Japanese folklore is a goldmine of terrifying supernatural Yokai monsters, demons, phantoms. A large number of Ukiyo-e woodblock printings created in Edo period (1603-1868) depict these monstrous beings in the illustrations of popular folk tales and horror stories. This book contains 70 Yurei (ghosts), Oni (demons), Kaijin (sorcerers) and Yokai (supernatural monsters) with a basic introduction to each creature's story in J/E bilingual text. These phantoms and monsters are described vividly in 120 Ukiyo-e art pieces, all created by great masters such as Hokusai, Hiroshige, Kuniyoshi and so on, giving readers a clear and terrifying image of what such supernatural figures might look like. These images have been passed down through the years, and many art genres in Japan today, including manga and games, are heavily influenced by them. This is the best reference book for Japanese art lovers, folk culture lovers, as well as Japanese pop-culture lovers. It also offers fresh ideas for those searching for new inspirations for tattoo art and design.

A large collection of animals that appear in ukiyo-e prints from the Edo Period, from pets to rare animals!

Following the global hits Something Wicked from Japan and Once more unto the breach comes the third title in the Ukiyo-e Masterpieces Series! This time, read and understand the world of ukiyo-e from the perspective of animals.
In ukiyo-e, many animals that interact with humans are depicted. Beginning with cats, dogs, and rabbits, we move on to ferocious tigers and elephants, imported camels, peacocks, and parrots, and even to fantastical beasts. This book introduces numerous charming works through interesting chapters such as Pets of the Edo Period, Working Animals, Rare Animals and more.
Featuring 140 gorgeous works by famous ukiyo-artists including Utamaro, Hiroshige, Hokusai, Kunisada, Kuniyoshi, Yoshitoshi and others, depicting cute, funny, and at times suspicious animals.
Those who like Japanese culture will love this book! And of course it's also great for animal lovers, too. The customs of the Edo Period, when humans and animals lived side-by-side, are now vividly brought back to life.

Samurai warriors and heroes illustrated by the greatest ukiyo-e masters.

This book full of great samurai warriors and heroes in Ukiyo-e masterpieces. It showcases various samurai warriors and heroes, including the Genji and Heike clans (hereditary clan names bestowed by the emperors of the Heian period), samurai warriors of the Sengoku period (a century-long period of political upheaval and warlordism in Japan), the swordsman and poet Miyamoto Musashi, Eight Dog Warriors from the novel The Eight Dog Chronicles written in the Edo period, Jiraiya (the toad-riding Ninja character from Japanese folklore), Forty-seven Ronin, the Chinese hero Guan-Yu, and more.

All the illustrations are by legendary ukiyo-e artists such as Hokusai, Hiroshige, Kuniyoshi and Yoshitoshi. Vigorous and powerful characters illustrated in vibrant and dynamic compositions are simply overwhelming and stunningly beautiful. If you love samurai and ukiyo-e, this follow-up to the bestselling book, Something Wicked from Japan, is for you. This is also the perfect reference book for tattoo artists.