Among the various UT collections, the “Japan Culture” series has always remained very popular. In spring 2021 we will build upon this lineup with the addition of the new “Hokusai Colors” collection. Please experience once again, or for the first time, the aesthetic beauty and craftsmanship of old Japan.
New “Hokusai Colors” collection focusing on the colors used by Hokusai
Katsushika Hokusai was a ukiyoe artist from Japan’s Edo Period. He left the world many of his ukiyoe prints with dynamic touches and clever usage of carefully selected colors. Did you know he created different version of his art work by changing the colors. In addition to selecting the colors, Hokusai also selected the printers that applied paint to the printing blocks, those in charge of overseeing the entire production process, and even the publishers who sold his works of art. The “Hokusai Colors” collection focuses not only on his unique sense of color, but also the background for his productions. This collection includes such arrangements as three Mount Fuji’s on one T-shirt, each painted in a different color, as well as glimpses of ukiyoe culture that flourished in the Edo Period.
Mount Fuji, daruma dolls, beckoning cats–A collection of symbols that bring good fortune!
We have launched a “Good Luck Charm Souvenir” collection focusing on good luck charms long valued by the Japanese people. This is part of our popular series that expresses new interpretations of Japan’s souvenir culture well suited for UT. For this collection, we have adopted six good luck charms. The first is the Takasaki Daruma, a well-known product from Gunma Prefecture. As this doll cannot be knocked over due to its round form, it represents “getting up when knocked down,” “good health,” and “peaceful and prosperous households.” The other is the shogi (Japanese chess) piece with the “horse” character facing to the left. The bottom section of this character resembles a purse, so it has become a symbol of fortune and holding onto your money. We produced this design in collaboration with Nakajima Seikichi Shoten, a long-standing maker of shogi pieces based in Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture, which is known as “shogi city.” Other good luck symbols include fukusuke dolls for a thriving business, taiyaki (fish shaped pancakes filled with bean jam), from the Naniwaya Sohonten(the favorite of Steven Tyler, Aerosmith) which symbolizes celebration, cats beckoning good luck produced by Tokoname Baigetsu in Tokoname City in Aichi Prefecture, an image of Mount Fuji symbolizing immortality taken from Komparuyu, a long-standing public bath house in Ginza, and a pine tree symbolizing longevity based on potted dwarf trees from Seiko-en. These designs reflect the traditional craftsmanship of various regions across Japan.
