Skilfully infusing the visual styles and themes of three Japanese painting genres namely Nihonga, Shin-hanga and Bijinga, Japanese artist Katoh Miki’s Hyakka Yoen (百花妖炎) is a stunning collection of illustrations featuring beautiful Japanese women adorned in exuberant kimonos, surrounded by a rich tapestry informed by age-old Japanese mythology and Shintoism, but updated with contemporary icons and landmarks like the Tokyo Tower.

Mystical creatures like the Kirin, dragons and Kitsune accompany the female characters; many of the background architecture are composed and illustrated in a Ukiyo-e “superflat” style of Shin-hanga. The luscious and colorful floral designs of the kimonos adorned by the women can best be described by the title of the book Hyakka (百花), meaning a cornucopia of flowers, literally translating as “a hundred flowers”.

I’m so glad I discovered Katoh Miki’s work, as I’m do so adore the visual aesthetics of all three genres Nihonga, Shin-hanga and Bijinga. The book comes in a sturdy hard cover binding, and the prints are beautifully reproduced on thick, hi grade matte paper. My highest recommendations.

A good companion book to this is the first Bijinga Zukushi art book and a great introduction for anyone who are new to Nihonga ( traditional Japanese painting ), with a splendid collection of beautiful art ( and women ). Highly recommended.

I also suggest checking out the Ikenaga Yasunari’s Nihonga/Bijinga art book One Hundred Nights Of Bliss, as well as Bijinga Borderless.

“Hyakka Yoen – Katoh Miki Illustration Works Art Book 加藤美紀画集 百花妖炎” details :

Dimensions – 19.5 x 1.5 x 26.3 cm
Hardcover, 112 pages
Full color, in Japanese

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