Jigsaw puzzles of Japan - rural nostalgia

Rural nostalgia

Featured artists on this page: Yoshida Keiji - Matsumoto Tadashi

The "real" Japan is not to be found in the concrete ugliness of modern Tokyo, nor the somewhat stiffly preserved history of Kyoto, but it is still there, beyond the end of the railway line...

(Strictly speaking, some of this nostalgia is urban rather than rural, but the feeling is the same, so anyway...)

1014: Friendly Jizo (Kuroiwa)

The stone Jizo figures float - as though on clouds - on a lotus pond set in a scene of rustic tranquillity. The poem reads...

En atte deaimashita / Nakayoku ikimasho
Fortune made us meet / Let's be good friends

The artist was born in Nagano in 1947, and specialises in Buddhist themes, with a distinctive whimsically warm style. (Kuroiwa is his family name - he signs his pictures with a stylised seal of his given name, Toyotaka.)

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1014 pieces; 53 x 38 cm (21" x 15")
Code: E56013 (56-013 on box)
Retail price ¥2000 (approx. US$27.03 €20.62 £17.09)
Shipping from ¥800 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$10.81 €8.25 £6.84)
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More puzzles on the Kuroiwa feature page

Matsumoto Tadashi

Born in Kanagawa in 1973, Matsumoto Tadashi took an arts degree from Tohoku University, before pursuing a career in illustration. He specialises in the railway scene, and his work has appeared both in specialist train magazines and general travel literature. He combines attention to engineering detail with a warm evocation of rural charm.

1000: Paddy field reflections (Matsumoto)

The local train passes through the rice fields, not long after leaving Aizu Wakamatsu...

This single-track, non-electrified line, joining East to West across Japan's mountain backbone was only completed in 1971 from Aizu Wakamatsu (Fukushima) to Koide (Niigata). It has escaped "rationalisation", because heavy winter snowfall closes the only road alternative.

In stock
A Yanoman puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: Y101145 (10-1145 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$40.54 €30.93 £25.64)
Shipping from ¥1000 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.51 €10.31 £8.55)
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500: Hometown tints (Matsumoto)

A rare sight anywhere: a station with a thatched roof. This station serves Yunokami Onsen, a resort evocative of the Edo period before the modern age, and famed for autumn colours. This is on the Aizu Railway, running north-south through the mountains along the old Nikko Road.

In stock
A Yanoman puzzle: 500 pieces; 53 x 38 cm (21" x 15")
Code: Y05914 (05-914 on box)
Retail price ¥2000 (approx. US$27.03 €20.62 £17.09)
Shipping from ¥700 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$9.46 €7.22 £5.98)
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500: Winter scene (Matsumoto)

A striking composition, reminiscent of a classic woodblock print... near Yanaizu on the Tadami line

The artist tells how he took the train to Yanaizu, left the station, and found this footbridge providing a splash of colour against the winter monotone: it was then only a question of waiting for a train to pass.

In stock
A Yanoman puzzle: 500 pieces; 38 x 53 cm (15" x 21")
Code: Y05915 (05-915 on box)
Retail price ¥2000 (approx. US$27.03 €20.62 £17.09)
Shipping from ¥700 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$9.46 €7.22 £5.98)
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300: Following wind (Matsumoto)

A peaceful summer scene, as the train passes through the gentle landscape around Lake Inawashiro. This is the West Ban'etsu line running east-west across northern Honshu, and principally serving the historic town of Aizu Wakamatsu.

In stock
A Yanoman puzzle: 300 pieces; 38 x 26 cm (15" x 10")
Code: Y03700 (03-700 on box)
Retail price ¥1400 (approx. US$18.92 €14.43 £11.97)
Shipping from ¥400 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$5.41 €4.12 £3.42)
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Yoshida Keiji

Born in 1930, in Gifu Prefecture, Yoshida Keiji graduated in 1952 from what is now the Tokyo University of the Arts, and trained as an architect. He was a joint founder of Rengousekkeisha Ichigaya Architects in Tokyo, and in addition has held academic appointments and written widely, particularly on wooden building construction and aspects of townscape. He is active in the movement to preserve the traditional Japanese townscape, which features in his many "travel sketches," together with views from wider travel around the world.

Yoshida is his family name.

1000: Gion, Kyoto (Keiji)

A corner of the historical entertainment area of Kyoto, as a Maiko, or apprentice Geisha entertainer makes her way to her teahouse. The history of this area goes back a thousand years, and the buildings are now all preserved in their traditional state.

This puzzle is cut to make pieces harder to find.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E11320 (11-320 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$40.54 €30.93 £25.64)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$16.22 €12.37 £10.26)
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1000: Hōryū-ji, the oldest pagoda (Keiji)

The temple of Hōryū-ji, near Nara, includes what are thought to be the oldest surviving wooden buildings in the world — the central pillar of the pagoda having been dated at over 1400 years old.

The artist gives us a direct view of the architectural intricacy of the buildings, which makes for a texturally rich puzzle.

Wikipedia article

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E11341 (11-341 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$40.54 €30.93 £25.64)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$16.22 €12.37 £10.26)
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1000: Waterfront warehouses, Otaru (Keiji)

The northern island of Hokkaido was only opened up in the Meiji era (late 19th century), and Otaru became an important port then. This canal provided shelter for ships to unload even in rough weather, and the preserved warehouses date back to that time. They were modelled on building techniques imported from the West. They appear to be brick-built, but are actually timber-framed, with brick and stone outer cladding.

This puzzle is cut to make pieces harder to find.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E11321 (11-321 on box)
Normally ¥3000 - special offer 50% off: ¥1500 (approx. US$20.27 €15.46 £12.82)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$16.22 €12.37 £10.26)
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1000: Ine fishing village (Keiji)

An exceptionally picturesque fishing village on the Japan sea coast, Ine has houses of an unusual construction, with a boathouse built directly into the seaward side, which the artist has portrayed in loving detail.

This puzzle is cut to make pieces harder to find.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E11303 (11-303 on box)
Normally ¥3000 - special offer 50% off: ¥1500 (approx. US$20.27 €15.46 £12.82)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$16.22 €12.37 £10.26)
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Deleted puzzles

For reference: you can view all the puzzles from this page that have gone out of print in the Attic.