A Japanese Bestiary: Animals in Japanese Mythology, Arts and Literature

Since the dawn of Japanese folklore and religion, the Japanese soul has cultivated a special connection with nature and wildlife, in part due to the natural abundance of the Japanese archipelago. Every animal, from the frightening crow to the sublime crane, is sacred, occupying a central place in Japanese mythology, literature, arts, and crafts. In this text-rich art book, readers will find twenty-eight real-life animals, including the fox, frog, cat, monkey, and firefly, described in texts combining haikus, tales and anecdotes from everyday life and illustrated with objects produced by the some of the most celebrated Japanese craftsmen and artists, such as Hokusai, Utagawa Hiroshige and Ohara Koson. Readers will see just how central animals –from the most fleeting to the most majestic, from the wildest to the most domesticated –are to Japanese legends and literature but also in the latest manga and animated films.