One of the most popular motif for paintings is a beautiful woman, and many Ukiyoe (Japanese woodblock prints) artist including Kitagawa Utamaro (喜多川 歌麿) and Katsushika Hokusai (葛飾 北斎) during the Edo period (1603 - 1867) portray beautiful women. This type of Japanese art form flourish during the time, and the city of Edo become a center of politics as well as culture. After the Edo period, the following Ukiyoe artists like Kiyokata Kaburagi (鏑木 清方), Ito Shinsui (伊東深水) and Uemura Shoen (上村松園) produce great woman pictures. This book introduces masterpieces of those portraits of beautiful women from the Edo period to present.

An upheaval far-out decade continues to have a strong influence on today’s culture and life, especially in fashion. Most people think of 60s fashion as hippie or Mod fashions, 60s fashion is actually much more complicated and varied. With carrying down of fancy and elegant style from 50s, it’s developed with a variety of stylistic changes. This book brings out retrospective 60s fashion by showing hairstyles, knick-knacks, interiors and more from the magazine clips. Readers must reaffirm great tastes and spirit of 1960s when the turn the page. It’s a kind of the book that you keep it your permanent collections.

The Japanese Samurai fashion flourished during the warring states period from the 15th century until the Edo period began in the early 17th century by a number of feudal warlords, who tried hard to survive and dominate the country. This period marked a revolutionary change in political, economic and social system; the craftworks and artifacts in the period dramatically advanced in design as well as technology with the social influences. This book presents the beauty of armor design by showing armor suits, helmets and more.

This is the first comprehensive collection of design works by Yurio Seki, who is well known for her original brand, “Salvia.” Her colorful design represents heart-warming and humane design, and she is one of the most poplar graphics designers in Japan. Her “Salvia” patterns can be used not only for textiles but also for interior products and cosmetic packages. Along with the complete “Salvia” designs, this book features her extensive design works for book covers, magazines, CD jackets and more.

"This collection focuses on traditional palm sized paper bags, which is called “pochibukuro.” “Pochibukuro” is used for giving tips in a polite manner in Japan. 700 bags with traditional colorful Japanese patterns and such drawings as Kabuki actors are bea"

This book is visually introducing Japanese traditional and symbolic motifs in flower and bird. Plenty of paintings textiles and craft products show practical exercises of beauty of nature that artists designers and creators have captured throughout four seasons. About 200 featured works are dated from the 16th century through the early 20th century including ones by such artists as Jakuch It (17th century) and Kanou school graduates (15th century to 19th century.)

A tenugui, which is a thin cotton hand-towel, can be used for a washcloth, dishcloth, headband, souvenir or decoration. It is typically about 350 mm X 90 mm in size, and plain weaved. And it is almost always printed with some pattern, which shows a variety of traditional Japanese style in patter. This book features 103 tenugui along with Kouta, which is a kind of poem and can be usually sung with Shamisen, a Banjo-like traditional Japanese instrument. Beautiful patterns must attract broad audience from designers and creative people to Kimono fans and people who like Japanese motifs.

This book introduces the soul of Kyoto, the Japanese garden, as an unbroken continuity from the Heian period until today. Addressing their variations through the subtypes of temple gardens, gardens of the imperial family and aristocratic households, and urban courtyard and other gardens, it offers an understanding of the compelling fascination that these gardens’ beauty and philosophical depth inspire.

This book features 11 papercraft fisn and animals in water that look real from every angle, ready to cut out and assemble.

This book collects approx. 400 outstanding graphic design works of Olle Eksell, who is one of the most respected and distinguished Swedish graphic designer. Olle Eksell, an inspiring and influential designer, and known as a creator of Mazetti Cacao Eye, wrote articles and books on the relationship between the corporate economics and the design. One of his popular books, “Design=Ekonomi” is widely used as a textbook in many art and design schools.