Matsumoto Hoji Japanese Frog Greeting Card (1814)

The Original Grumpy Frog by Matsumoto Hoji

This is where our grumpy frog began. The card reproduces a woodblock print by Japanese artist Matsumoto Hoji, from the Album of Pictures by Celebrated Artists, published in 1814. More than two centuries later, his wonderfully unimpressed frog still makes people smile.

In Japanese, the word for frog is kaeru, which also means “to return”, so frogs are a symbol of good luck and good things coming back. A lucky card for lovers of Japanese art, and the inspiration for our whole Ezen Frog collection.