牡丹 Botan

牡丹　Botan

Paeonia suffruticosa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Banchō Sarayashiki

Banchō Sarayashiki

Banchō Sarayashiki or Bancho Sarayashiis a Japanese ghost story of love separated by social class, broken trust and broken promises, leading to a dismal fate.

The story of Okiku and the Nine Plates is one of the most famous in Japanese folklore, and continues to resonate with audiences today.

The story of Okiku is an old one, whose true origins are unknown; however, it first appeared under the title Bancho Sarayashiki in July 1741 at the Toyotakeza theater. The familiar ghost legend had been adapted into a ningyō jōruri production by Asada Iccho and Tamenaga Tarobei I. Like many successful puppet shows, a Kabuki version followed and in September 1824, Banchō Sarayashiki was staged at the Naka no Shibai theater starring Otani Tomoemon II and Arashi Koroku IV in the roles of Aoyama Daihachi and Okiku.

A one-act Kabuki version was created in 1850 by Segawa Joko III, under the title Minoriyoshi Kogane no Kikuzuki, which debuted at the Nakamura-za theater and starred Ichikawa Danjūrō VIII and Ichikawa Kodanji IV in the roles of Tetsuzan and Okiku. This one-act adaptation was not popular, and quickly folded, until it was revived in June 1971 at the Shimbashi Embujō theater, starring the popular combination of Kataoka Takao and Bando Tamasaburō V in the roles of Tetsuzan and Okiku.

The most familiar and popular adaptation of Banchō Sarayashiki, written by Okamoto Kido, debuted in February 1916 at the Hongō-za theater, starring Ichikawa Sadanji II and Ichikawa Shōchō II in the roles of Lord Harima and Okiku. It was a modern version of the classic ghost story in which the horror tale was replaced by a deep psychological study of the two characters' motivations.

Japanese Ghost Stories

http://gominekobooks.com/books.html

Size: 8 ” x 11.5” 

Pages: 124 

Published: 2009

Price: $48

Binding:  Softcover

WE MADE 300 LIMITED EDITION S/N HARDBACK EDITIONS AS GIFTS TO THE ARTISTS. 

THE REMAINDER ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE WEBSITE WHILE SUPPLIES LAST.

Japanese Ghost Stories is the end result of a year long art project. It includes illustrations based on four different Japanese ghost stories, submitted by 62 unique international artists, including Jack “Horimouja” Mosher, Horimasa, Ade, Cody Meyer, Tim Kern, Horizaru, Horigyn, Hougen and more. The project was created to explore how Westerners approach old Japanese myths and legends, most of which are quite culturally diverse and unique. The artists were asked to adhere to certain elements of the story but ultimately were given creative license. The artwork submitted for the project was incredibly varied in terms of style and approach, making this a compelling collection of illustrations and an interesting look into how the western mind, as well as that of present day Japan, approach these antiquated tales.

JAPANESE OLD PIN UP PHOTO

JAPANESE OLD PIN UP PHOTO

Raijū

Raijū

Raijū (雷獣,"thunder animal" or "thunder beast") is 

a legendary creature from Japanese mythology.

 Its body is composed of lightning and may be in the shape of a cat, fox, weasel, or wolf.

 The form of a white and blue wolf (or even a wolf wrapped in lightning) is also common. 

It may also fly about as a ball of lightning (in fact, the creature may be an attempt to explain the phenomenon of lightning). Its cry sounds like thunder.

Raiju is the companion of Raijin, the Shinto god of lightning. While the beast is generally calm and harmless, during thunderstorms, it becomes agitated and leaps about in trees, fields, and even buildings (trees that have been struck by lightning are said to have been scratched by Raiju's claws).

Another of Raiju's peculiar behaviors is sleeping in human navels. This prompts Raiden to shoot lightning arrows at Raiju to wake the creature up, and thus harms the person in whose belly the demon is resting. Superstitious people therefore often sleep on their stomachs during bad weather, but other legends say that Raiju will only hide in the navels of people who sleep outdoors.

Hitotsume-kozō

Hitotsume-kozō

Hitotsume-kozō are roughly "the size of ten-year-old children," but otherwise "resemble bald Buddhist monks."

Their most distinctive feature, however, is a "single, giant eye peering from the center of the face, along with a long tongue, much like a Tsukomogami.

Hitotsume-kozō are relatively harmless creatures, content to "run about frightening people or telling loud people to be quiet."

Since many people consider an encounter with a [Hitotsume-kozō] to be a bad omen ... often [they] leave bamboo baskets in front of their houses, as these are reputed to repel the creatures. A reason for this may be that, in seeing the basket's many holes, the Hitotsume-kozō will see the basket as having many eyes, and run away jealous and ashamed at only having one.

YAMANBA

Yamauba (山姥 or 山うば), Yamamba or Yamanba

are variations  on the name of a yōkai found in Japanese folklore.

Description 

in Classical Japanese FolkloreDepending on the text and translator, the Yamauba appears as a monstrous Crone, “her unkempt hair long and golden white ... her kimono filthy and tattered,” with cannibalistic tendencies.  In one tale a mother traveling to her village is forced to give birth in a mountain hut assisted by an apparent kindly old woman, only to discover, when it is too late, that the stranger is actually Yamauba with plans to eat her newborn child.  In other story the yōkai raises the orphan hero Kintarō, who goes on to became the famous warrior Sakata no Kintoki. 

Yamauba is said to have a mouth at the top of her head under her hair. 

In one story it is related that her only weakness is a certain flower containing her soul.