The dragon here is the mythical beast from China, not the lizard-like figure of Western imagination, but more a snake with legs and whiskers. And where do Chinese dragons come from? There is a gorge called Longmen ("Dragon-gate") on the Yellow River that flows so fast it is said that any carp that managed to swim up it will turn itself into a dragon, the King of the scaly beasts.
This page also includes portrayals of the dragon facing its arch-rival the tiger...
On this page:
The dragon -
Tiger and dragon
Separate page for tigers on their own
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This challenging puzzle includes no less than five of Kayomi's fluffy but fierce dragons. Five is the number of ancient Chinese elements, which are associated with the cardinal directions (including "centre"), and also with colours. So the central yellow dragon symbolises imperial authority, and manifests rank by having five claws and holding the magic ball. Around the four corners are the four protectorate dragons: Black to the north, Blue to the east, Red to the south, and White to the west. (These also match with the colours of the four protectorate gods.)
No biographical details available. She signs her given name Kayomi in Roman letters.
 This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.
 In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 3000 pieces; 102 x 73 cm (40" x 29")
Code: E21105 (21-105 on box)
Retail price ¥4800 (approx. US$52.75 €39.34 £33.33)
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© Harai Kayomi / Studio Oz
A very dramatic composition: the dragon looks fearsome, but is thought of as a lucky sign, rising through the auspicious purple cloud above Mount Fuji in the distance.
No biographical details available. She signs her given name Kayomi in Roman letters.
This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size. In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 50 x 75 cm (20" x 30")
Code: E24107 (24-107 on box)
Retail price ¥3500 (approx. US$38.46 €28.69 £24.31)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.19 €9.84 £8.33)
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© Sekiguchi Inoichiro
A very matronly Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy, stands barefoot on the head of an angry-looking dragon, holding her customary rice seedling in her left hand.
Experts in Buddhism tell us that she isn't the Goddess of Mercy after all, and is Avalokitêsvara, who was a man...
No details of this artist are readily available. He signs his paintings with a seal for the first character ('Ino') of his given name only: this means 'wild boar', which might seem surprising, but it is a fairly common element in names.
This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size. In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 50 x 75 cm (20" x 30")
Code: E23054 (23-054 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$32.97 €24.59 £20.83)
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© Harai Kayomi / Studio Oz
Where do dragons come from? There is a gorge called Longmen ("Dragon-gate") on the Yellow River that flows so fast it is said that any carp that managed to swim up it will turn itself into a dragon, the King of the scaly beasts.
This picture is ideally suited to the traditional vertical format. Two carp leap upward, while a confident dragon shows his mettle at the top. This seemingly impossible climb is used as a metaphor for achievement in the world—and there is further good fortune indicated by the combination of pine and carp. (More wordplay: this can be read shôri, which with different characters means "victory".)
No biographical details available. She signs her given name Kayomi in Roman letters.
This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size. In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1518 pieces; 34 x 102 cm (13" x 40")
Code: E18005 (18-005 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$32.97 €24.59 £20.83)
Shipping from ¥1100 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$12.09 €9.02 £7.64)
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© Harai Kayomi / Studio Oz
A writhing dragon positively radiates energy as it climbs the waterfall, just like the legendary carp turning into a dragon by swimming up the "Dragongate" gorge on the Yellow River. Dragons have been venerated since ancient time as harbingers of good fortune of all sorts.
No biographical details available. She signs her given name Kayomi in Roman letters.
This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size. In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1518 pieces; 34 x 102 cm (13" x 40")
Code: E18020 (18-020 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$32.97 €24.59 £20.83)
Shipping from ¥1100 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$12.09 €9.02 £7.64)
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The blue dragon, protector god of the east, shows his teeth, while his long long tail writhes into the distance among the lightning strikes. The box includes the characters for 'East: blue dragon', and the Chinese reading 'Qing-long' for "Blue dragon."
No biographical details available. She signs her given name Kayomi in Roman letters.
In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E11202 (11-202 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$32.97 €24.59 £20.83)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.19 €9.84 £8.33)
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© Hojo Yuka / Sankoh
A very matronly Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy, stands barefoot amidships on a rather nice dragon. In her left hand she holds a flower (perhaps a lotus flower), while the dragon similarly clutches the symbolic Chintamani Stone (or "treasure ball").
This is a standard pose for Kannon, and this version is subdued in tone yet full of details. The image also includes a complete sutra for the elimination of disasters — this is essentially in Sanskrit transliterated into ancient Chinese, so a typical Japanese reader can make no more meaning of it than you can. Although Kannon is often known as "Goddess of Mercy", experts in Buddhism tell us she is really Avalokitêsvara, who was a man...
