Japanese Art Prints

The way to say “happy birthday” in Japanese is “otanjoubi omedetou” (formal version: “otanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu”.) Tanjoubi means birthday, and...

The way cats wash their faces licking their paws and wiping their face - it is as if they are inviting good luck beckoning with their paw. Cats wit...

The way cats wash their faces licking their paws and wiping their face - it is as if they are inviting good luck beckoning with their paw. Cats wit...

Traditionally the bamboo has been considered as a symbol of good luck. The hollow centre signifies spirituality and purity. Green through all seaso...

Traditionally the bamboo has been considered as a symbol of good luck. The hollow centre signifies spirituality and purity. Green through all seaso...

The pine tree is portrayed as the focal point of the snowy landscape. Both the Japanese and Chinese regard the evergreen pine as a symbol of longev...

The carrion crow is native to Japan. According to the Japanese folk belief it was thought to be a messenger of the gods. The crow is also associate...

The Japanese name for owl, Fukuro, usually is written with one single character, but can also be written with the combination of the character for ...

The snow scene is by the Japanese woodblock print master, Utagawa Hiroshige. A snowscape offers a hint of new beginnings - whether it be a plum blo...

The camellia generally symbolises gratitude, perfection and admiration. It was honoured as the national flower in the ancient southern kingdom, Dai...

Grape vines symbolise rebirth and new beginnings, but more often associated with life’s bounty, a sign of plenty, and from Roman times, has represe...

Water lilies are used as a spiritual symbol in many traditions. They are associated with enlightenment as they close up their petals in the evening...

Traditionally the bamboo has been considered as a symbol of good luck. The hollow centre signifies spirituality and purity. Green through all seaso...

The butterfly can symbolise lightness and playfulness, whilst representing the powerful meaning of transformation, growth and renewal. Design by Ja...

The plum blossom expresses enduring happiness. Used as a congratulatory symbol of good luck, it represents strength, resilience, beauty and longevi...

A waterfall depicted by Hokusai. The drops of water which make up a waterfall are renewed each second, yet persist as an entity. It reminds us to b...

From the iconic series, Pictures of Beautiful Women , depicted here is a young girl blowing on a toy glass pipe which was a novelty and highly fash...

The forest of Suijin used to exist by the Sumida river, and was cherished by the people as the forest of protection for the Sumida River shrine. Th...

Oiwa, one of the most famous Japanese ghosts from the ghostly tale of Yotsuya Kaidan, is depicted in countless works of arts and films. This depict...

A canal created in the 17th century. Although the canal followed an absolutely straight line, Hiroshige depicted it with artistic license. The dram...

The chrysanthemum is often portrayed as a symbol of perfection in many cultures and regarded also as the “solar flower”, blooming longer than most ...

The artist Koson Ohara was a Japanese painter and printmaker in the late 19th and early 20th century. With some 500 works to his name, he was the m...

Shinkyo bridge, constructed in 1636, with its bold red, yet simple elegance, contrasting with the wildness of its surroundings, is ranked as one of...

For more than 4000 years bamboo has been considered a symbol of prosperity in Asia, representing growth, good luck, prosperity, positivity and endu...

Built originally in 1673, it is ranked as one of the three finest bridges in Japan. The bridge in Iwakuni city is still one of the most popular tou...

A bridge, particularly a bridge over water, represents crossing over from the profane to the sacred. In Zen symbolism, red represents life force, t...

A quote from the Chinese philosopher Laozi (c.604 BC - c.531 BC) from his classic text “Tao Te Ching”, which is amongst the most translated works i...

This winter image is from the series “One Hundred Famous Views in the Various Provinces”, produced between 1859 and 1861. The landscape is filled w...

Inokashira Park is very popular in the spring because of the captivating blooming cherry trees that line the pond. The cherry blossom, a symbol of ...

Hiroshige II was the student and adopted son of the great print master Hiroshige. This image is from the series “One Hundred Famous Views in the Va...

Although the temple has been reconstructed several times, it was first built in 686 AD. It is best to visit this temple in the spring, when peonies...

Boats symbolise the ability to “stay afloat” and to travel through the confusions of the forces prevalent within our lives. Peace of mind is not th...

Buddha taught that “we are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.” Th...

“Omedetou”, or in formal situations, “Omedetou gozaimasu”, is what is said for any congratulatory occasions or event, to be cherished, loved and ce...

Instead of saying “good luck”, which is more a wish for something external to bring good fortune, the Japanese say “ganbatte” which would translate...

Thank you in Japanese is “arigatou” (or more formally “arigatou gozaimasu”). The pronunciation would be ari-ga-toh.