Nishiki-e - Traditional Fine Art

Hi, Neputa.
Hello, Nishiki-e

Neputa-e is classified as Nishiki-e (Brocade pictures) that is known as a Japanese traditional polychrome print represented by Ukiyo-e. Although Neputa-e is not a print but a painting, its art style is derived from Nishiki-e and has quite similar characteristics of art style with Nishiki-e such as subjects outlined with black ink and colored with water-based pigments. Neputa-e is basically seen on only Neputa floats at Neputa Festival, which means that Neputa-e is drawn for the floats before the festival and disposed when the floats are torn down after the festival. Male/Female warriors, Buddhist Gods, Beauties, or so forth are drawn as the subjects of Neputa-e.

Hirosaki Naputa Festival

Hirosaki is a city of Aomori prefecture which is the most northern prefecture on the main island of Japan. Hirosaki Neputa Festival has a long history that has been celebrated by Hirosaki citizens for hundreds of years and is an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties of Japan, which was designated in 1980. Every August, neighborhood associations exhibit various sizes of fan-shaped floats (up to 15 feet in height) and parade with them through the town, and the parade fascinates over 1.5 million of visitors from over the world. (source: aptinet/Aomori Prefectural Government)

Gallery

龍虎

Ryūko

Power and Harmony

"Dragon and Tiger"

Both dragon and tiger imply energies, but they do not fight with each other, rather the combination of the two of them illustrate balance or harmony of energies.

*All prices DO NOT include frames
*Giclee prints are ROLLED PRINTS (UNSTRETCHED)

Original Painting:	(w)37.75” x (h)64.25” Sold Out
Giclee Print on Canvas(*):	(L) (w)26” x (h)46” Sold Out (M) (w)19” x (h)34” Sold Out (S) (w)9” x (h)16” Sold Out

(*)Limited edition of 30. Each print includes a certificate signed by the artist

一丈青

Ichijōsei

Bravery and Loyalty

"Hu Sanniang"

“Ichijōsei” is a beautiful and skilled female warrior appearing in a Chinese classic, the Water Margin. Her commitment to defending her village against opponents made her known for bravery and loyalty.

*All prices DO NOT include frames
*Giclee prints are ROLLED PRINTS (UNSTRETCHED)

Original Painting:	(w)37.75” x (h)64.25” Sold Out
Giclee Print on Canvas(*):	(L) (w)26” x (h)46” Sold Out (M) (w)19” x (h)34” Sold Out (S) (w)9” x (h)16” Sold Out

(*)Limited edition of 30. Each print includes a certificate signed by the artist

鍾馗

Shōki

Protection and Recovery

"Plague Queller"

“Shōki” originally appeared in a Chinese tradition, and he cured malaria that the 6th Emperor of the Tang dynasty suffered from. The Emperor instructed an artist to paint Shōki to express his gratitude. Since then, a painting of him has spread over East Asia and been used as an amulet to keep illness and evil from family members. In Japan, Shōki dolls are displayed on the Boyʻs day as well as carp stremer, “Koi-nobori.”

*All prices DO NOT include frames
*Giclee prints are ROLLED PRINTS (UNSTRETCHED)

Original Painting:	(w)37.75” x (h)64.25” Sold Out
Giclee Print on Canvas(*):	(L) (w)26” x (h)46” Sold Out (M) (w)19” x (h)34” Sold Out (S) (w)9” x (h)16” Sold Out

(*)Limited edition of 30. Each print includes a certificate signed by the artist

不動明王

Fudō Myō-ō

Success and Passion

"Acala"

“Fudō Myō-ō” is a Buddhist God and helps people out of negative feelings as well as quelling demons. The Fudō Myō-ō is usually seen with a blaze representing the anger and passion to salvage people from difficulties.

*All prices DO NOT include frames
*Giclee prints are ROLLED PRINTS (UNSTRETCHED)

Original Painting:	(w)37.75” x (h)64.25” Sold Out
Giclee Print on Canvas(*):	(L) (w)26” x (h)46” Sold Out (M) (w)19” x (h)34” Sold Out (S) (w)9” x (h)16” Sold Out

(*)Limited edition of 30. Each print includes a certificate signed by the artist

玉取姫

Tamatori-Hime

Love and Devotion

"Princess Tamatori"

“Tamatori-Hime” is a title of a Japanese folklore that has some variations across Japan, and “Tamatori” is not a girlʻs name in fact. “Tama (or Gyoku)” usually implies a treasure that denotes the fact of the throne or authority. In the story, she, a female professional diver, dived into deep sea for the treasure for the sake of her aristocratic partner by putting her life. She represents bravery as well as devotion and self-sacrificing.