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An Appleone puzzle: 1000 pieces; 50 x 75 cm (20" x 30")
Code: A10676 (1000-676 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$32.97 €24.59 £20.83)
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The classic dragon pose and features (particularly the pair of long wavy whiskers) — and this fine specimen also clutches the symbolic Chintamani Stone, or "treasure ball".
No biographical details available. She signs her given name Kayomi in Roman letters.
In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E11379 (11-379 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$32.97 €24.59 £20.83)
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A very bright and cheerful green dragon appears to be riding between the "waves" of cherry blossom. Though vivid in colour, the dragon has all the classic characteristics: the clenched ball, and a fierce countenance.
Born in 1968 in Oita as Ogawa Ryuji, the artist became a pupil of Ozuma Kaname, and in addition to a successful exhibiting career, has produced illustrations for CD and book jackets. His brush name Ryusi, literally "Dragon-determination", is a variant of his real name, written with the same 'dragon' character — and he has become something of a dragon specialist. Note that the pronunciation is more usually represented in Hepburn romanisation as "Ryushi".
In stock
An Appleone puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: A10631 (1000-631 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$32.97 €24.59 £20.83)
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© Masami Esaka
A dragon gets angry, contorted into a fantastic pose. At the bottom (lower right) is Mount Fuji, with some passing cranes, then over layers of cloud are flames and lightning bolts for a dramatic effect. These components are distributed all over the picture, so the puzzle will definitely be at the difficult end of the range for 1000 pieces.
Born in Nagoya, Masami Esaka began his career as an industrial designer and illustrator, and only later branching out into the artistic world. In 1999 he founded a design and illustration company, Team Esaka, which among other things designs costumes for films. He is particularly attracted to dragons, giving a fantastic touch to this traditional subject.
Unusually, he signs with his full name with a seal.
This is a glow-in-the-dark puzzle. In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 49 x 72 cm (19" x 28")
Code: B61331 (61-331 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$32.97 €24.59 £20.83)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.19 €9.84 £8.33)
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© Izumi Kazumi
A rather jolly illustration of the origin of dragons. We see three carp, one making the giant leap up a waterfall, where success means becoming a real fiery dragon just as we see at the top. The origin of this story is supposed to be a gorge on the Yellow Rive in China, but here the artist has given us somewhat fanciful topography, as the river wends its way down the ridge of a mountain.
There is plenty of variation in this puzzle: the bright azaleas and pine trees keep the background interesting, and particularly the dragon is a lively, finely drawn creature.
Izumi Kazumi is an animal artist who graduated from Osaka University fine arts department in 1984. Izumi is her family name.
In stock
An Appleone puzzle: 1000 pieces; 50 x 75 cm (20" x 30")
Code: A10675 (1000-675 on box)
Retail price ¥3600 (approx. US$39.56 €29.51 £25.00)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.19 €9.84 £8.33)
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© Masami Esaka
A very fantasic treatment of this traditional mythical beast — writhing and striving towards the sun at the top left. As should be clear from the picture, this puzzle will be at the top end of difficulty for 1000 pieces.
Born in Nagoya, Masami Esaka began his career as an industrial designer and illustrator, and only later branching out into the artistic world. In 1999 he founded a design and illustration company, Team Esaka, which among other things designs costumes for films. He is particularly attracted to dragons, giving a fantastic touch to this traditional subject.
Unusually, he signs with his full name with a seal.
In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 49 x 72 cm (19" x 28")
Code: B61332 (61-332 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$32.97 €24.59 £20.83)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.19 €9.84 £8.33)
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This challenging puzzle includes no less than five of Kayomi's fluffy but fierce dragons. Five is the number of ancient Chinese elements, which are associated with the cardinal directions (including "centre"), and also with colours. So the central yellow dragon symbolises imperial authority, and manifests rank by having five claws and holding the magic ball. Around the four corners are the four protectorate dragons: Black to the north, Blue to the east, Red to the south, and White to the west. (These also match with the colours of the four protectorate gods.)
No biographical details available. She signs her given name Kayomi in Roman letters.
In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E11386 (11-386 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$32.97 €24.59 £20.83)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.19 €9.84 £8.33)
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The blue dragon, protector god of the east, shows his teeth, while his long long tail writhes into the distance among the lightning strikes. The box includes the characters for 'East: blue dragon', and the Chinese reading 'Qing-long' for "Blue dragon."
