Punk-Samurai Spirits in contemporary painting

14 Jun 2006 Category: Features, Graphics, Illustration, Japan

Punk-Samurai Spirits in contemporary painting

from documentary film near equal Tenmyouya Hisashi

Japan kicked off in their Samurai Blue uniform at the FIFA World Cup (and that Samurai spirit is working a bit better next time hopefully)! Selected as the artist representing Japan for the official art poster 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™, is contemporary Japanese Painter Hisashi Tenmyouya. Armed with solid traditional Japanese painting techniques he paints contemporary motives, mixes warriors with football, paints graffiti on Buddhas and sets up break dance battles against cute Japanese dancers in Kimono. Hisashi Tenmyouya is a maverick in the world of traditional Japanese painting - taking it to a new level of NEO-Traditional Japanese Painting. Simultaneiously with the opening of the FIFA worldcup a documentary film exclusively about him Near Equal - Tenmyouya Hisashi kicked off in Shibuya.

I was fortunate enough to talk to both: Tenmyouya himself and Go Ishizaki, the director of the documentary film.

Written by Kaori Nishida

Tenmyouya Hisashi,Football,2004,Japan (C)2005 FIFA

Tenmyouya-san, your paintings have such amazing bold mixtures like those Samurai warriors for your FIFA poster in armour playing football! A shocking contrast almost!?

Right. It may be a little appalling to see those combined in one picture, but hey! That’s the kind of world we live in Japan now: going to the temple and yet painting graffiti, inheriting traditional Japanese beauty, yet inserting elements from the present Japanese culture. I call this “NEO-Traditional Japanese Painting”.

Do you also combine traditional drawing techniques with contemporary materials?

I do. Even though my style uses traditional Japanese motifs, I experiment with newer materials. for instance I don’t use traditional powdered mineral pigments, but I paint with acrylics, and I sometimes paint on tracing papers. I like going a little over the traditional boundaries. That’s why I am a “NEO-Traditional Japanese Painter”.

Nine Kamakura Samurai, from Contemporary youth Culture Scroll (2001)

Para-para Dancing (Great Empire of Japan) vs. Break-dancing (America), Ukiyo-e Manga Game of Hybrid Combat on Gold Leaf (2001)

You used to work as an art director at record companies. What made you think to become a traditional Japanese painter?

In the design world you have to stick to the client’s corporate image and I gradually began to think that I wanted to create something else. The reason for choosing the traditional Japanese painting is rather simple: the kid’s painting classes that my parents sent me to was teaching traditional Japanese paintings. Now I still use this technique and for sure the designing background is giving me good advantages.


Tatoo Man’s Battle from Legendary Warriors Series (1996)

Shibuya Color Gangs from Notorious Street Group Series (2001)

Kamikaze from Kabuku Series

Taking a close look at your work I noticed thousands of single brush strokes to make a single gradation, besides the back ground was covered entirely with gold leafs. Just how long do you spend to complete one painting? I get dizzy imagining…

This work “Kamikaze” for instance (using motifs from Japanese motorcycle gangs, remodeled bikes and uniforms, and lorry gangs’ decorations) sizes over 3 metres and took me way over 3 months to finish. Even though I was painting more than 10 hours every day. Covering the canvas with gold leafs is only a little part of it. To do that, one full day is enough.

Conquest of the Karasu Tengu from New version of Hundred Ghost Stories Series (2003)

Your images seem to work a lot with hidden metaphors. Can you explain some to us?

The above picture titled “Conquest of the Karasu Tengu” shows a Samurai warrior fighting with Karasu Tengu (crow-goblin), but what this painting actually means is Japan fighting with the USA. Frequently seen in the Edo Ukiyoe Westerners were painted as Karasu Tengu in traditional Japanese paintings. The maple leaves flying around in this painting symbolize the stars in the national American flag. Many of my paintings have such metaphors implanted but there is no need to understand such symbols to enjoy my paintings. Although, if you do it gets even more joyful to look at the paintings. I carry on with Japan’s long tradition of playful paintings. Fun, don’t you think?

Japanese Spirit #13 (2000)

Why is it, that you stick to this very Japanese style in your paintings?

When I paint, I think of it not only as domestic art work, but also create it for overseas audiences. If you spent a certain amount of your life painting, why not show it to wider audience? For my next series, I am thinking to paint something very delicate yet bold. The title still needs to be finalized, but should be something like “MADE IN JAPAN”. Don’t you like it?

from the film: Tenmyouya-san in his studio

Filled with Hisashi Tenmyouya’s thoughts on paintings, I went to see the documentary film Near Equal - Tenmyouya Hisashi which still screens in the midst of hot FIFA matches, showing Tenmyouya as another Japan representative. Despite receiving acclaims in and out of the country, he still keeps launching bold challenges. Over 6 months of footage of following the out-law punk painter finely edited is worth watching! I interviewed the director of the film, Go Ishizaki.


drawing lines between millimeters!

painting on gold leafs

Ishizaki-san, how did you get to make a film about Hisashi Tenmyouya?

