Imaginatorium Shop - Flower art

Artists and topics featured on this page: Nansei Sakagami - Nakajima Chinami - Cherry blossom paintings

Sakagami Nansei

Born in 1947 in Mie Prefecture, the artist studied traditional Japanese painting techniques at the Tokyo National University of Fine Art, and specialises in classic styles such as screen paintings, while also producing a wide range of other works in oils and other media. He has also server as illustrator for a number of newspaper serialisations.

Sakagami is his family name: he writes his name as Nansei Sakagami on his website. He signs his paintings Nan (the single character, meaning the camphor tree), with a seal of his given name Nansei.

500: Peony

A huge single bloom of the stately flower properly known as tree peony or Rock's peony, set against a gold background.

Originally from China, it has been known since ancient times as a source of herbal remedies and also for decoration.

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 500 pieces; 49 x 36 cm (19" x 14")
Code: B65204 (65-204 on box)
Retail price ¥2000 (approx. US$23.26 €19.05 £15.50)
Shipping from ¥800 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$9.30 €7.62 £6.20)
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500: Chrysanthemums

Three blooms of chrysanthemum form a simple but elegant composition...

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 500 pieces; 49 x 36 cm (19" x 14")
Code: B65205 (65-205 on box)
Retail price ¥2000 (approx. US$23.26 €19.05 £15.50)
Shipping from ¥800 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$9.30 €7.62 £6.20)
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Nakajima Chinami

Graphical 'middle' (中) surrounded by waves...?

Born in 1945 in Nagano, in the mountains of central Japan, Nakajima Chinami is a successful painter and illustrator.

He signs his paintings with his given (brush?) name Chinami, sometimes together with a fanciful seal - perhaps representing his whole name, which could be poetically rendered "Middle-island of the thousand waves."

2016: Yamatakajindai-zakura

A stunning portrayal of a real tree in Yamanashi Prefecture (just north of Mount Fuji) - said to be up to 2000 years old.

Around 90 percent of the area of this puzzle consists of pink blossoms against the abstract background of luxurious gold, so this puzzle will not be easy!

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E23017 (23-017 on box)
Normally ¥3000 - special offer 15% off: ¥2550 (approx. US$29.65 €24.29 £19.77)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.95 €11.43 £9.30)
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1000: Miharu weeping cherry

A portrayal of the famous weeping cherry in Miharu, in northern Japan. This enormous tree is said to be at least 1000 years old. The town of Miharu (lit. "three springs") is said to be derived from the local simultaneous blossoming of plum, peach, and cherry trees.

Chinami's painting makes a gorgeous work of art, and as a puzzle it presents a formidable challenge.

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: E11312 (11-312 on box)
Normally ¥3000 - special offer 10% off: ¥2700 (approx. US$31.40 €25.71 £20.93)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.95 €11.43 £9.30)
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Cherry blossom

1000: Cherry breezes (Shu)

A contemporary-looking young woman in traditional attire walks among the scattering cherry petals, accompanied by a bevy of ducks. With the long-sleeved kimono, she might be just fresh from a university graduation ceremony.

Born in Hiroshima in 1972, the artist developed his talent for original art while working as a graphic artist for a game company. He is now an independent creator of fantasy works.

Mizoguchi is his family name; he signs his work "Shu", the short form of his given name (Shuichi). On the box his name is given as "SHU Mizoguchi", somewhat confusingly, given the recent trend to writing the family name first capitalized.

This is a glow-in-the-dark puzzle.

In stock
An Appleone puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: A10484 (1000-484 on box)
Normally ¥3900 - special offer 10% off: ¥3510 (approx. US$40.81 €33.43 £27.21)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.95 €11.43 £9.30)
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1000: Cherry blossom (Kaname)

A demure beauty poses below a weeping cherry in full flower.

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.

In stock
An Appleone puzzle: 1000 pieces; 50 x 75 cm (20" x 30")
Code: A10325 (1000-325 on box)
Normally ¥3600 - special offer 10% off: ¥3240 (approx. US$37.67 €30.86 £25.12)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.95 €11.43 £9.30)
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1000: Dark cherry (Haruyo)

A courtesan shows off her opulent kimono, among equally luxuriant surroundings—falling cherry blossom, and a crescent moon.

Haruyo has added an inscription by her signature: "A smile for you..."

The artist Morita Haruyo studied both Japanese art and kimono design, and she combines these with elements of her own Western-influenced technique. (She travelled to London in 1977, exactly the year I [Brian Chandler] first came to Tokyo.)