Original Painting:	(w)23.75” x (h)37.75” Sold Out
Giclee Print on Canvas(*):	(L) (w)26” x (h)46” Sold Out (M) (w)19” x (h)34” Sold Out (S) (w)9” x (h)16” Sold Out

(*)Limited edition of 30. Each print includes a certificate signed by the artist

美人画

Bijin-ga

Beauty and Elegance

"The Beauty"

"Bijin-ga" is the main subject painted on the tail side of the float and also called "Miokuri-e (see-off picture)." The Bijin-ga expresses stillness, as opposed to a picture painted on the front side expressing motion with warriors in a battle. The motif of this Bijin-ga is a geisha (a professional female entertainer), and the peonies on her Kimono are a metaphor for beautiful women in Japan.

*All prices DO NOT include frames
*Giclee prints are ROLLED PRINTS (UNSTRETCHED)

Original Painting:	(w)37.75” x (h)64.25” Sold Out
Giclee Print on Canvas(*):	(L) (w)24” x (h)46” Sold Out (M) (w)19” x (h)34” Sold Out (S) (w)9” x (h)16” Sold Out

(*)Limited edition of 30. Each print includes a certificate signed by the artist

金太郎と鯉

Kintarō to Koi

Health and Energy

"The Golden Boy and a Carp"

“Kintarō” is a boyʻs name and the title of a Japanese fairy tale. Kintarō is known to be very strong, kind, and friendly. He is employed by a lord who was going to conquer demons acting violently in the capital city, Kyoto. A carp's significance across Asia originates from a Chinese legend that a carp turns into a dragon when it climbs up a waterfall. In Japan, a carp represents masculinity, perseverance, and success in life. Both Kintarō and the carp are well-liked designs for paintings and dolls of the Boyʻs Day in which family members wish for their children to have a healthy, secure, and happy life.

*All prices DO NOT include frames
*Giclee prints are ROLLED PRINTS (UNSTRETCHED)

Original Painting:	(w)37.75” x (h)64.25” Sold Out
Giclee Print on Canvas(*):	(L) (w)26” x (h)46” Sold Out (M) (w)19” x (h)34” Sold Out (S) (w)9” x (h)16” Sold Out

(*)Limited edition of 30. Each print includes a certificate signed by the artist

Assorted 6 Titles of Prints

(Small Size Rolled Prints)

SPECIAL OFFER!! 9x16" Giclee Canvas prints including 6 titles (Dragon and Tiger, Hu Sanniang, Plague Queller, Acala, The Beauty, and The Golden Boy and a Carp).

All are rolled prints (not gallery-wrapped) without frames.

Original Painting:	(w)” x (h)” Sold Out
Giclee Print on Canvas(*):	(L) (w)” x (h)” Sold Out (M) (w)” x (h)” Sold Out (S) (w)9” x (h)16” Sold Out

(*)Limited edition of 30. Each print includes a certificate signed by the artist

Artist

Kimura, Hosen

“I put all of my heart and soul into my work.”

From Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture. Designated important intangible cultural folk property Hirosaki Neputa painter, Traditional crafts Tsugaru-nuri craftsman, Ink painting and sumi-painter. The technique that he employs is highly valued because of the detail of the swirling movement of the wind and swaying of each strand of hair expressed in his art as well as the combination of the traditional powerful and dynamic composition of Neputa paintings. While providing works for the Hirosaki Neputa Festival, held annually in August, as the Executive Director of the Association of Tsugaru Nishiki-e Artists, he passionately devotes himself to working on fostering the successors and disseminating activities of Neputa-e as traditional arts. Since 2009, He has been providing his works for the Honolulu Festival, which is held on Oahu, Hawaii every March, in order to work on the international promotion.

Hi, Neputa.Hello, Nishiki-e

Hirosaki Naputa Festival

Gallery

龍虎

一丈青

鍾馗

不動明王

玉取姫

美人画

金太郎と鯉

Artist

Kimura, Hosen

Contact us

Hi, Neputa.
Hello, Nishiki-e