Only one country -JAPAN-

Antique KIMONO　【Lily and wave】 ※Used※

2009-06-18T14:31:00.002+09:00

I like KIMONO.
KIMONO is Japanese old wear.

Now, antique KIMONO are precious things, because these are arts.
Japanese traditional technique to make KIMONO takes so many time, because KIMONO were made all by hand work.

Although by hand work, its detail is very very delicate and gorgeous.
I cannot understand how to make such fantastic arts by hand.

Now, some new KIMONO are made by machine, so they have same pattern.
But made by hand, its pattern is only one on the earth.
So antique KIMONO is so precious.

This KIMONO is so gorgeous!
Was this worn by a noblewoman?

I want to see it before me.
If I do so, I might be put to shame.

so gorgeous...

Japanese Armor　Sanada Yukimura model

2009-06-18T13:00:00.002+09:00

Do you know Yukimura Sanada?
He is a warrior in Sengoku era before Edo era, about 17th century.
His sprints are handed down from generation to generation.
We call him the strongest warrior in Japan, because his sprint is heroic at Osaka summer war "OSAKA NATU NO JIN" in 1615.
He belonged to the troop of the TOYOTOMIs - HIDEYOSI TOYOTOMI's troops.
The TOYOTOMI's troops were successor of NOBUNAGA ODA, and fought against IEYASU TOKUGAWA.

In 1615, the outbreak of Osaka summer war, they were inferior to the TOKUGAWA's troops in the force of their troops in the war.
YUKIMURA SANADA thought that his troop couldn't have any hope to win or survive.
So he charged lonely or with a few to territory where IEYASU was.
He struggled as the God of war, and he made IEYASU decide to run away.
But he was just alone, he finally fell down near IEYASU.
Finally, TOYOTOMI's troops were beaten.

However he died in the war, his brave and behavior are handed down from generation to generation, and he has many admirers now.

I am admirer too.
I respect his brave and behavior.

ＫＯＴＯＲＩ Self-Standing Table Lamp shade Japanese apricot

2008-12-11T01:42:00.003+09:00

This is a table lamp.
Formerly, Japanese people used to use lamp like this to read or write songs or story.
Or put it at courtyard as a decoration.
With putting candle light into it.
Its brightness is soft and tender.
Japanese people tend to prefer such delicateness.
I don't know why we do so.
But it is character of Japanese people.

I think this lamp is very beautiful.
It's detail is very sophisticated and fanciful.

If I had much money, I could buy...

I want it!

Japanese umbrellas Mai gasa (Silk)

2008-12-11T01:24:00.007+09:00

And umbrella was used many situation.
This is used to dance "mai"　舞.

It is japanese old dance.
Some kind of "kabuki" 歌舞伎.
Woman used to charm man by "mai" with umbrella.

"mai-gasa" is status symbol of "mai" dancer.
Its gorgeosness and beauty are essenntial to charm.

So it is beautiful.

Japanese umbrella is not only woman's status but also man's status.

If you got Kimono, you should get also "bangasa".

It is very cool!!

Japanese people call the appearance " -粋- IKI ".

Japanese umbrellas Honshiki Nodate gasa set

2008-12-11T00:54:00.009+09:00

Do you know "chamise"?
It is Japanese old teahouse on street.
If you had some chance to visit Kyoto, for example, you could see "chamise" at Kinkaku temple.
People eat dumpling "dango" and drink tea at "chamise" with great view.
It is a culture of traveler " -旅人- TABIBITO ".
They often rest at there and talk with others.

This culture is Japanese originality.
Everyone shares same space and talk.
Time goes so slowly.

I like it.

Please visit teahouse when you will come to Japan.

You need them to make "chamise" situation.

Chair and Nodategasa which is big umbrella.

The Nodategasa is handmade.
Its construction is very delicate and beautiful.

Miki Otake's Calligraphy 【WATASHI-WO-KOETE】 Exceeding me

2008-11-27T16:14:00.003+09:00

One more poem.

Be noble over me.
I am always elevating myself.
So you must elevate yourself more me.
If you do so, I elevate more, you, me , you...

This is great relationship of human.
Elevation returns elevation.

Don't have conceit.
You just need to give up your pride.

I felt this from this calligraphy.

This poem means "fry over me to..."

This idea is important for human, I thought.

Miki Otake's Calligraphy 【HANSAMU-NA-ONNATACHI-JINSEI-WO-JIBUN-NO-ISHIDE】 Handsome Women, Live Life With Your Own Will

2008-11-27T15:54:00.003+09:00

And she sometimes writes a poem.
This means Handsome Women, Live Life With Your Own Will .

Nowadays, woman worker increases so much.
Because kind of occupation becomes variety, and choice about job becomes more free.
And now women were needed by society.

Is this social circumstance good or bad?
which do you think?
Someone says that it causes declining birth rate.
Another says it is equality between man and woman.

How is your opinion or thinking?