Morita is her family name: she follows the tradition of signing - and sealing - paintings with her given name only.

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: E11322 (11-322 on box)
Normally ¥3000 - special offer 10% off: ¥2700 (approx. US$31.40 €25.71 £20.93)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.95 €11.43 £9.30)
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1000: Kintai bridge, spring evening (Hasui)

A boatman emerges against the setting sun under the arch of this iconic bridge, seen through the cherry trees planted on the river bank. The print was made in 1947.

The bridge consists of five wooden arches: at the time it was originally built (1673), wheeled transport was almost unknown in Japan, and there was therefore no need of a level roadway. It seems unlikely that this design would have been used in Europe at that time.

Watase Hasui (1883-1957) was one of the major artists involved in the revival of woodblock printing in the early twentieth century. He brings a fresh subtlety of expression to this traditional craft.

Apart from a brief period in Shiobara, northern Tochigi, he appears to have lived his whole life in Tokyo, but specialised in landcapes, drawn from his travels across Japan.

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 49 x 72 cm (19" x 28")
Code: B61297 (61-297 on box)
Normally ¥3000 - special offer 10% off: ¥2700 (approx. US$31.40 €25.71 £20.93)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.95 €11.43 £9.30)
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1000: Kaguyahime under the spring moon (Kaname)

Kagaya here portrays Kaguyahime ("Princess of the shining night") against a background of cherry blossom, though which we see a huge full moon. The "spring moon" of the title refers to oborozuki, a romantic motif in both art and song: which we can best translate as "the (spring) moon, shrouded in haze".

The story of which she is heroine, the "Bamboo cutter's tale", dates back a thousand years, to the great cultural flowering that was the Heian period. In the story, she was found as a tiny baby inside a bamboo trunk.

As we see, a beauty of that time wore her eyebrows high, and her hair exceedingly long. She also spared no expense on her kimono.

Good articles at Wikipedia: The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter - Heian period

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.

In stock
A Yanoman puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: Y101108 (10-1108 on box)
Normally ¥3000 - special offer 10% off: ¥2700 (approx. US$31.40 €25.71 £20.93)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.95 €11.43 £9.30)
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1000: White tigers with Mount Fuji (Shingo)

Two white tigers with peaceful yet determined expressions. In the foreground cherry blossom, and in the background Mount Fuji by the glowing moon. Although this is a fantasy composition, the elements are traditional, as is the artist's title, referring to Fuji as reihō, the "Spiritual peak."

Shingo Saotome is a self-taught artist, who loves to paint the natural world in acrylics. He has been active both in Japan and in Florida since 1993.

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 72 x 49 cm (28" x 19")
Code: B51102 (51-102 on box)
Normally ¥2800 - special offer 10% off: ¥2520 (approx. US$29.30 €24.00 £19.53)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.95 €11.43 £9.30)
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300: Cherry blossom (Muramatsu)

Another Muramatsu kitten gazes up into the cherry blossoms. (Looks well-fed as usual - no lean and hungry cats here!)

The artist Muramatsu Makoto was born in 1947, and has earned numerous awards in the world of commercial illustration. His pictures of anthropomorphised animals are cute, but the cuteness is matched by a wry sense of humour. Muramatsu is his family name - he doesn't seem to sign his pictures, so I have copied the version on the box for the copyright statement.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 300 pieces; 26 x 38 cm (10" x 15")
Code: E26046 (26-046S on box)
Normally ¥1400 - special offer 10% off: ¥1260 (approx. US$14.65 €12.00 £9.77)
Shipping from ¥400 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$4.65 €3.81 £3.10)
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300: Serene Jizo (Kuroiwa)

The six Jizo figures stand serenely by an old watermill...

Hogarakana / itsumo no / jibun de / daijôbu
My serene self as always... no worries!

Original title: Hogaraka Jizou

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: 300 pieces; 38 x 26 cm (15" x 10")
Code: E26028 (26-028S on box)
Normally ¥1400 - special offer 10% off: ¥1260 (approx. US$14.65 €12.00 £9.77)
Shipping from ¥500 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$5.81 €4.76 £3.88)
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300: Cherry blossom is here! (Disney)

In stock
A Tenyo puzzle: 300 pieces; 30 x 43 cm (12" x 17")
Code: TD03218 (D-300-218 on box)
Normally ¥1400 - special offer 10% off: ¥1260 (approx. US$14.65 €12.00 £9.77)
Shipping from ¥500 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$5.81 €4.76 £3.88)
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Deleted puzzles

For reference: you can view all the puzzles from this page that are out of print in the attic.