Ukiyo Painting

Ukiyo is a Japanese expression that means "The Floating World" but it can also be interpreted as "The Transient World". It refers to the districts in Tokyo and Kyoto which historically were frequented by people looking to have a good time in the many tea parlours, bars, restaurants, theatres, gambling and prostitution houses, and forget their daily concerns and problems. It is often associated with hedonistic and naughty behaviour considered taboo in one's normal daily life. Its western counterpart would be the Bohemian sub-cultures found in cities such as Paris, Berlin, Vienna and New York. Remnants of this world can still be found in Tokyo's Kabukicho, an entertainment enclave in the bustling Shinjuku area. When I lived in Japan in the 1980s, it was my favourite place to explore, since the establishments were frequented by artists, actors, writers and musicians, and others who shared similar interests and sensibilities. This is my tribute to this notorious district of Tokyo.