This shikishi art print titled “Shinkoku Nihon” (神国日本, “Divine Nation of Japan”) is a reproduction of a celebrated work by Yokoyama Taikan (横山大観, 1868–1958), one of the most revered masters of modern Nihonga (Japanese-style painting). The image depicts Mount Fuji emerging through a veil of mist, its snow-capped peak glowing beneath a rising red sun. With its minimal composition and rich tonal gradations, the piece embodies Taikan’s pursuit of spiritual depth and national identity through landscape art.
The subtle interplay between light and shadow conveys both tranquility and majesty, symbolizing Japan’s enduring strength and sacred beauty. The red sun — a powerful national motif — evokes dawn and renewal, while Mount Fuji stands as a timeless emblem of purity and permanence.
Born in Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture, Yokoyama Taikan was a key figure in the evolution of Nihonga during the Meiji and Taishō eras. A protégé of Okakura Tenshin, he studied alongside artists such as Hishida Shunsō and Shimomura Kanzan at the Tokyo Fine Arts School and later helped found the Japan Art Institute (日本美術院). Taikan was instrumental in revitalizing Japanese art through a modern yet deeply spiritual style, known for his technique of morotai (朦朧体) — soft, misty brushwork that evokes atmosphere rather than form.
Throughout his career, Taikan painted Mount Fuji countless times, each work expressing his profound reverence for nature and his vision of Japan’s spiritual essence. “Shinkoku Nihon”, created in 1941 (Shōwa 16), stands among his later masterpieces, reflecting a mature synthesis of light, form, and national sentiment.
This shikishi reproduction, printed and distributed by Ashidachi Bijutsukan (足立美術館), captures the luminous serenity of Taikan’s original — a visual meditation on beauty, faith, and the soul of Japan.
Size: 24 x 27cm
