Here are four animals we selected for this series painted by Kogaku. Every piece is made with techniques of Taka Maki-e, Togidashi Maki-e with pure gold and platinum. Also blue shell Raden and Hirame Kinji (gold dust) are widely used.

F6, Taka (Falcon) is well known for falconry in Japanese history as the birds were beloved by all Daimyos for hunting. Standing on a bold tree with its sharp eyes made of Tamamushigai-shell Raden, (a two-striped green buprestid) the falcon and the tree are all Taka Maki-e with pure gold and platinum, and the ground is Hirame-kinji in gold.

F7, Hohoh (Phoenix) riding on the cloud of fortune is an auspicious imaginary bird to the Japanese. It is the symbol of benevolence and when it appears it foretells the coming of happiness and prosperity for people. The phoenix is also known by the whole world as a legendary bird with various stories in different countries.

F8, Shishi (Imaginary Lion) was regarded as the king of the beasts and the symbol of courage and magnificence. Its head is sacred and a ritual dance with a lion's mask is usually played at shrines for festivals. Taka and Togidashi Maki-e techniques are fully used with gold and platinum.

F9, En-koh (Monkeys) En is a monkey and Koh is also a monkey. They are laughing at each other because "He is a Monkey, but I'm not. " The design shows two monkeys trying to get the moon from the water - very humorous.

N6, No Evil Monkeys The theme was inspired by the well known Monkey Trio carving on the wall of Toshogu, a shrine built for famous shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu in Nikko during the 17th century. It is humorously designed with gestures of the monkeys representing "See no evil", "Say no evil", and "Hear no evil".