"Additional outline plates and figures in the text have been introduced as well as new coloured prints from designs expressly made by Ogata Gekko, one of the best living artists of the Popular school" -- Preface Josiah Conder Tokio May, 1899.

This striking work, prepared through the enthusiasm of Professor Conder, who was Professor of Art and Architecture to the Japanese Government, is particularly important as it includes six woodblocks by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, deemed to be perhaps the finest print designer of the period (1839-1892) - a Kuniyoshi pupil who stands almost alone in expressing ukiyo-e vigor during the years of social, political and artistic upheaval.

With vibrant, full-color photographs and detailed instructions, Japanese Flower Wrapping shows readers how the traditional Japanese arts of origami, ikebana and gift-wrapping can be combined to create beautiful and unusual floral arrangements.Making gifts of flowers has long been a Japanese custom. Traditionally, flowers were wrapped in folded washi (Japanese paper) and tied. This practice, known as hana tsutsumi, or flower wrapping, was passed from generation to generation, going back to the time of the samurai. Few modern Japanese people are aware of this ancient style of art and it has been in danger of being forgotten. Author Mitsuko Kawata hopes to recapture the art based on the traditional practice of flower wrapping, while, at the same time incorporating a modern sensibility. She guides readers through the steps of folding decorative papers and tying them with mizuhiki (tightly twisted, long, narrow sheets of washi to which liquid glue is applied) and kimihimo (braided ropes) to fashion breathtakingly beautiful containers and arrangements. In addition to her easy-to-follow instructions, Kawata includes a section on the tying styles of Mizihiki and Kumihimo, as well as a fascinating description of washi.This unique book contains examples of arrangements for a variety of occasions, from Valentine's Day to school graduation. Another section focuses on flowers from every season, shown in arrangements from the simple to the sophisticated. Japanese Flower Wrapping is a book with wide appeal: for practitioners of ikebana and origami it will bring a new dimension to their arts. And for anyone who is looking for innovative ways to present gifts with flair and distinction, the book is sure to be a source of inspiration.

Celebrating an era of dynamic and creative cross-pollination between Japanese design and European Art Nouveau at theturn of the last century, Le Japon Artistique features stunning floral imagery drawn from a variety of rare books held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Seldom seen outside the museum context, these lush botanical motifs are as visually enchanting as they are significant in the arc of Japanese art history. This treat for art and design lovers is the perfect pick for springtime gift giving.

First published in 2005. Japanese flower arrangement is much more than an elegant amusement - it is an expression of what the Japanese call furyu - to turn away from strife, and to lose oneself in the joys of peace and nature. It is the opposite of that other key aspect of Japanese culture - Bushido, the way of the warrior. The virtues of Bushido are persistence, fidelity, endurance, bravery and activity - those of furyu are subtlety, gentleness, restraint and repose. That they see no inconsistency or contradiction between these two ways of living is one of the most interesting characteristics of the Japanese people. This volume is a succinct and comprehensive guide to the history, theory and practice of this exquisite art. It explains the three fundamental forms of Japanese flower arrangement - Shin, Gyo and So, as well as the proper arrangement of the tokonoma, the alcove where the flowers are displayed. It explains how one has to 'see' the expressions and emotions in blossoms and branches to achieve the most harmonious combinations, and gives the history of the art going back to the Ashikaga Shogunate, describing the two great classical schools of Japanese flower arrangement - the formal (rikkwa) and the natural (nageire) styles. It also deals with two new schools - the heaven-earthman (ten-chi-jin) and literati (bunjin-ike) styles - concluding with an illustrated chapter on how to arrange flowers. This is a book full of timeless serenity and beauty.

Extraordinary collection of Japanese woodblock prints by a well-known artist features 120 plates in brilliant color. Realistic images from a rare edition include daffodils, tulips, and other familiar and unusual flowers.

Japanese floral designs often outshine other floral arrangements in perfection and symmetry. The floral designs of Hiroyuki Oka are no exception to that rule. But next to fine, detailed craftsmanship, this young floral artist is gifted with a great sense of humour and an eye for quirk. Next to some of the more traditional Japanese floral designs, this monograph brims with captivating creativity, originality and witty designs destined to bring a smile to your face.

During America's Gilded Age (dates), the country was swept by a mania for all things Japanese. It spread from coast to coast, enticed everyone from robber barons to street vendors with its allure, and touched every aspect of life from patent medicines to wallpaper. Americans of the time found in Japanese art every design language: modernism or tradition, abstraction or realism, technical virtuosity or unfettered naturalism, craft or art, romance or functionalism. The art of Japan had a huge influence on American art and design. Title compares juxtapositions of American glass, silver and metal arts, ceramics, textiles, furniture, jewelry, advertising, and packaging with a spectrum of Japanese material ranging from expensive one-of-a-kind art crafts to mass-produced ephemera. Beginning in the Aesthetic movement, this book continues through the Arts & Crafts era and ends in Frank Lloyd Wright's vision, showing the reader how that model became transformed from Japanese to American in design and concept. Hannah Sigur is an art historian, writer, and editor with eight years' residence and study in East and Southeast Asia. She has a master's degree from the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University, and is completing a PhD in the arts of Japan. Her writings include co-authoring A Master Guide to the Art of Floral Design (Timber Press, 2002), which is listed in "The Best Books of 2002" by The Christian Science Monitor and is now in its second edition; and "The Golden Ideal: Chinese Landscape Themes in Japanese Art," in Lotus Leaves, A Master Guide to the Art of Floral Design (2001). She lives in Berkeley.

"A modern take on a centuries-old art that’s breathtakingly simple.” —Booklist, starred review At its heart, the Japanese art of ikebana is about celebrating an intimate connection with nature. To practice ikebana is to find inspiration in the seasons, favor unassuming blooms and branches, seek balance and simplicity, and remain fully present in the moment. It is a beautiful, pure antidote to our age of distraction and excess. Honoring the lineage of ikebana while making the art their own, Amanda Luu and Ivanka Matsuba of Studio Mondine show us new ways to tell stories with flowers. They offer step-by-step instructions for dozens of stunning, seasonal arrangements, while in the process introducing readers to the themes and stylistic signatures of the art. In Studio Mondine’s hands, this centuries-old practice feels undeniably fresh—and readers are given the gift of learning to create unique, meaningful, and authentic arrangements.

The Japanese Art of Flower Arranging Ikebana, or Japanese flower arranging, is more than just putting flowers in a container. Ikebana is a disciplined art form in which the arrangement is a living thing, where nature and humanity are brought together. Written by renowned Ikebana expert Shozo Sato, Ikebana: The Art of Arranging Flowers is a classic Ikebana text updated for modern readers. Ikebana history and styles Ikebana: The Art of Arranging Flowers presents a fascinating overview of the history of Ikebana to present day, and introduces classic Ikebana styles such as Rikka, Seika and Moribana to Freestyle. Japanese flower arranging instructions The tools of Ikebana and basic Ikebana flower-arranging techniques are clearly explained. Simple but detailed instructions guide Ikebana enthusiasts through the process of making dozens of stunning floral arrangements.