Japan

Dancing, Chanting and Music: The Noh Robe When I first saw this Noh robe I thought about the changing of seasons, though not the change from winter to spring that I am eagerly anticipating at the moment. The robe’s colorful brocaded chrysanthemums remind me of the beginning of autumn. The robe conjures images of the chrysanthemum’s overwhelming beauty during the Japanese fall celebration, kiku matsuri. Noh, theater, Japan, autumn, costume
Odalisque Reconsidered Tadanori Yokoo is a celebrated Japanese artist for his work in graphic design. Yokoo’s posters constitute a unique style of graphic design that is firmly rooted in Japanese tradition while incorporating Western elements that speak to the increasing globalization of Japanese society in the 1960s and 70s. Tadanori Yokoo, poster, Japan, graphic design, ukiyo-e, lithography, Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, cosmetics
Crocodile Japanese textile designer, Junichi Arai (b.1932), said that the crucial problem for contemporary textile makers is choosing and blending the myriad of available materials, tools, and technologies. He explains that history should be the maker’s guide, as there have been passionate efforts dedicated to making better fibers, textiles, and garments. Junichi Arai, Japan, textiles, melt-off
Beware of the Goblin Spider! A haunting children's illustrated book Everyone loves a scary story, especially on Halloween. Noted writer and linguist Lafcadio Hearn’s 1910 English translation of the ancient Japanese ghost tale, The Goblin Spider, transports children of all ages to an exotic world of samurai warriors, haunted temples, and monstrous goblin spiders. Illustrated Children's Books, Japanese folktales, wood block prints, Halloween, Smithsonian Libraries, kaidan, Lafcadio Hearn, Takejiro Hasegawa, spiders, Japan, illustrations
The Japanese Sword and its Fittings: From the Collections of the members of the Japanese Sword Society of New York and the Cooper Union Museum swords, sword fittings, Japan, Japanese, tsuba, sword guards, collections
Japanese Woodblock Prints in the Collection of the Cooper-Hewitt Museum Publication design: Heidi Humphrey prints, woodblock prints, Japan, Japanese, ukiyo-e, permanent collection
Tsuba, and Japanese Sword Fittings in the Collection of the Cooper-Hewitt Museum Publication design: Gottschalk + Ash Ltd. sword guards, sword fittings, swords, Japanese, tsuba, Japan, permanent collection
Why Design Now?: Furumai Why? Water, the medium of life, has myriad manifestations. Furumai, meaning behavior or dance in Japanese, was an installation created for the Water exhibition at 21_21 Design Sight in Tokyo in 2007. The project consisted of paper plates treated selectively with an invisible water-repellent coating. As visitors interacted with the plates, beads of water danced about the surface, creating surprising visual effects. In one, drops gathered in a babys eye, while others formed abstract, three-dimensional patterns. Furumai, water, Japan, Tokyo, 21_21 Design Sight, interact, Why Design Now, Exhibition, interactive design, interaction
MA, Space/Time in Japan This exhibition, designed by the Japanese architect Arata Isozaki, consists of nine sections, each expressing an aspect of the ancient Japanese space/time concept of "Ma" through photographic essays, sculptures, and traditional structures, such as the teahouse and the Noh stage. Japan, Arata Isozaki, Architecture, photography, sculpture, exhibitions
Tsuba Three hundred Japanese sword guards (tsuba) and decorative fittings for the Samurai sword are on view. Hand protectors and jewelry dating from the 17th century, worn by the warriors who used the swords, are also featured in this exhibition. sword guards, sword fittings, swords, Japanese, tsuba, Japan, permanent collection, exhibitions