Jigsaw puzzles of Japan - rural nostalgia

Rural nostalgia

Featured artists on this page: Yoshida Keiji - Ikehara Shôji

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...)

1000: Shiawase Jizo (Kuroiwa)

Six stone figures of Jizô, the Buddhist Patron of children and travellers, adopt their various poses under an enormous spreading cherry tree, decorated with a haiku which reads (in my rough translation):

As we are
That's all right then
Everything OK

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.)

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E11043 (11-043 on box)
Normally ¥3000 - special offer 5% off: ¥2850 (approx. US$26.89 €17.92 £14.04)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$11.32 €7.55 £5.91)
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More puzzles on the Kuroiwa feature page

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.

1500: Tsumago post town (Keiji)

A faithful representation of the classic view at Tsumago. As the inscription on the noren tells us, this is station 43 on the old Nakasendo road where it begins to climb over the Japan Alps on the long journey from Kyoto to Tokyo.

The noren is the short curtain hung outside the building on the right (meaning "We're open!") –this is the famous Matsushiroya inn, one of the hostelries catering to weary travellers on what must have been an arduous journey.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1500 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E15044 (15-044 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$28.30 €18.87 £14.78)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$11.32 €7.55 £5.91)
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1500: Warehouses, Kurashiki (Keiji)

Warehouses cluster by the waterway in this beautifully preserved area of Kurashiki. These were run by the Tonya, the forerunner of Japan's famously beaurocratic distribution system. The architect's eye faithfully depicts details of the buildings, while the artist's produces a fine composition.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1500 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E15043 (15-043 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$28.30 €18.87 £14.78)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$11.32 €7.55 £5.91)
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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)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$28.30 €18.87 £14.78)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$11.32 €7.55 £5.91)
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1000: Shirakawa springtime (Keiji)

A springtime view of Shirakawa, the well-preserved village in the northern Alps, where the houses were built for extended families of up to forty people. Watercourses weave among the houses to supply the paddy fields.

This puzzle is cut to make pieces harder to find.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1000 pieces; 50 x 75 cm (20" x 30")
Code: E11304 (11-304 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$28.30 €18.87 £14.78)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$11.32 €7.55 £5.91)
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Ikehara Shôji

Born in Kagawa Prefecture (Shikoku) in 1939, Ikehara is an artist specialising in illustration for children's story book, but whose work has also appeared in TV manga versions of traditional tales, and on postage stamps. His style is simple, but effective.

He signs his pictures with a hand-drawn "seal", which is hard to decipher, but looks like the second character of his given name.

500: Island pilgrimage (Ikehara)

The "pilgrimage" of the title no doubt refers to the famous tour of 88 Buddhist temples on the artist's home island of Shikoku. Children lead the way for a couple of henro (pilgrims) on this path around the headland.

A Web search for "Shikoku pilgrimage" will find many accounts in English: here's one by Jeff Hackler

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 500 pieces; 38 x 53 cm (15" x 21")
Code: E06023 (06-023S on box)
Normally ¥2000 - special offer 5% off: ¥1900 (approx. US$17.92 €11.95 £9.36)
Shipping from ¥600 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$5.66 €3.77 £2.96)
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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.