I was indeed shocked when I first saw his traditional, yet deeply street rooted paintings. He was already a star at that time, for his series of works was introduced in street magazines such as BURST, and GET ON. What amazed me most was the fact that he had a massive volume of fans amongst those trend-sensitive teenagers on the streets. For my other projects, I used to draw most of my inspirations from NY and overseas, but Hisashi Tenmyouya opened my eyes to the native Japanese street arts. (I grabbed his book kabukimono and things started from there…)

What aspects of the painter Tenmyouya appealed most to you?

What is so precious about him, is his impeccable balance between being at the hard core of Japanese tradition, and yet having a very good grasp of what is NOW in Japan. Japanese graphic design guru Yusaku Kamekura once said: “Things which are outstanding in Japan, should also manage to have the same impact overseas”. I certainly sense this same impact in Tenmyouya’s work.

Go Ishizaki, the director of the film Near Equal Tenmyouya Hisashi

Thank you both, Tenmyouya-san and Ishizaki-san! I look forward to seeing Japanese Samurai cultures kicking in overseas!

NOTE: The documentary film Near Equal Tenmyouya Hisashi is screened at Shibuya Cinema Rize X from 21:00- at late shows everyday. (every Sunday screening with English subtitles)

52 Comments

  1. [...] [...]

    Posted by: GRAYSCALE/blog » Blog Archive » Hisashi Tenmyouya on June 15th, 2006 at 1:51 am

  2. Cool work…

    Posted by: The Art of CIP on June 15th, 2006 at 2:28 am

  3. oh….cool..damn cool

    Posted by: x-noise on June 15th, 2006 at 1:03 pm

  4. Wow. That is simply amazing… very awe inspiring artwork!

    Posted by: G on June 15th, 2006 at 1:45 pm

  5. Very impressive. I might be wrong, but to my mind Ishizaki’s works represents the real spirit of nowadays Japan.

    Posted by: GK on June 15th, 2006 at 2:32 pm

  6. Hisashi’s, not Ishizaki’s, ofcourse.

    Posted by: GK on June 15th, 2006 at 2:40 pm

  7. Wow! Very very impressive…
    Where do the japanese get all this style?!

    Posted by: Solaris100 on June 15th, 2006 at 9:00 pm

  8. [...] [...]

    Posted by: walao.org » Blog Archive » 滑雪 - Day One on June 15th, 2006 at 9:14 pm

  9. yep cool work

    Posted by: atilla on June 29th, 2006 at 8:35 pm

  10. [...] Punk rock and heavy metal graphics from Tokyo’s underground. Even better: breakdancers and tattooed robots vs. samurai. [...]

    Posted by: daily dos: island peoples on mun2 :: Spanglish Without Barriers on August 12th, 2006 at 6:34 pm

  11. [...] Culture day go! First we (Me and Tomas, the other Swede living in Komaba and going to Gaidai) went to an exhibition at the Mizuma Art Gallery in Nakameguro. Walking distance from the dormitory. Kickass. The gallery was at the second floor of a run-down building with hardly any signage at all. Was the last day of an exhibition by Tenmyouya Hisashi (Read the PingMag writeup) who does paintings in classical Japanese styles but modern twists to the subject. Bought the book. At the fifth floor was also an exhibition by Ikeda Manabu. Also very impressive. Bought the catalogue. [...]

    Posted by: The story thus far at Kimtaro on October 7th, 2006 at 5:56 pm

  12. nice

    Posted by: zjh212121 on December 17th, 2006 at 1:05 pm

  13. “Wow! Very very impressive…
    Where do the japanese get all this style?!”

    solaris100> Biting off of western style, where else!? If it weren’t for westerners taking an interest in their stuff, the majority of them wouldn’t have. Mokey see, monkey do.

    Posted by: teacher2 on June 10th, 2007 at 12:05 pm

  14. What beautiful, powerful, and dynamic images you have created with a passionate heart and determined hand.

    Posted by: Allison on August 29th, 2007 at 8:44 am

  15. If you are ever in Vancouver,BC, Canada, you can use my studio supplies!allirwebb@yahoo.ca

    Posted by: Allison on August 29th, 2007 at 8:46 am

  16. [...] PING MAG article on Hisashi and the documentary on him. Filed under: Thesis, Art   |   [...]

    Posted by: tenmyouya hisahi at ::: hey yo nick! ::: on September 10th, 2007 at 3:41 pm

  17. Thankyou for the interview, been trying to find information about this artist for my art project. He’s so fantastic. Arigato! .x.

    Posted by: Lissy on October 25th, 2007 at 9:13 pm

  18. awesome mate!
    id get any of those in tattoo :-)

    Posted by: Michael on November 22nd, 2007 at 8:43 pm

  19. AMAZING!!
    love the concept of contemporary & vintage mixed together.
    the one with samurai play soccer is sooo awesome!!

    Posted by: Paulina on February 5th, 2008 at 4:24 pm

  20. thanks for your subject. it is very important

    Posted by: nakliyat on February 29th, 2008 at 5:09 am

  21. i love it

    Posted by: pang chew min on June 25th, 2008 at 4:25 pm

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