This vintage 90s shikishi print from Kasuga Taisha 春日大社 features a charming horse motif on a warm gold-toned shikishi board. The red shrine stamp 春日神社 appears at the lower left, marking its connection to Kasuga Taisha, one of Nara’s most historic and important Shinto shrines.
The artwork depicts a decorative white horse painted on an ema-style votive plaque, carrying a festive treasure bundle on its back. The bright red, green, yellow, and blue details give the piece a cheerful and auspicious character, while the calligraphy 吉福 means good fortune and happiness. The gold background adds a shrine-like celebratory atmosphere, making the work feel especially suitable for New Year or zodiac display.
The horse is associated with vitality, movement, success, strength, and positive forward energy. Horses also have a long connection with Shinto shrines, where they were traditionally offered to the kami as sacred animals. This print beautifully combines the zodiac horse with the image of an ema, creating a piece full of wishes for luck, protection, and a prosperous path ahead.
This piece belongs to a 1990s zodiac shikishi series from Kasuga Taisha. Other zodiac animals from the same series are also available, though the full set of twelve years is not complete, so each piece is sold separately. Please feel free to contact me if you are looking for another zodiac animal from this series.
Size: 12 x 14cm
