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Jigsaw puzzles from Japan

Traditional themes from Harai Kayomi

White tiger Blue dragon

White tiger of the west - Blue dragon of the east

The panel above is made from two separate puzzles White tiger and Blue dragon listed separately below. (March 2010: Now each puzzle also in 450 small pieces!) Although traditional rivals, these two share roles in Chinese mythology as protector gods - the white tiger in the west and the blue dragon in the east. Mark Schumacher has lots more details on his page on Ssu Ling (the Chinese name for the four protector gods).

(August 2008) Another two-puzzle panel...

Golden dragon White tiger

Golden dragon and white tiger

3000 pieces

The four protector-gods
© Harai Kayomi / Studio Oz

The four protector-gods

The four gods, the white tiger and blue dragon to west and east, Genbu the entwined snake/turtle to the north, and a splendidly flamboyant Suzaku (the red bird) occupying the foreground. All this in Kayomi's distinctive warm tones making a rich and impressive picture.

* This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Out of stock
More stock expected August 4
An Epoch puzzle: 3000 pieces; 102 x 73 cm (40" x 29")
Code: E21101 (21-101 on box)
Retail price ¥4800 (approx. US$55.81 €45.71 £37.21)
Shipping from ¥1950 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$22.67 €18.57 £15.12)
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2016 pieces

Fuji and phoenix
© Harai Kayomi / Studio Oz

Fuji and phoenix

A phoenix in dazzling colours, set against red Fuji in the background - a traditional composition, yet in Kayomi's distinctive "feathery" style of painting.

Detail

* This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E23302 (23-302 on box)
Retail price ¥3600 (approx. US$41.86 €34.29 £27.91)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.95 €11.43 £9.30)
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1518 pieces

Dragon gorge
© Harai Kayomi / Studio Oz

Dragon gorge

Where do dragons come from? There is a gorge called Longmen ("Dragon-gate") on the Yellow River that flows so fast it is said that any carp that managed to swim up it will turn itself into a dragon, the King of the scaly beasts.

This picture is ideally suited to the traditional vertical format. Two carp leap upward, while a confident dragon shows his mettle at the top. This seemingly impossible climb is used as a metaphor for achievement in the world—and there is further good fortune indicated by the combination of pine and carp. (More wordplay: this can be read shôri, which with different characters means "victory".)

* This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1518 pieces; 34 x 102 cm (13" x 40")
Code: E18005 (18-005 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$34.88 €28.57 £23.26)
Shipping from ¥1100 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$12.79 €10.48 £8.53)
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Tiger and dragon
© Harai Kayomi / Studio Oz

Tiger and dragon

The tiger and dragon snarl at each other, in this stylish "vertical panorama" — a format long used for traditional wall hangings. Although the title is just "Tiger and dragon" these are plainly the Chinese protector-gods, and the artist has added their Chinese names on the box: Qing-long, the blue dragon of the east, and Bai-hu, the white tiger of the west.

* This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1518 pieces; 34 x 102 cm (13" x 40")
Code: E18006 (18-006 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$34.88 €28.57 £23.26)
Shipping from ¥1100 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$12.79 €10.48 £8.53)
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Silver tiger
© Harai Kayomi / Studio Oz

Silver tiger

The silver tiger takes an aggressive stance under the silvery moon...

This puzzle forms a pair with E18009, the Golden Tiger.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1518 pieces; 34 x 102 cm (13" x 40")
Code: E18010 (18-010 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$34.88 €28.57 £23.26)
Shipping from ¥1100 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$12.79 €10.48 £8.53)
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Golden tiger
© Harai Kayomi / Studio Oz

Golden tiger

Kayomi makes the golden tiger a warm, almost cuddly, creature, yet he looks fierce enough...

This puzzle forms a pair with E18010, the Silver Tiger.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1518 pieces; 34 x 102 cm (13" x 40")
Code: E18009 (18-009 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$34.88 €28.57 £23.26)
Shipping from ¥1100 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$12.79 €10.48 £8.53)
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1500 pieces

Lucky tiger and dragon
© Harai Kayomi / Studio Oz

Lucky tiger and dragon

The traditional confrontation: a very real-looking and fierce tiger versus the mythical oriental dragon, with its snakelike body, huge claws, staring eyes, and twisty whiskers. All this over an angry sea - with a lot of grey pieces to make this puzzle a fair challenge.

Detail

* This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1500 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E15024 (15-024 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$34.88 €28.57 £23.26)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.95 €11.43 £9.30)
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Double dragon
© Harai Kayomi / Studio Oz

Double dragon

A pair of dragons make fearsome adversaries. But in Buddhist-inspired mythology, they are not seen as evil, rather as symbols of right. Here each dragon has one claw extended as if to fight, but in the other holds the wish-fulfilling jewel, or cintamani (in Sanskrit), of both Buddhis and Hindu tradition.

* This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1500 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E15059 (15-059 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$34.88 €28.57 £23.26)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.95 €11.43 £9.30)
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Hawk, Fuji, and pine
© Harai Kayomi / Studio Oz

Hawk, Fuji, and pine

The combination of hawk, pine, and Fuji is an auspicious one, the hawk a symbol of strength, the evergreen pine a sign of endurance, and the red Mount Fuji a sacred Shinto symbol. Kayomi's hawk almost fills the frame, and indeed looks a fearsome predator.

