It's nearly impossible to discuss Japanese art without mentioning the name Kawanabe Kyōsai (1831-1889). One of Japan's most unique and prominent painters, whose art may be distinguished in part thanks to his living through the tumultuous last days of the Tokugawa regime and into the Meiji period. In many ways, his paintings, which range from rich Buddhist imagery to satirical animal caricatures, can be considered a shining example of the creativity and humor produced from uncertain times.

Kyōsai studied under the tutelage of ukiyo-e master Utagawa Kuniyoshi and then in the Kano School, where he developed techniques that would help him paint in his particular style, which depict clever animal symbolism, Japanese mythology, and even comical "fart battles." The recently opened "This is Kyōsai!" exhibition at the Bunkamura Museum in Shibuya provides a brilliant look at all the eclectic stylings of one of Japan's master painters from the prized collection of Israel Goldman. The variety of artwork and attention to historical detail makes it a must-see for any art fan in Japan.

One of the highlights of the exhibit is the high quality foreign language (particularly in English) presentation that has been prepared. Each piece comes with not only a detailed explanation of the art work, but also symbolism and historical references in the work that add depth. A very useful multilingual tablet guide was also provided, and helped explain the nuances of the art as well as the satirical meanings of Kyosai's famous animal caricatures.

Information about the exhibit can be found below. If you have even the slightest interest in Japanese art, we highly recommend a visit to the Bunkamura Museum of Art.