Some of the more popular designs that grace many antique Japanese vases are floral in theme. Naturally, this is not too surprising, seeing as that antique Japanese vases were most used to hold flowers, and the patterns complemented this purpose fully.
As with most things in ancient Japan, there are countless links between the culture and [...]

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Masked in layers and layers of myth, legend, mystery and mystical nature as it is, the creation of antique Japanese swords have long captured and fired the imagination of many. Not only are the blades produced so uniquely different from their European counterparts, but the antique Japanese swords themselves are so revered that it makes [...]

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Once upon a time, that which we now label as the ‘Kimono’ was actually just a word for ‘a thing to wear’, which is its literal translation in Japanese. In light of this, it may be beneficial if you were to consider ‘kimono’ to simply mean ‘clothes’, and then you should be able to understand [...]

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If you didn’t realize it, Japanese woodblock prints, or Ukiyo-e, have been around for a very long time. What is even more interesting is that, as time flowed past, this very significant Japanese art-form evolved, not just in terms of perfection.
Today, it is common to find Japanese woodblock prints that are, essentially, pictures of scenery [...]

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Simply put, a puzzle box’s complicatedness depends entirely on the number of predetermined steps that it would take to open it.
Today, the most common variety of puzzle boxes are the commercial kind that only require anything from four to ten moves to open. Needless to say, these are very simple, and most people can figure [...]

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…there exists an art, and one that is rooted firmly in the culture of ancient Japan. Few truly comprehend the full length and depth of this relationship, bar those who have studied the matter deeply.
Of course, trying to sum up the historical development of these antique swords as well as their cultural significance in a [...]

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Laced with patterns and motifs that distinguish them and set them apart, antique Japanese vases are of a style and shape unto themselves.
Appealing as they are, there are two reasons that normally lie behind the choice to purchase antique Japanese vases. Either it is desired for the aesthetic appeal, or, intended to be part of [...]

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Japanese porcelain plates are almost synonymous with the vibrantly painted scenery, portraits, or patterns, which they bear on their faces.
Historically, the very oldest ceramic pieces found in Japan date back all the way to 10,000 BC. Naturally, these pieces were nowhere near as sophisticated or artistic as the antiques from more recent history, but it [...]

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Japanese bowls and pottery is a diverse field, but amongst the various facets that they encompass, Rakuyaki (or ‘Raku ware’, as they are known today) stand out for their uniqueness and historical importance.
Just as so many things about Japanese items, Raku is more than just the name of a type of pottery that is used [...]

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Having a Japanese samurai sword that rests on its traditional wooden stand would definitely appeal to some as a tasteful decoration, and is really just an example of how Japanese antiques have found a place in many an admirers’ collections.
But is that the only thing that these magnificent relics of a bygone era are to [...]

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