Creeping Woodsorrel (Oxalis Corniculata) 酢漿草（カタバミ）

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Creeping woodsorrel (Oxalis corniculata) can be found across the globe, including Japan. The plant produces yellow flowers from April to October, bearing fruit at roughly the same time. The bright yellow flower is just 1 cm in diameter—so tiny that it often goes unnoticed. The leaves and stems are edible, though they taste sour, as suggested by its common name, 'sour grass,' and its botanical name, Oxalis.

Despite its unassuming presence, the plant is used as a family crest in Japan. Because of its incredible vitality and hardiness, it serves as a symbol of life force.

11/1/2026

Anise-Scented Sage (Salvia Guaranitica) ガラニチカ

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Arghhhhhhhhhh! Om nom nom..." I ran towards the sounds and found them: a purple flower devouring a common straight swift butterfly (1st photo) and shouting (3rd)!

These are anise-scented sage or hummingbird sage flowers (Salvia guaranitica). Their color is so beautiful, but the flowers look to me like reptiles opening their mouths. Hummingbird sage is native to South America and is said to have been brought to Japan for ornamental purposes in the late 19th century. Now, they have grown wild and out of control, even in Central Tokyo.

2022/9/24

Two Netsuke "Zhong Kui" 鐘馗の根付２つ

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These 3 cm netsuke both feature the demon queller Zhong Kui. One was carved from ivory by Jugyoku in the 19th century, while the other was crafted from wood by Ryukei, also in the 19th century. Both are housed at the Tokyo National Museum.

Zhong Kui is a deity in Chinese mythology (also known in Japan as Shōki) who vanquishes ghosts and evil beings and reputedly commands 80,000 demons. In modern Japan, he is mainly known as 'Shoki-san'—a small sculpture placed on the roof of old wooden houses in Kyoto and Nara (known as machiya) to ward off evil spirits.

If you love netsuke, check out A List of Netsuke to see more than 40 pieces!

 

Netsuke in shape of demon queller Zhong Kui with a demon by Jugyoku (ivory)
鬼鐘馗牙彫根付（寿玉）

Common Grass Yellow (Eurema Hecabe) キチョウ（黄蝶）

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I’m diurnal just like butterflies, but I rarely see them during my morning walks on workdays. Instead, around 9 a.m. on weekends, I often spot several species—like the pale grass blue, Asian comma (Polygonia c-aureum), and this one: the Common Grass Yellow (Eurema hecabe)!!

The Common Grass Yellow is a small pierid butterfly species found in Asia, Africa, Australia, and all across Japan. Because of their bright color, they are called kicho (yellow butterfly) in Japan.

One problem is that they often rest on yellow flowers, like the leopard plant. Their beautiful yellow wings blend right in.

11/1/2026

Bumblebee マルハナバチ（丸花蜂）

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Bumble bees are found primarily in the Northern Hemisphere—across North America, Europe, and Asia—as well as parts of South America. Around sixteen species are known to exist in Japan.

In Japan they're called 'maruhana bachi,' which translates to 'round (or chubby) flower bee.' They're also called 'flying stuffed animals'—both make perfect sense to me.

11/1/2026

Jingdezhen Bowl 黄地緑彩人物文鉢

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Housed at the Tokyo National Museum, this Jingdezhen bowl was crafted with a yellow glaze during China's Qing dynasty. Its bright yellow, contrasted with green, is so beautiful and powerful that it always reminds me of the yellow tulips in the second photo. Such vibrant tulips always make me feel happier, and they may have also inspired potters during the Ming and Qing dynasties to recreate such a lively yellow in their ceramics.

 Jingdezhen bowl, Ming dynasty, Jiajing era (1522-1566)
黄地緑彩人物文鉢

Glaze and Firing Determines the Color 釉薬と焼成

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These dishes are similar in size, shape, and origin, but their colors vary due to the distinct glazes and firing processes used:

• White (Picture 1): White glaze + reduction firing
• Brown (Picture 2): Celadon glaze + oxidation firing
• Blue (Picture 3): Celadon glaze + reduction firing

Gourd-shaped Jingdezhen Wucai Vase 五彩金襴手瓢形大瓶

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Standing over 60 cm tall, this gourd-shaped porcelain vase is a piece of Jingdezhen wucai (five-color) overglaze enamel and gold pottery. Created in 16th-century Ming dynasty China, it is now housed at the Tokyo National Museum.

Gourd-shaped Jingdezhen wucai vase in overglaze enamel and gold
16th century, Ming dynasty 五彩金襴手瓢形大瓶

Figure of Juro (God of Longevity) 色絵寿老置物

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Housed at the Tokyo National Museum, this is a mid-19th-century pottery figure of Jurō—the god of longevity and one of the Seven Lucky Gods—made by the prominent Kyoto ware potter Ninnami Dōhachi (1783–1855), who is well-known for his tea ceremony wares.

To learn more about the Japanese Seven Lucky Gods, check out the table below the photo!

Juro or god of longevity 寿老神

Cambodian Statue With Thumb Up イエーイ！な仏像

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"I have a lot of money. Money follows me like chicks do! I'm cool and have everything! YAY!!" ...said this 10cm-tall statue. Or was it just my hallucination?

This statue is the "Standing Uma" from Cambodia, housed at the Tokyo National Museum. Uma is a Hindu goddess and Ganesh's mother. Oh, so it is her! I definitely need to rewrite that first paragraph!

I didn't mean to be disrespectful to Ganesh or Uma; I was just amazed by how different this cute and beautiful goddess is from Japanese statues. Most Japanese statues just stand or sit with an archaic smile, lacking any lively facial expressions or body language. Her cute unibrow and half-raised arms made me smile and feel happy!

Standing Uma

Goryeo Celadon and Colors of Japan 高麗青磁は青？緑？

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Housed at the Tokyo National Museum, these Goryeo dynasty (918–1392) wares grew in production from the mid-10th century and reached their artistic peak in the 12th century. Their luminous jade-green glaze, paired with delicate carved and inlaid decoration, is breathtakingly elegant.

Ewer with lotus-shaped lid 青磁蓮華蓋水注