The Seven Lucky Gods (Shichi-fuku-jin) are an assemblage of deities from all across Asia, who are invariably seen as bringers of wordly wealth, most typically in their "treasure boat".
Mark Schumacher again has a detailed page on the Seven gods.
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The Seven Lucky Gods (Shichi-fuku-jin) have left their treasure boat, and assembled for a group photo, with Mount Fuji conveniently in the background. Suwahara makes them all look exceedingly jolly - here's the lineup:
Top row, left to right:
Bishamonten, Indian god of war and treasure -
Benzaiten, Indian goddess of the arts -
Jurojin, Chinese god of longevity
Front row, left to right:
Fukurokuju, Chinese god of wisdom -
Daikokuten, Indian (Mahakala) god of five cereals -
Ebisu, Japanese god of commerce -
Hotei, Chinese god of happiness
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.
 This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.
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A Beverly puzzle: 2000 pieces; 72 x 49 cm (28" x 19")
Code: BS62501 (S62-501 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$30.61 €22.56 £17.86)
Shipping from ¥1100 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$11.22 €8.27 £6.55)
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The treasure ship comes home, with its usual occupants, surrounded by all the right symbols: cranes, Mt. Fuji, hawk, pine, eggplant, and turtle. Most of the treasure is bundled up, but we see the red coral at the side of the boat. Daikokuten and Ebisu are enjoying a game of go, though curiously they have the stones placed in the squares (usually they go on the intersections).
The artist was born in 1948, in Niigata. After working for a textile company, he went independent as a textile designer. He has his own individual drawing style, bringing a fresh approach to many traditional art themes.
He goes by his given name, Hakuga, in the traditional way, signing his paintings in a stylised, but non-cursive form.
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A Road puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: RS11240 (RS-11-240 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$30.61 €22.56 £17.86)
Shipping from ¥1100 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$11.22 €8.27 £6.55)
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The seven gods bring treasure, while showing off their distinct characters. The turtle and crane are the usual good luck figures, while some stylised pine trees and Mount Fuji complete the background.
Born in 1951 in Kyoto, the artist Tanimoto Ichiro studied Japanese art, and has worked as a designer. He has held a number of exhibitions of kimono patterns, and although he paints traditional themes, his style is one of bold and direct characterisation, more reminiscent of textile design than brushwork.
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An Appleone puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: A10432 (1000-432 on box)
Retail price ¥3600 (approx. US$36.73 €27.07 £21.43)
Shipping from ¥1100 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$11.22 €8.27 £6.55)
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In Chinese mythology these four gods occupy the four corners of the cosmos: the white tiger in the west, the blue dragon in the east, the red phoenix (Suzaku) in the south, and the mysterious Genbu in the north. Mysterious, because Genbu apparently turns up as a snake and a turtle entwined together, which is why the four gods have five heads. These deities are associated with feng shui, and have also appeared in Japanese animations, so they are easy to find on the Web.
Mark Schumacher has lots more details on his page on Ssu Ling (the Chinese name).
These two are generally depicted together, generating their respective natural forces: Fujin makes the wind with his big bag, and Raijin (or Raiden) makes thunder by banging his drums. Mark Schumacher has some more details in his page on the eclectic grouping of the 28 guardians.
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Two venerable Shinto deities - Raijin is the god of thunder and lightning, and Fûjin the god of wind. The artistic style is modern, but these are the traditional poses: Raijin with his circle of drums to beat, and Fûjin with the bag with which he somehow creates the wind.
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: B61281 (61-281 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$30.61 €22.56 £17.86)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$12.24 €9.02 £7.14)
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A traditional portrayal of this famous pair of Shinto deities - Raijin, god of thunder and lightning, and Fûjin, god of wind. Raijin has his circle of drums to beat, and Fûjin the bag with which he somehow creates the wind. (It doesn't look as though either or them cuts their toenails very often.)
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.
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An Appleone puzzle: 500 pieces; 53 x 38 cm (21" x 15")
Code: A05188 (500-188 on box)
Retail price ¥2400 (approx. US$24.49 €18.05 £14.29)
Shipping from ¥700 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$7.14 €5.26 £4.17)
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Deleted puzzles
The following puzzles are now out of print, but you can click a thumbnail to read the details in the "attic".