* This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1500 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E15058 (15-058 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$34.88 €28.57 £23.26)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.95 €11.43 £9.30)
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White dragon
© Harai Kayomi / Studio Oz

White dragon

The white dragon has rather friendly-looking blue eyes, though his claws are sharp enough. This puzzle will not be easy, as almost all of the pieces are one shade of blue or another.

When completed, this puzzle also forms a panorama image with E11202, "Blue dragon of the east," (but the pieces are different sizes).

* This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1500 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E14107 (14-107 on box)
Retail price ¥3500 (approx. US$40.70 €33.33 £27.13)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.95 €11.43 £9.30)
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1000 pieces

The four protector-gods
© Harai Kayomi / Studio Oz

The four protector-gods

The four gods, the white tiger and blue dragon to west and east, Genbu the entwined snake/turtle to the north, and a splendidly flamboyant Suzaku (the red bird) occupying the foreground. All this in Kayomi's distinctive warm tones making a rich and impressive picture.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E11340 (11-340 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$34.88 €28.57 £23.26)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.95 €11.43 £9.30)
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Tiger in bamboo grove
© Harai Kayomi / Studio Oz

Tiger in bamboo grove

A very fierce-looking tiger threads his way through the bamboo... Kayomi's warm style does not lack impact in this very naturalistic scene.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E11346 (11-346 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$34.88 €28.57 £23.26)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.95 €11.43 £9.30)
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White tiger of the west
© Harai Kayomi / Studio Oz

White tiger of the west

The white tiger, protector god of the west, looking suitably fierce, yet in Kayomi's characteristically soft style. The box includes the characters for 'West: white tiger', and the Chinese reading 'Bai-hu' for "White tiger."

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E11201 (11-201 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$34.88 €28.57 £23.26)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.95 €11.43 £9.30)
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Blue dragon of the east
© Harai Kayomi / Studio Oz

Blue dragon of the east

The blue dragon, protector god of the east, shows his teeth, while his long long tail writhes into the distance among the lightning strikes. The box includes the characters for 'East: blue dragon', and the Chinese reading 'Qing-long' for "Blue dragon."

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E11202 (11-202 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$34.88 €28.57 £23.26)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.95 €11.43 £9.30)
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Golden dragon
© Harai Kayomi / Studio Oz

Golden dragon

The dragon is one of the four protecting gods, normally associated with the East and blue, but as the most senior of the four, when the gods are associated with the Five Elements, it moves to the centre, taking the associated colour yellow.

Kayomi portrays this dragon in warm colours, but flaming claws make it look ferocious enough...

The box includes the characters for 'Yellow dragon', and the Chinese reading 'Huang-long'. This puzzle can be combined with White tiger howl (code E11302) to make a 2000-piece panel.

* 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: E11301 (11-301 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$34.88 €28.57 £23.26)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.95 €11.43 £9.30)
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White tiger howl
© Harai Kayomi / Studio Oz

White tiger howl

The white tiger, one of the four protector gods, looking fierce in the moonlight. This puzzle can be combined with Golden dragon (code E11301) to make a 2000-piece panel; unusually, the tiger belongs on the right, because this is not the usual blue dragon of the east.

The box includes the Chinese reading 'Bai-hu' for "White tiger".

* 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: E11302 (11-302 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$34.88 €28.57 £23.26)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.95 €11.43 £9.30)
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450 pieces

Lucky tiger and dragon
© Harai Kayomi / Studio Oz

Lucky tiger and dragon

The traditional confrontation: a very real-looking and fierce tiger versus the mythical oriental dragon, with its snakelike body, huge claws, staring eyes, and twisty whiskers. All this over an angry sea - with a lot of grey pieces to make this puzzle a fair challenge.

* This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 450 pieces; 38 x 26 cm (15" x 10")
Code: E08001 (08-001 on box)
Retail price ¥1400 (approx. US$16.28 €13.33 £10.85)
Shipping from ¥500 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$5.81 €4.76 £3.88)
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White tiger of the west
© Harai Kayomi / Studio Oz

White tiger of the west

The white tiger, protector god of the west, looking suitably fierce, yet in Kayomi's characteristically soft style. The box includes the characters for 'West: white tiger', and the Chinese reading 'Bai-hu' for "White tiger."

* This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 450 pieces; 38 x 26 cm (15" x 10")
Code: E08038 (08-038 on box)
Retail price ¥1400 (approx. US$16.28 €13.33 £10.85)
Shipping from ¥500 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$5.81 €4.76 £3.88)
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Blue dragon of the east
© Harai Kayomi / Studio Oz

Blue dragon of the east

The blue dragon, protector god of the east, shows his teeth, while his long long tail writhes into the distance among the lightning strikes. The box includes the characters for 'East: blue dragon', and the Chinese reading 'Qing-long' for "Blue dragon."

* This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 450 pieces; 38 x 26 cm (15" x 10")
Code: E08039 (08-039 on box)
Retail price ¥1400 (approx. US$16.28 €13.33 £10.85)
Shipping from ¥500 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$5.81 €4.76 £3.88)
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Harai Kayomi

No biographical details available. She signs her given name Kayomi in Roman letters.

Her style is quite distinctive - soft and fluffy - and perhaps her work is done with pastels, though it is difficult to tell from just a print.

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