Yuji_2

MK-9, Kanjincho (Subscription List)

MK-25, Seiryu (The blue dragon). One of the Four Gods in a myth. Technique is Shishiai Togidashi Maki-e with Raden. #8 gold powder and beige Urushi were used to paint the back and the belly of the dragon. #8 gold powder and blue Urushi are used on the body of the dragon.

MK-28, Dojoji (Dojo Temple). A design from a Noh Play, Dojoji has another interesting story of demons at Dojoji. One day a new bell was going to be hung in the temple and only men were allowed. A woman asked to get into the temple to see the bell under the condition that she would dance for them. The woman finally was allowed to dance, and when she danced wildly towards the bell, the bell dropped to the floor and the woman disappeared. The monk of the temple knew that must have been a ghost's doing and talked about the story of a girl called Kiyohime who loved a monk, Anchin. But Anchin was afraid of her and tried to hide in the bell of Dojoji. The woman turned into a serpent and wrapped herself around the bell and melted it in her rage. Taka Maki-e technique is used on the serpent, the bell and the Noh mask.

MK-32, Saigo Takamori, The Last Samurai. Saigo Takamori (1828-1877) was very loyal to the Meiji emperor and got a position as an adviser to the government and strongly supported the Restoration movement. But then, he rejected the country to be westernized, while the statesmen like Ito Hirobumi or Okubo Toshimichi who were learning western culture in Europe and America, came back to Japan and opposed his idea of invading Korea and anti-westernization. He was forced to resign his post and went back to Kagoshima. He was a patriot and a very conservative fighter with many followers in Kyushu and moved by his followers to attack the government. Saigo was defeated in September of 1877 and killed himself in Kyushu. Saigo is regarded as the last Samurai as he died with his principles. His bronze statue as the design still stands in Ueno Park of Tokyo admired by many Japanese as a tragic hero.