No biographical details available. She signs her given name Kayomi in Roman letters.
This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size. In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 450 pieces; 38 x 26 cm (15" x 10")
Code: E08039 (08-039 on box)
Retail price ¥1400 (approx. US$15.38 €11.48 £9.72)
Shipping from ¥500 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$5.49 €4.10 £3.47)
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The tiger, symbol of fire, and the dragon, symbol of water, are often portrayed as adversaries, representing the heaven-earth or ying-yang dichotomy.
Note that the tiger is quite naturalistic, whereas the dragon is an entirely mythical beast, and more like a snake with legs and horns than the giant lizard form of Western dragon.
This puzzle is also available in 1000 pieces (code A10311).
The painter Ozuma Kaname was born in 1939, in Niigata. He studied traditional Japanese art, and his pictures are generally based on traditional themes.
Ozuma is his family name: he signs paintings with the single character of his given name only.
In stock
An Appleone puzzle: 2000 pieces; 102 x 73 cm (40" x 29")
Code: A20047 (2000-047 on box)
Retail price ¥5800 (approx. US$63.74 €47.54 £40.28)
Shipping from ¥1950 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$21.43 €15.98 £13.54)
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The confrontation between traditional rivals the tiger and dragon, this time portrayed by Kayomi with the tiger standing firm on a rock, facing the dragon across a fiery sea.
No biographical details available. She signs her given name Kayomi in Roman letters.
Combination of 1500 + 400 small-piece puzzles In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1900 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E17107 (17-107 on box)
Retail price ¥3900 (approx. US$42.86 €31.97 £27.08)
Shipping from ¥1300 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$14.29 €10.66 £9.03)
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© Harai Kayomi / Studio Oz
The tiger and dragon snarl at each other, in this stylish "vertical panorama" — a format long used for traditional wall hangings. Although the title is just "Tiger and dragon" these are plainly the Chinese protector-gods, and the artist has added their Chinese names on the box: Qing-long, the blue dragon of the east, and Bai-hu, the white tiger of the west.
No biographical details available. She signs her given name Kayomi in Roman letters.
This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size. In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1518 pieces; 34 x 102 cm (13" x 40")
Code: E18006 (18-006 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$32.97 €24.59 £20.83)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.19 €9.84 £8.33)
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The traditional adversaries: the tiger quite naturalistic, against the mythical dragon. All set against a background of fire and thunder.
Born in Ibaraki, in 1969, Suwahara embarked on a career as a freeleance illustrator in 1996. He has specialised in historical figures, especially from the Three Kingdoms story, and brings a very modern technique to some traditional themes.
Suwahara is his family name.
In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 72 x 49 cm (28" x 19")
Code: B61269 (61-269 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$32.97 €24.59 £20.83)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.19 €9.84 £8.33)
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The tiger, symbol of fire, and the dragon, symbol of water, are often portrayed as adversaries, representing the heaven-earth or ying-yang dichotomy.
Note that the tiger is quite naturalistic, whereas the dragon is an entirely mythical beast, and more like a snake with legs and horns than the giant lizard form of Western dragon.
This puzzle is also available in 2000 pieces (code A20047).
The painter Ozuma Kaname was born in 1939, in Niigata. He studied traditional Japanese art, and his pictures are generally based on traditional themes.
Ozuma is his family name: he signs paintings with the single character of his given name only.
In stock
An Appleone puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: A10311 (1000-311 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$32.97 €24.59 £20.83)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.19 €9.84 £8.33)
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A very traditional pair of rivals, but Koga adds a touch of fantasy to the setting...
Born in Fukuoka in 1957, the artist Masawo Koga started out as a freelance illustrator in 1988. He produces book jackets, posters, game packaging and other work, specialising in realistic portrayals of nature, yet his images have a touch of fantasy to them.
He signs his work with his family name Koga in stylised capital letters.
In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 72 x 49 cm (28" x 19")
Code: B61341 (61-341 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$32.97 €24.59 £20.83)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.19 €9.84 £8.33)
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A typical Kayomi scene, as the fierce-looking tiger faces off the wily dragon...
No biographical details available. She signs her given name Kayomi in Roman letters.
This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size. In stock
An Apollo puzzle: 600 pieces; 38 x 26 cm (15" x 10")
Code: P49306 (49-306 on box)
Retail price ¥2100 (approx. US$23.08 €17.21 £14.58)
Shipping from ¥500 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$5.49 €4.10 £3.47)
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