associates in Japan, in order to revitalize artistic activities by exhibiting fresh work from their favorite artists.

CULTURE / Art

Apr 30, 2014

'European Crafts and Design: Art Nouveau, Art Deco'

Art Nouveau and Art Deco were European art design styles that spread in popularity to various regions around the world in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

CULTURE / Art

Apr 30, 2014

"Cosmos: The world of Kitaoji Rosanjin"

Rosanjin Kitaoji (1883-1959) pursued a wide range of art, including writing, seal carving, pottery and lacquerware. But even outside of art, he was also known for being a gourmet, and even opened a first-class Japanese restaurant in 1923 called Hoshigaoka Saryou.

Events / Events In Tokyo

Apr 24, 2014

Ariake Sports Festa keeps children active

Are your Golden Week activities scheduled already? Most parents will be scrambling for last-minute camps to send their kids to. For those who haven't planned ahead, the Ariake Sports Festa is a healthier option than camping out in front of the TV for a day.

Events / Events Outside Tokyo

Apr 24, 2014

Yokohama discovery event heads to space

Get learning during Golden Week at Kite, Mite, Hakken! (Come, Look, Discover!), which gives kids a chance to learn about the world around them.

CULTURE / Art

Apr 23, 2014

'Chinese Style Dresses: From Fujishima Takeji to Umehara Ryuzaburo'

During the Taisho era (1912-1926), Chinese culture fascinated many Japanese. For example, Chinese themes could be found in the novel "Toshishun" by the renowned writer Ryunosuke Akutagawa (1892-1927), and similarly in art, Takeji Fujishima (1867-1943) began working on paintings of women in Chinese dresses. The development in tourism also led many artists to travel to China to seek subjects.

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