Kimigayo" (君が代^{?) is the national anthem of Japan. It is also one of the world's shortest national anthems in current use, with a length of 11 measures and 32 characters.Its lyrics are based on a Waka poem written in the Heian period (794-1185), sung to a melody written in the imperial period (1868–1945). The current melody was chosen in 1880, replacing an unpopular melody composed eleven years earlier. While Kimigayo is usually translated as His Majesty's Reign, no official translation of the title nor lyrics were established by law.}

^{During the imperial period, Kimigayo was the official national anthem. When the “Empire of Japan” (imperial period) fell and the “State of Japan” (democratic period) started in 1945, polity was changed from absolutism to democracy. But, the national anthem Kimigayo was not abolished, had long been de facto national anthem during the democratic period (1945–present). It was only legally recognized in 1999 with the passage of Law Regarding the National Flag and National Anthem. Since the democratic period's inception, there has been controversy over the performance of the anthem at public school ceremonies. Along with the Hinomaru flag, Kimigayo is claimed by some people to be a symbol of Japanese imperialism and militarism}

^Notes:

Kimi" indicates the Emperor, who is the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people, and whose position is derived from the consensus-based will of Japanese citizens, with whom sovereign power resides. And, the phrase "Kimigayo" indicates our State, Japan, which has the Emperor enthroned as the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people by the consensus-based will of Japanese citizens. And it is reasonable to take the lyric of Kimigayo to mean the wish for the lasting prosperity and peace of such country of ours

A wonderful image of steep sea cliffs with pines and cranes. The artist has made a signed box for this scroll. £225

Asahi, Birds and waves 79X24 with box SOLD

Yokoyama Taikan 1868～1958 Part painted screened Silk

69.5cm by 138.7cm / 27.3" by 54.6" with Bone ends and Box £145

The top and bottom silk mounts should be replaced. I can do this for £95
 

TAIKAN YOKOYAMA. 
Born in the Mito District of Ibaraki Prefecture. He was the eldest son of Sakai Sutehiko, and part of the Samurai  Mito family clan.
His given name was Hidemaro Taikan and was adopted into his mother's family, from whom he received the surname of "Yokoyama". With his family, he moved to Tokyo in 1878.
He studied at one of the great painters, Kano Hogai, who was the master of the Kano school and eventually entered the Tokyo School of Arts and studied under Okakura Tenshin and Hashimoto Gaho. 
Hishida Shunso, Shimomura Kanzan and Saigo Kogetsu were Taikan's classmates.
He helped Tenshin Okakura to found the Japan Art Institute (Nihon Bijutsu-in) in cooperation with Hishida Shunso and Shimomura Kanzan.
Taikan tried to step out of the traditional Japanese painting style in the use of line drawing and it was with Hishida Shunso, that Taikan developed a new style, eliminating the lines and concentrating on soft, experimented with various techniques.
His style was called "Mourou-tai" (Blurred style).
He kept innovating Japanese art style throughout the Meiji and Taisho and Showa eras.
He received the Order of Cultural Merit and many other awards of distinction.

This is a gentle Zen painting with the warm rising sun and a flock of geese flying into the sun. The artist follows the Shinto religion and has used the special water from the Heitate Shrine to paint the image. The mounting is beautiful and of very high quality. The box is antique embroidered Kimono silk.

Sun Birds.  Painted 2010 : 安部　信一郎　Tenshin.（Abe Shinichiro 1968-).

Pained in watercolour and the special and sacred water for the painting was collected from Heitate Shrine Fountain, (see image below)

in Kumamoto City (Kyushu Island). This is a very holy pace that the waters are said to be imbibed with wonderful powers of healing and rejuvenation.

Dimension in Centimetres ( Approx.) - Height : 115 / Width : 31

With a very special box for this unique painting made from embroidered Antique Kimono Silk

Notes;

Heitate jingu （幣立神宮）is located in Yamatocho, Kumamoto （熊本）prefecture on Kyu-shu Island(九州). It is on the Japan Median Tectonic Line (中央構造線, Chuo Kozo Sen) on which there are many sacred places such as Ise jingu, Suwa Taisha and so on. It is famous place as the "Power Spot" and have exerted a mysterious attraction for thousands of people around Japan

  　
                                                                                           The Sacred Pond of Heitate jingu (Photo by Kotodamaya)

1, 2 &3 ©TOI/JWM

• Ono, Yamato cho, Kamimasukigun, Kumamoto
• Transport： 70min from Mihune IC(御船IC) (Kyusyu highway）via route445, 218

One of the most outstanding power spot.  Ceremony held once every 5 years at the mother of all people on earth.

Heitate Jingu Shrine, located in Mashiki gun, Kumamoto prefecture, iis said to be the place of origin of the world.  To maintain its extraordinary sanctity, it was closed for centuries as “Hidden Shrine”.  However, it is said, on the verge of dynamic change that is occurring on a global scale, Heitate himself determined to open the door of mystery and to reveal himself again to the world.  Since the major festival held in 1995, it started to gain the limelight rapidly especially among spiritual seekers.  It is now the world outstanding power spot that everyone admits, and as a major sanctuary, it continues to confer blessings to people who visit there.
 

