The Vitality of Sesshū Tōyō

Sesshū Tōyō, a prominent Japanese painter of the Muromachi period, lived a life filled with remarkable vitality. In an era when the average lifespan was around 50 years, Sesshū surpassed this by living well into his 80s, demonstrating his extraordinary existence not just in his longevity but in his way of life.

At the age of 45, a time when most people would consider settling down, Sesshū left Kyoto to start a new chapter in Yamaguchi pref. under the patronage of the Ōuchi family. This move marked a turning point in his artistic career. Even more strikingly, at the age of 48, he embarked on a bold journey, boarding a trade ship bound for Ming Dynasty China. He spent two years there, immersing himself in the study of authentic ink wash painting.

During his stay in China, Sesshū’s talent was recognized and he earned prestigious titles, reflecting his artistic prowess even beyond his homeland.

Upon his return to Japan, he continued to make significant contributions to the art world for over 30 years, leaving behind a legacy of numerous works.

It was during this period that his art truly flourished, carving a new niche in the realm of Japanese painting.

Even at an age when most would contemplate retirement, Sesshū relentlessly pursued new challenges abroad and, after returning to Japan, enjoyed a second wave of his artistic life.

His extraordinary vitality and unceasing quest for artistic growth propelled Sesshū to a unique stature.

His life was not only long but was as fulfilling and illustrious as his art.

Sesshū’s achievements continue to be highly regarded in the history of Japanese painting, inspiring many generations to come.

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    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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     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)