Why Art-Loving Travelers Choose Kakejiku as a Japanese Cultural Souvenir

When people travel, they often look for a memorable souvenir to take home—something that reflects the spirit of the place they visited. For some travelers, that means collecting art unique to the region.

This is the story of an art-loving visitor from Australia who chose a traditional kakejiku (Japanese hanging scroll) as a lasting memory of his first trip to Japan.

From Australia to Japan

The customer who visited our shop was a man in his 40s from Australia. A calm, nature-loving surfer, he enjoys collecting artwork from places he visits.

Rather than picking up souvenirs from tourist shops, he values finding high-quality art from trusted specialty stores—an attitude we truly respect.

We were honored that he chose to visit our store during his first trip to Japan.

The Moment He Connected with Kakejiku

It was his first time encountering traditional Japanese culture, and he showed genuine interest in every scroll we introduced. Concerned that the standard scroll size might be too large for his home, we suggested more compact styles, such as narrower or smaller scrolls.

Among the various pieces, he was especially drawn to a kakejiku featuring Santōka—a wandering Zen monk and free-verse haiku poet.

The artwork, created by artist Shimamura Yūdō, depicted Santōka’s serene figure and included one of his reflective poems. The balance between open space and strong brushwork gave the scroll a timeless quality that fit both traditional and modern settings.

A Deep Appreciation for Japanese Culture

What impressed us most was the customer’s sincere desire to understand the cultural significance of the scroll. He asked detailed questions about how to hang and store the kakejiku, as well as the meaning of the decorative “fūtai” (decorative fabric strips) attached to the top.

He was not simply buying a souvenir—he was connecting with the aesthetic and spiritual traditions of Japan. We were deeply moved by his thoughtful approach.

After his visit, he kindly shared the following review on TripAdvisor:

Kakejiku experience
This was my first time in Japan and viewing the beautiful kakejiku scrolls. I had a very good experience and Tomoko was amazing at selecting scrolls that suited my taste. I’m very happy with my selection of Santouka scroll and will definitely recommend to anyone visiting Japan.

We are truly grateful that this kakejiku encounter became one of the highlights of his journey.

Sharing Kakejiku with the World

At our store, we provide full English support and offer detailed guidance even for first-time buyers. From the meaning behind each scroll to how to hang and care for it, we explain everything—even cultural insights that many Japanese may not know.

For travelers with an appreciation for art and design, a kakejiku is far more than just a “Japanese-style souvenir.” It is an immersive cultural experience—a way to bring a piece of Japan’s spirit home with you.

If you are looking for a meaningful and authentic souvenir from your time in Japan, we warmly invite you to visit us.
We believe you’ll discover why so many art-loving travelers choose kakejiku—and why they trust us to help them find the perfect one.

 

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CEO Message

Our Feelings For Kakejiku

 The Japanese people have long set a high value on aesthetic senses since ancient times. As a result, the
peculiar culture which is not seen in other countries blossomed and many aspects of the modern Japanese
culture come from it. Parts of Japanese culture has been introduced to people in other countries recently,
so the number of people from other countries who are interested in Japanese culture has been increasing.
However, the Japanese aesthetic senses, which are the bases of Japanese culture, have been nurtured
through a long history, intertwining various elements intricately, such as climate, geographical features,
religion, customs and so on. Therefore, they are very difficult to understand not only for people from other
countries, but even for the Japanese people. I think the best tool which conveys these difficult senses
understandably is a “kakejiku.”
 The kakejiku (a hanging scroll; a work of calligraphy or a painting which is mounted and hung in an
alcove or on a wall) is a traditional Japanese art. It's no exaggeration to say that paintings are what
express aesthetic senses at all times and places. The kakejiku is an art which expresses the Japanese
aesthetic senses. The kakejiku has long been used in traditional Japanese events, daily life and so on since
ancient times. As a result, there are various customs of kakejiku in Japan; kakejiku and the life of the
Japanese are closely related. We can see Japanese values through kakejiku.
 The kakejiku is a cultural tradition which the Japanese people should be proud of. However, many people
in other countries don't know much about it because it hasn't been showcased as much. This is why I
decided to try to introduce it. The kakejiku world is very interesting and beautiful. We want not only the
Japanese, but also many people from other countries to know and enjoy it. I hope that many people will
love kakejiku someday.

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Company Profile
syaoku.jpg(120220 byte)

Name Art Nomura

President Tatsuji Nomura

Founded1973

Established1992

Address7-23 Babadori, Tarumi-ku, Kobe city,
Hyougo Prefecture, 655-0021, Japan


Capital10 million yen

URLhttp://nomurakakejiku.com

Our Business

 Art Nomura is an art dealer which produces kakejiku (hanging scrolls). We mount many paintings and calligraphic works in kakejiku in my factory. Kakejiku are our main product. We also remount and repair old or damaged kakejiku. We share the traditional Japanese art of kakejiku with people all over the world.


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Access Map

Access Map

 The Japanese people have long set a high value on aesthetic senses since ancient times. As a result, the
peculiar culture which is not seen in other countries blossomed and many aspects of the modern Japanese
culture come from it. Parts of Japanese culture has been introduced to people in other countries recently,
so the number of people from other countries who are interested in Japanese culture has been increasing.
However, the Japanese aesthetic senses, which are the bases of Japanese culture, have been nurtured
through a long history, intertwining various elements intricately, such as climate, geographical features,
religion, customs and so on. Therefore, they are very difficult to understand not only for people from other
countries, but even for the Japanese people. I think the best tool which conveys these difficult senses
understandably is a “kakejiku.”
 The kakejiku (a hanging scroll; a work of calligraphy or a painting which is mounted and hung in an
alcove or on a wall) is a traditional Japanese art. It's no exaggeration to say that paintings are what
express aesthetic senses at all times and places. The kakejiku is an art which expresses the Japanese
aesthetic senses. The kakejiku has long been used in traditional Japanese events, daily life and so on since
ancient times. As a result, there are various customs of kakejiku in Japan; kakejiku and the life of the
Japanese are closely related. We can see Japanese values through kakejiku.
 The kakejiku is a cultural tradition which the Japanese people should be proud of. However, many people
in other countries don't know much about it because it hasn't been showcased as much. This is why I
decided to try to introduce it. The kakejiku world is very interesting and beautiful. We want not only the
Japanese, but also many people from other countries to know and enjoy it. I hope that many people will
love kakejiku someday.

(or press ESC or click the overlay)