How to Wrap Five More Eggs: Traditional Japanese Packaging

Customer Reviews:

Charming.......2004-05-25

This is one of my all time favorite books. I wish I had a copy of it. It is about a tradional Japanese form of packaging different things, mostly food. The idea behind it is that when you present someone with a cake, say, and its nicely packaged they get the idea that you hope they enjoy the cake.
The five eggs of the title are sort of stacked up and bound with straw woven in an ingenious way. The photographs are lovely and the descriptions of the various packages are informative as well as evocotive. I once had the chance to see
How To Wrap Five Eggs at the Japan Society Library. Boy I wish I had that one too.

Brilliant.......2002-05-16

I got my hands on this book recently. Its a book which says most of the story through pictures. Its amazing to see how advanced Japanese ancient art is and how much we can learn about them.

Average customer rating:

High on the list of "Must Have"!
Have seen the show. See 12/1/98 Wall Street Journal.

Edo: Art in Japan 1615-1868
Robert T. Singer et. al.
Manufacturer: National Gallery Washington
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0300077963

Amazon.com

Edo: Art in Japan 1615-1868 is the lavish catalog of an exhibition organized on a scale never before attempted--even in Japan. There, the art of the Edo period is considered too vast a subject for a single show. Edo, the old name for Tokyo, has come to represent the two and a half centuries when the shogun's government intentionally isolated Japan from the rest of the world. Much of the huge wealth generated by this intensely hierarchical and inward-looking society was devoted to the creation of art and status items for the military rulers and rich merchants who supported them, with craftsmen producing works of extraordinary elegance and inventiveness. The show comprises nearly 300 objects, including 50 national treasures or important cultural properties, many of which have never before left Japan.

Besides scholarly descriptions of the objects, highly original essays by major art historians explore the six themes covered by the exhibition: ornament (or style); samurai; work; religion and festivals; travel, landscape, and nature; and entertainment. The vibrancy of a sophisticated urban population intent on pleasure suffuses the entire show, including, for example, a number of exquisite screens bright with gold that pulse with scenes of daily life in Edo. Among the most striking groups of objects are war helmets--functional, but given the most whimsical forms: a butterfly, a seashell, an upturned bowl. The superb quality of the objects and scholarship of the writing make this a landmark publication in Japanese art. --John Stevenson

Book Description

This gorgeous book examines a wide range of art from the Edo period in Japan, an era of splendor and innovation in the arts. The book, which includes works that range from gold leaf screens and woodblock images to porcelains, armor, and textiles, is the catalogue for a major exhibition of Edo art at the National Gallery of Art, Washington.

Published in association with the National Gallery of Art, Washington

Customer Reviews:

High on the list of "Must Have"!.......1999-02-24

Like NilesO, I too have seen the show at the National Gallery. Some of the items on display, I have also seen at the Tokyo Museum of Art back in '96 as part of an exhibition called "Flowers in Japanese Art, Craft and Literature". I've gone through half my annual book budget for '99 (and here it's only February!)! I think I'll pass for now, borrow the library's copy and wait for the paperback edition.

Have seen the show. See 12/1/98 Wall Street Journal........1998-12-02

The show is spectacular (check the review in the 12/1/98 Wall Street Journal), and the book (actually an expanded catalogue of the show that approaches being an art history text) is hefty and scholarly. It would seem a "must have" for serious students/afficionados of Japanese arts and culture of the Edo period. I have not read the tome, which is quite hefty and not yet available via Amazon.com, but did flip through it during my tour of the show at the National Gallery yesterday (11/30/98). My 5-star rating is, thus, based on the show, and not truly on the book. But the show is so brilliantly conceived by the author of the book (who curated the show) that I can't imagine the book would disappoint. It's pricey, but I think it's important enough that I have it on order. NilesO@AOL.com

My Reality: Contemporary Art and the Culture of Japanese Animation

Average customer rating:

3/5
A Disappointment

My Reality: Contemporary Art and the Culture of Japanese Animation
Jeff Fleming , Takashi Murakami , Matthew Benedict , Lee Bul , Taro Chiezo , James Esber , Inka Essenhigh , Masakatu Inamoto , Mika Kato , Micha Klein , Miltos Manetas , Richard Patterson , Momoyo Torimitsu , Charlie White , Kenji Yanobe , Paul McCarthy , and Yoshitomo Nara
Manufacturer: Independent Curators International, New York
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1879003333
Release Date: 2001-08-02

Book Description

Japanese animation, or anime, which has attained cult status among young people globally during the past several decades, is increasingly breaking into the mainstream. My Reality: Contemporary Art and the Culture of Japanese Animation, investigates the influence of this form of pop culture on today's art in Japan, other Asian countries, and the West.