Someone said, to think is the most advantage of human against others.

Miki Otake's Calligraphy 【Hana】 The Flower

2008-11-27T15:31:00.004+09:00

Relation among flower.

This is Miki Otake's Calligraphy which I had introduced.

But I realized that I didn't introduce about Miki Otake.
So, first, this is Introduction about her and her calligraphy.

By using different expression methods in her works, Miki Otake has developed her own unique technique. Bringing her own unique style to traditional Japanese calligraphy, she succeeded to create a completely new world of art. In 1998 she received Mainichi Shimbun scholarship aimed at supporting female calligraphy.

Work recommended by the sekatu review board

In calligraphy, a category of special traditional culture, it is rare for a calligrapher recognized in Japan to advance to overseas. Miki Otake's calligraphy is distinct from others in that her attitude of looking for new applications of old knowledge and her energy to practice it. She has won a number of prizes as the orthodox school in Japanese calligraphic world that values traditional rules, as well as she is pursuing “progressive calligraphy” as the unorthodox – her attitude toward calligraphy is outstanding. We would like people all over the world to enjoy “real” calligraphy from Japan, not fake calligraphy

This is Introduction.

And this calligraphy describes figure of flower, force of flower, beauty of figure, and beauty of character "華".

I like this calligraphy because its color usage is so cool.
It is rather art than calligraphy.

Yanagi irozuki Hana kaoru

2008-11-27T15:17:00.004+09:00

And one more.

Description
This is a calligraphic work by Shukou Kawano, a fresh calligrapher who has been learning calligraphy at the organization of calligraphy “Gakushoin” since 2004.
Her attitude to actively challenge both domestically and internationally has established reputation, and we must keep our attention on her．

Do you know willow tree?
It is popular as a weeping tree.
Its flower is small and pretty.

This calligraphy means that "willow tree colors, and the flower smells sweet."

Described with only 4 Chinese character.
But the meaning describes beauty, smell, color and scene.

It is interesting.

Ichijinashi tanoshikarazuya

2008-11-27T14:58:00.002+09:00

Long time!!

Recently, I had many exams of my univercity.
So, I ould not write blogs.
But the tests were over yesterday.
SO, I think that I renew writting this.

At first, I introduse an artist's calligraphy.

This is a calligraphic work by Shukou Kawano, a fresh calligrapher who has been learning calligraphy at the organization of calligraphy “Gakushoin” since 2004.
Her attitude to actively challenge both domestically and internationally has established reputation, and we must keep our attention on her．

How about this calligraphy?
It is filled with originality of her.
Simple and not simple.

"It is not good of lacking of a word."

Lacking of word line is disagreeable.

Miki Otake's Calligraphy 【Unicorn】

2008-07-14T03:50:00.002+09:00

First of all, this is not just a Calligraphy, but really an art.
Color contrast, letter balance, size, all of them are beautiful.

I feel devine from it.

And my most favorite point of it is the flame.

So beautiful!!

Her sence is really great!!

If I had enough money, I would buy it immediately.

And this says -Unicorn, faily, witch-

The mean is as fantastic as the flame.

I thought, this Calligraphy is a magic art!!!!!

Photocatalyst Processing. Artificial Bamboo

2008-07-14T03:26:00.002+09:00

Do you know Bamboo?

It is a tropical plant that is a member of the grass family and has hollow stems that are used for making furniture, poles, and so on.

Japanese people has been with it so longtime.

Someone planted it around his house.
Because it makes silent, and protect from wind.
So it has been popular among Japanese people.

And talking of Bamboo, Do you know "TAKETORI-MONOGATARI?"

It is Japanese popular ancient story.
Another name is "KAGUYA-HIME"

An pretty, little girl comes out from bamboo.
An elder man brings us her.

But she cannot live so longtime on the earth.
Because she is a princess of the moon.

So she must back to the moon.
But she do not want to.

Finally, her decision is...

Artificial Bonsai

2008-07-05T01:10:00.002+09:00

Bonsai is a traditional Japanese art of growing trees in pots.

The word "Bonsai" meams to cultivate plants in a pot.

In bonsai, the important thing is to re-create the appearance of beautiful trees from nature in small pots.

We can enjoy the beauty of nature in miniture.

And this Bonsai is not nature thing.

So it never die, and ever change as you like.

Please enjoy your Bonsai life.

*'The bonsai which was designed in Japan' is. Because it is designed in such a way that it can take out and put in the part of the leaf freely, after purchase you can arrange with your own taste.

Miki Otake's Calligraphy 【KURO-AGEHA】 Black Butterfly

2008-07-05T00:57:00.002+09:00

Originally, calligraphy started in China.

And it was brought to Japan from China in the Nara period(710-784).

In the past, calligraphy was an essential cultural refinement for the nobility and the Samurai class.

Have you ever seen a Bluck Butterfly?

She is very beautiful, as if peinted in a India ink (Suibokuga).

The brush strokes and shades are living in her action.

