(Pulled Octopus)

Popular parsons or things.  The only one person or one thing that wanted by a lot of people.

Daidokoro yokai 「台所妖怪」

(Kitchen Ghost)

In Edo (Tokyo), people believed that if you used and took care of kitchen tools for a long time, spirits would reside.

Yama Kujira 「山くじら」

(Mountain Wheal)

A picture of a boa carrying peonies, which is escaping from Yama Kujira-Ya (a store handled boa and animal meat).

Kagee Ryougoku 「影絵両国」

(Shadow picture of Ryogoku)

A place of evacuation by Ryogoku Bridge was the most popular amusement center of Edo and there were a lot of food and amusement vendors.

Kiritake Houou 「桐竹鳳凰」

(Paulownia-Bamboo Phoenix)

In China, people believed the imaginary birds, phoenixes, were lived in Paulownia tree forest and ate bamboo fruits. They appear for the virtue of emperor.

Kurumabiki, Eto 2009 the year of Ox

干支2009丑「車引」

(Ox Carriage)

The tile “Kurumabiki” is a part of story of “Sugawara denju tenarai kagami” from Kabuki farce.  The story is based on Michizane Sugawara’s demotion in 901. Michizane was born at the time, day, month and the year of the ox, and also died in the year of the ox.  He was called Tenjinn (one of the Japanese Gods, related to plum trees).

Hisago Ryu 「瓢龍」

(Gourd Dragon)

A kind of Chinese imaginary animal, Dragon.  It’s for good luck and fortune.   There are different kind of dragons depend on their shapes.

Dojoji 「道成寺」

(Dojoji Temple)

The Temple has a legend of Kiyohime’s betrayal story.  She became a huge snake and set fire on Dojoji Temple’s bell where Anchin, the betrayer, hid.  In Kabuki, the snake of Kiyohime dance beautifully in the cherry blossoms at the temple.

Eimosesu 「えいもせす」