Customer Reviews:

3/5.......2002-03-31

The synergy between Japanese anime and American pop culture is explored in this book, a companion piece to the traveling exhibition currently in installation at the Brooklyn Museum of Art. My Reality examines the role of anime on modern art; in particular, there's a technology-friendly bent to anime, which the book asserts has been assimilated in the technique of "serious" artists in both hemispheres. The book, much like the exhibition, touches upon the common anime themes of high technology, aliens, cyborgs and so on, but through a series of essays, draws a link between these and real-life themes such as gender roles and popular and consumer culture. Showcasing artwork from emerging artists like Takashi Murakami, Mariko Mori, and Paul McCarthy, this book is an interesting, although way too brief, commentary on art and culture in the face of technology and the future, as well as providing additional depth to the context of this intriguing exhibition.

A Disappointment.......2001-12-12

This is a this book of three essays with some just sort of interesting photos and illustrations. I was expecting lots of great Anime and collectable art that is inspired by Manga and Anime, but this is a companion to a traveling exhibit of art inspired by Anime and Manga. The art is just ok, nothing really interesting, and the essays are dull as if written for a thesis. There are way too many footnotes, and phrases like "ontological insecurity". I just don't see this type of art as high-brow art. Skip this book.

The Female Image: 20th Century Prints of Japanese Beauties

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The Female Image: 20th Century Prints of Japanese Beauties
Hamanaka Shinji , and Amy Reigle Newland
Manufacturer: Hotei Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 9074822207

Book Description

"The Female Image" is a comprehensive survey of the genre of "bijinga" ("prints of beautiful women") produced in the "Shin-hanga" ("new print") tradition that evolved in the early 20th century. This bilingual (Japanese/English) publication is lavishly illustrated with works from Japanese, European and American public and private collections. Prints by major artists such as Hashiguchi Goyô (1880-1921), Torii Kotondo (1900-76) and Itô Shinsui (1898-1972) are included, as are examples by more obscure print designers that have rarely been reproduced. Includes essays by Shinji Hamanaka of the Yamatane Museum of Art, Tokyo, contemplating the concept of "bijinga", and by Amy Reigle Newland on the appreciation of "Shin-hanga" in the West.

Japanese Paintings In The Ashmolean Museum, Oxford

Average customer rating:

A must have for any Japanese Art enthusiast
Ms. Katz is amazing!

Japanese Paintings In The Ashmolean Museum, Oxford
Janice Katz
Manufacturer: Weatherhill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0834805421
Release Date: 2003-12-01

Book Description

This volume is the first comprehensive look at the Ashmolean Museum's significant works that range in date from the seventeenth to the twentieth centuries, many of which are illustrated in color. A full sixty of the finest paintings are discussed in detail individually, divided into sections based on the major schools of painting active in Japan from the Edo period (1615-1868) to the modern era. Throughout the discussion, the book highlights the work of artists outside the traditional cultural centers of Edo and Kyoto by including artworks by Nagasaki- and Osaka-based artists whose paintings will be less familiar to a Western audience. In addition, the catalogue focuses on painting formats that reached their peak of expression during this era such as painted albums and fan paintings, both of which became advantageous choices for artists working in a variety of styles. A supplementary section of about a hundred further works is included to give the reader a greater understanding of the breadth of the Ashmolean's holdings. An introductory essay by Dr. Oliver Impey, Keeper of Japanese Art at the Ashmolean Museum, recounts the formation of the collection. A second essay by Janice Katz, former Sackler Fellow, is an in-depth look at two previously unpublished painted albums of the nineteenth century. The catalogue complements the exhibition, 'Japanese paintings: Legend and landscape', which was on view from October 2003 to January 2004 at the Ashmolean Museum.

Customer Reviews:

A must have for any Japanese Art enthusiast.......2005-03-08

Quite a surprise to find this book and realizing that I knew the author from her Princeton days. A comprehensive examination of a wonderful collection. She pays attention to painted albums and fans. Shows the breadth of the Ashmolean's collection.

Ms. Katz is amazing!.......2004-01-29

I had the pleasure of meeting with Ms. Katz at Oxford. She is very knowledgable and insightful. Her passion for her work shows in every page of this beautiful book!