Once every 5 years, a major festival is held at Heitate Jingu Shrine.  Even though they do not provide any information, spiritual leaders and native people from around the world come to this place.  The festival that will be held around the thrird week of August .Mr. Shinya Haruki is the chief priest of Heitate Jingu Shrine

Heitate Jingu is located in Kumamoto near boundary with Miyazaki Prefecture and it is on the Median Tectonic Line of Japan on which there are many sacred sites such as Suwa Taisha, Ise jingu or Mt.Aso. It is said that here is the advent ground (called Takamagahara |高天原) in Japanese myth “Kojiki” (The Records of Ancient Matters). Beyond the main shrine, people can visit a sacred pond. This shrine is not big and isn’t easy to access, however ambassadors or senior officials from overseas and many people come to visit here during the grand festival called Goshikitaisai which is held once every five years. (A festival called Goshikisai is held on August every year)

 

"Japan Median Tectonic Line (中央構造線, Chuo Kozo Sen), also Median Tectonic Line (MTL), is Japan's longest fault line system. It connects with the Itoigawa-Shizuoka Tectonic Line (ISTL), the left blue line on the map, and the Fossa Magna, the pink shaded region. The MTL begins near Ibaraki Prefecture, runs through central Honshu to near Nagoya, passing through Mikawa Bay, then through the Inland Sea from the Kii Channel and Naruto Strait to Shikoku along the Sadamisaki Peninsula and the Bungo Channel and Ho-yo Strait to Kyu-shu-.(wikipedia)"

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Most images of Horaisan, the Holy Mountain, feature the rising sun (see this page)

The signature of  the very famous artist Hogetsu  is on this scroll
-the original artist box also forms part of this remarkable work of art

Subject -Horaisan Penglai 1950

Yokoo Hogetsu (1899-1990) Nihonbashi Signed and sealed Hogetsu Hanging scroll; ink, color on silk  Wood box signed, sealed and titled by the artist . Hogetsu was born in Hakata City, Fukuoka Prefecture. He studied Shijo- school painting first under Nishimura Sobun. In 1917 he moved to Tokyo to study beauty painting under Ikeda Terukata (1883-1921), a pupil of Kaburagi Kiyokata (1878-1972). Hogetsu participated in Teiten, Nitten and Shin-Nitten exhibitions. While mainly a painter of Japanese Ladies he also did other subjects occasionally.

23x78.6 with original artists box £325. The scroll has being restored with new top and bottom silk mounts

His work is in  the Hosokawa Rikizo Collection Meguro Gajoen Museum, Tokyo. He has  at the Exhibited 8th Roho Gajuku ten, 1938 Kyoto City Museum of Art, "Kaiso no jojobi: Meiji, Taisho, Showa Nihonga hizo meisakuten--Meguro gajoen korekushon" (Reminiscences of lyrical beauty: Exhibition of treasured masterpieces of Japanese-style paintings of the Meiji, Taisho and Showa periods--The Meguro Gajoen collection), 1983.11.30--12.10 Sogo Museum, Yokohama, "Meguro Gajoen korekushon: Showa shoki no Nihonga meihinten--bijin to kacho" (The Meguro Gajoen collection: Masterpieces of Japanese-style painting of the early Showa period--Beauties, birds and flowers), 1988.1.3-17 Sashima kyodokan Myuzu, Sashimacho, Ibaragi, "Tokubetsuten: Meguro Gajoen korekushon ni miru kindai Nihonga no meihin" (Special exhibition: Masterpieces of modern Japanese-style painting from the Meguro Gajoen collection), 2000.10.14--12.10 Karatsu City Modern Library Art Hall (Karatsu shi kindai toshokan bijutsu horu), "Meguro Gajoen bijutsukan korekushon ni yoru: Kindai Nihonga ni miru bijinga" (Modern Japanese-style beauty painting from the collection of the Meguro Gajoen Museum), 1999.11.14--12.13 PUBLISHED: Art One Co., Ltd., ed., Meguro Gaojen korekushon: Showa shoki no Nihonga meihin ten--Bijin to kacho (The Meguro Gajoen collection: Masterpieces of Japanese-style painting of the early Showa period--Beauties, birds and flowers) (Yokohama: Sogo Museum; Tokyo: Nihon keizai shinbunsha, 1988), pl. 47. _____, ed., Kaiso no jojobi: Meiji, Taisho, Showa Nihonga hizo meisakuten--Meguro Gajoen korekushon (Reminiscenses of lyrical beauty: Exhibition of treasured masterpieces of Japanese-style painting of the Meiji, Taisho and Showa periods--the Meguro Gajoen collection) (Tokyo: Art One Co., Ltd., 1983), pl. 58. Yokoo Hogetsu, Sotsuju kinen: Yokoo Hogetsu bijinga shu (77th-year anniversary: Beauty paintings of Yokoo Hogetsu) (Kyoto: Shikosha tosho hanbai, 1987), pl. 50. Sashima kyodokan Myuzu, ed., Tokubetsuten: Meguro Gajoen korekushon ni miru kindai Nihonga no meihin (Special exhibition: Masterpieces of modern Japanese-style painting from the Meguro Gajoen collection) (Sashimacho: Sashima kyodokan Myuzu, 2000), pl. 17. Hosono Masanobu et al., Kindai no Bijinga: Meguro Gajoen Korekushon/Paintings of Japanese Beauties at the Turn of the Century (Kyoto: Kyoto shoin, 1988), pl. 388. Karatsu City Modern Library, ed., Meguro Gajoen bijutsukan korekushon ni yoru: Kindai Nihonga ni miru bijinga (Modern Japanese-style beauty painting from the collection of the Meguro Gajoen Museum), exh. cat. (Karatsu: Karatsu City Modern Library, 1999), pl. 3.