I seemed her as an art.

Calligraphy

2008-07-05T00:38:00.002+09:00

Calligraphy is a traditional Japanese art of skillfully writing Chinese characters and hiragana, the cursive Japanese syllabary, with India ink and a brush.

Japanese people have been thought that Calligraphy is a way of developing mental concentration.

Yes, the goal of Calligraphy is focusing the mind and expressing your inner self.

So, to study Calligraphy is the way to live.

This Calligraphy is little different from popular Calligraphy.

Miki Otake's Calligraphy is written with a method of herself.

It is filled with her feeling.

Miki Otake's Calligraphy 【YOROKOBI】 Joy

2008-05-20T00:39:00.002+09:00

Someone's delight is a delight of everyone.

To delight someone is a delight of mine.

I think it is a theory "give and take."

The theory is my standard.

Miki Otake's Calligraphy 【TSUKI-NO-MUKOUNO】 Above the moon

2008-05-20T00:26:00.003+09:00

-UNIVERSE-

It is filled with lots of enigmas.

How did it outbreak?

What was in the space before it outbroke?

Are there lives except us?

What do you think about universe?

I want to see beyond the moon or the sun.

I want to become a friend with a astronomer!

The moon -月-

Miki Otake's Calligraphy 【YUME-NO-TOCHU】 In the middle of dream

2008-05-19T23:49:00.003+09:00

What do you want to be in the future?
Or what do you want to do?

Do you strive to make your dream come true?

Having a dream is very wonderful doing.

After finding a dream, you will be more active.

But do not have too much pride.

It makes you blind.

You just need to have a dream.

And you just need to give up your pride.

Keep yourself in the middle of your dream.

-INTRODUCTION-

2008-04-30T00:28:00.002+09:00

Japan has many particular culture.

For example, Porcelain, Pottery, Calligraphy, Japanese kitchen knife, Japanese sword and armor Ink painting, UKIYOE, KIMONO and so on.
There are many things.

From now on, I pick up a product and introduce what it is, its origin, popular human of it and contemporary demand.

If you thought that you want to know about some Japanese products, please write a coment on this page.
I prioritize your opinion and write about it as soon as I can.
So, tell me your opinion!!

The reason -to introduce Japan-

2008-04-30T00:05:00.004+09:00

I like Japanese culture -KIMONO, Calligraphy, temple and so on.
But people who are interested in Japanese culture are minority in Japan now.
I cannot think about it without sadness.
Many Japanese people tend to ignore own culture.

However, in the world, many people are interested in Japan.
So, I try to tell them information about Japan.
If I could make them be more interested in, they will come to Japan more and more.
And some of them will try to meet a artisan in arts.
I think that if the artisan would be pleased with them, they will be able to inherit his technique.

Now, the artisan cannot bring down own technique to next generation.
It is a big problem.
But this problem will be solved, when I will have succeeded.

So, I start to write about Japan in spite of my poor English.
I do not want Japanese cultural products to be disappeared.

These are the reason of my action.

Miki Otake's Calligraphy, "KUSA" The Grass

2008-04-18T00:14:00.006+09:00

Close your eyes, please.
And image a vast grass.
There are many short, pretty grasses on the ground.
They are living sturdy and the ground reminds me of some kindness.

Open your eyes, please.
Look at this picture.
Green sheet and Black lines.
Maybe you have imaged a view like this.

But, it is not mere a art.
These Black lines describe a Chinese charecter -草-.
It means the Grass.

Miki Otake's calligraphy describes Chinese character or Japanese character as a shape of object, which the letter means.
Her imagenation is very humorous.

She makes people who saw her Calligraphy mistake letters for object.
Doing it is very difficult, but she can.
It is one of breathtaking doing.
In the world, there are not so many people who can do it.

I felt "Force" to grow more from the deep Black lines, and Kindness for all livings from the green sheet.
Obviously, this Calligraphy is organic, not inorganic.

How did you feel about this Calligraphy?

Miki Otake's Calligraphy, "HANA" The Flower

2008-04-16T21:23:00.006+09:00

Hi!

My first presentation about Japanese cultural products is Calligraphy.

This is Miki Otake's Calligraphy, "HANA" The Flower.

This image looks like a flower -like a tulip or lotus.

But it is a kind of Chinese letter -花-.

It means flower.

Some of you thought " Is this a image of flower, isn't it?"

I thought it, too, in my first impression.

But I gazed it, I realized it is a letter.

I was astonished so much.

I had had a image that Calligraphy describes only shape of letter in monochromatic.

But this picture is different from my last image.

Seeing it, I could not think about it any more.

My prejudice was completely broken.

It describes a shape of object which is meant by the letter.

She used thick and thin line.

And the color of ink is very delicate.

Surely, this is an art !!!

If you pleased about it, please click the picture about an art!!!

A test

2008-04-04T17:03:00.002+09:00

okey?

aloof?
effect
collor
bold

itaric

large

OK!!