Floating World of Ukiyo-E: Shadows, Dreams and Substance

Average customer rating:

a first-rate addition to any Japanese art library

Floating World of Ukiyo-E: Shadows, Dreams and Substance
Dr. Sandy Kita , James Douglas Farquhar , Lawrence E. Marceau , and Katherine L. Blood
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0810941694

Book Description

The exquisite, colorful Japanese woodblock prints that represent the art of Ukiyo-e first flourished in 17th-century Edo (now Tokyo). Today these "pictures of the floating world" are the most popular form of Japanese art. This elegant book takes a fresh look at Ukiyo-e, showcasing a never-before-published trove of Japanese prints, drawings, and books from the collection of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

Known masterpieces by such names as Hiroshige and Hokusai stand alongside rare and unusual works. Colors are exceptionally vivid, in part because the art has never been exhibited and is rarely handled. The beauty of the book will delight art lovers, while the cutting-edge scholarship and unusually comprehensive bibliography will also excite the specialist and collector.
160 illustrations in full color, 232 pages, 9 x 11"September

Customer Reviews:

a first-rate addition to any Japanese art library.......2001-11-26

Writing on Edo-period Japanese prints tends to be dominated by studies of single artists, print series by single artists, and chronological histories. Against this background, "The Floating World of Ukiyoe: Shadows, Dreams, and Substance," produced in conjunction with an exhibition, is a most welcome contribution. Here the emphasis is on showcasing a diverse and rarely seen collection--the woodblock prints and woodblock-printed books of the Library of Congress-- and on presenting expert essays that put the genre of "ukiyoe" in a broad aesthetic and social context. Added bonuses include such features as the "raking light" photograph on page 118, which illustrates the effects created by print embossing. "The Floating World" has been superbly designed by Abrams and well edited. It is worth noting too that the index has been prepared with exceptional care. Meanwhile, the bibliography--which covers 309 items and runs more than 20 pages--is a wonderful guide to woodblock-printed books in the Library of Congress: for scholars of Japanese art, culture, and publishing, this alone will justify acquisition of this book.

Japanese Experience: Inevitable, The (In the Floating World: Slash with a Knife, 1999)

Average customer rating:

A Japanese Arts Favourite
Surely one must pay attention...
Peter Max carves out a space?
well worth it.
A book that is great to look at but to read....

Japanese Experience: Inevitable, The (In the Floating World: Slash with a Knife, 1999)
Gregor Jansen , Takashi Murakami , Jun Hasegawa , Hiropon , Shintaro Miyake , Aya Takano , and Yoshitomo Nara
Manufacturer: Hatje Cantz Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 3775712542
Release Date: 2003-03-02

Book Description

At first sight, it appears brand new, pure Tokyo pop. But The Japanese Experience: Inevitable reveals far more than the successful cloning of morphed manga motifs onto stretched canvas and museum walls. It represents eight positions in contemporary Japanese art and scrutinizes their complex visual vocabulary, noting references to Japanese and Western art traditions as frequently as the borrowing of mass culture motifs from the realms of manga and anime. Takashi Murakami's MR. DOB questions the place of contemporary art in our global society; Aya Takano's glowing watercolors combine Japanese sensitivity, issues of female identity, and sci-fi; Masahiko Kuwahara's mutant animals provide shades of softness and mysterious openness, and Yoshitomo Nara's reworking of historical Japanese woodcuts disturbs the floating world. Not only are the artists' visual repertoires new and surprising, but their creative methods and strategies help conquer a public that is mostly untouched by contemporary art. Published in association with the Ursula Blickle Foundation.

Customer Reviews:

A Japanese Arts Favourite.......2006-06-14

Not only the selection of artists and artist's work is good but the stories they tell about each of them is between the finest you can find. The writer makes it easy to understand the artist's mind in very few words. I'm sorry I didn't go to the exibition that generated this catalog.

Surely one must pay attention..........2005-04-30

This is a fantastic catalogue of an important exhibition held in Kraichtal, Germany in 2002. The curator was Margrit Brehm. So, do not be mislead: this is not a Murakami-curated exhibition, unlike the current Japan Society show entitled "Little Boy." (This book does contain works by Murakami and others of the Kaikai Kiki alongside other important contemporary figures).
Also important to note is that as this is a catalogue of an important art event, it contains several essays on topics relevant to the Japanese Neo Pop movement. It is not necessary that one fully comprehend these essays in order to enjoy the artwork reproduced here. However, these essays are very valuable for anyone interested in placing these works in a historical context.

Peter Max carves out a space?.......2005-04-08

HMMMMMMM? where is Tenmyouya Hisashi's masterful work that actually engages what is going on in Japanese culture. Why Murakami's pandering to the west when the JApanese clearly do not buy into his cheapened schemes? This is a great book to peruse if you are hell-bent on finding insipid mis-information about Japanese culture. with flights being ~$500 from NYC (round-trip) go see for yourself that his strategy preys on western ignorance and is really a self-exoticized version of what is not really happening in Japan. If you like this book you must surely beleive everything Geroge Jr. says about the links of WMD and Al Queda in Irak :P hahahahaahha

well worth it........2005-02-16

i bought this book pretty much sight unseen (it was wrapped in plastic), and for a not so thrifty price. that said, i do not regret that decision at all. this is a great informative book, and i think it handles the distinction between "high art" and "pop culture" quite well. i wish more american artists would follow this lead, basing great works of beauty on comics and tv. highly recommended.

A book that is great to look at but to read...........2003-09-09

The artists featured in "The Japanese Experience: Inevitable" are artists that I have come to enjoy from seeing their art in magazines such as "Giant Robot" and other publications. As a purveyor of art in Europe and especially in Asia, the art presented in this book is quite amazing. The book features fine artists in Japan and the copy is featured in English and Jerman.

As much as I enjoyed looking at the book, reading the book is a different story. As much as I enjoy cultural literacy and learning new words, upon reading this book, I felt that Gregor Janse may be a bit too cerebral in the words and the way he writes.

The book, while informative, reads like one of those cerebral college books that you just don't want to read. I own so many art books and this book has to be one of the most cerebral and for me that's fine but for others...

By the cover alone, this book is going to attract anime fans and fans of Japanese pop culture but is this book targeting them or the art afficionado?

Customer Reviews:

Review of Japanese prints of noted collector.......2004-11-29

Displayed in a large-size, high-quality trade paper volume are over 100 prints from the collection of the noted collector Robert O. Muller (d. 2003) which have been bequeathed to the Sackler Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution. Besides the artist, name, and date for each print, there are informative annotations on the career of the artist and the subject and style of the print. Most of the prints are in the 20th-century Japanese style of "shin-hanga binga," whose artists were "struggling to acknowledge tradition and at the same time transcend it." Introductory essays cover Muller as an influential collector and place the prints in the context of Japanese artistic traditions. The varied aspects of the text, including a "Glossary," provide a historical overview of Japanese prints as well as a representative catalog of prints from the Muller collection of more than four thousand.

Heroes and Ghosts: Japanese Prints by Kuniyoshi 1797-1861

Average customer rating:

exceptional art, outstanding text, superb publishing work
A true treasure...

Heroes and Ghosts: Japanese Prints by Kuniyoshi 1797-1861
Robert Schaap
Manufacturer: Hotei Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 907482210X

Customer Reviews:

exceptional art, outstanding text, superb publishing work.......2003-07-17

Scholars speak regularly of Utamaro, Hokusai, and Hiroshige as the giants of the 18th and 19th-century woodblock-printing ("ukiyoe") tradition in Japan. Even so, for legions of "ukiyoe" fans, especially those in the West, nobody can match Kuniyoshi for the complexity of his drafting, drama of his compositions, and range of subject matter. And no publisher could have outdone Hotei, a Leiden-based company, in so beautifully reproducing Kuniyoshi's work and so meticulously explaining it in both introductory essays and individual plate captions.

Robert Schaap's "Heroes and Ghosts: Japanese Prints by Kuniyoshi" is one of three volumes Hotei has issued on the work of this artist. Of the three volumes, it is most wide-ranging in scope, and therefore "Heroes and Ghosts" is the logical book with which to begin your acquantaince with Kuniyoshi. Because the book accompanied a 1998 exhibition organized by subject category, the sequencing of illustrations will not readily provide a sense of how Kuniyoshi's work evolved. Still, there is much to fascinate here, and this is a book and an artist that have so much to offer that numerous readings will not begin to exhaust the rich possibilities for drawing out new information and gaining new insights.

Because I am passionately interested in the legends and historical events that were reflected in Japanese art of the Edo period (1615-1868), my favorite section is that on "heroes;" happily this is also the most extensive segment of the book. It is just such heroic compositions for which Kuniyoshi is most famous, and these pieces offer the richest linkages between literature and art and the most action-packed of Kuniyoshi's compositions. Moreover, this body of work is notable because Kuniyoshi's manner of depicting these heroes set the style that continues to define Japanese tattooing.

A true treasure..........2000-07-29

...for all those who are in love with Ukiyo-e. You don't necessarily need to like Kuniyoshi - though he is one of the most versatile and skilled masters of Ukiyo-e - to like this book. Its quality speaks for itself. Just beautifully made! Great prints, detailed comments on them and in-depth information on Kuniyoshi and his time. Go and get it!

Japanese Country Textiles (Victoria and Albert Museum - Far Eastern Series)

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Japanese Country Textiles (Victoria and Albert Museum - Far Eastern Series)
Anna Jackson
Manufacturer: Weatherhill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Snow, Wave, Pine: Traditional Patterns in Japanese Design

ASIN: 0834803968
Release Date: 1997-08-01

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