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HOW DO UKIYO-E, KAWAII, AND MANGA CULTURE INFLUENCE CONTEMPORARY

JAPANESE PAINTINGS?

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INTRODUCTION

Background Information

According to Mamatov (2022), art is one of the most integral parts of culture. Specifically,

Mamatov (2022) argues that culture is mainly understood through a system of artistic

representation or images that various artists create. Therefore, art and culture always go together

and influence one another. At the same time, Zitcer and Almanzar (2020) explain that artwork

objects are never neutral because they represent a given culture in society. In other words, they

argue that the arts define culture. Still, Mathis (2015) states that culture relies on the arts to

reveal its traditions, beliefs, and ideologies. Thus, arts represent a given culture in society.

Nonetheless, there is still a controversial debate about the links or relationships between art and

culture. Even though Mamatov (2022) argues that art is part of the culture, primarily based on a

modern perspective, the scholar points out that the two are different. Mamatov (2022) explains

that any culture's primary goal is to enhance social integration and cohesion in society or

community collectively. Besides, culture is aimed at the tension in relationships to ensure

harmony ad peace. Conversely, according to Mamatov (2022), the primary goal of art is to create

an image that conveys emotional attitudes to society—the images created by art influence the

human mind.

Additionally, Google, Anaso, and Haruna (2016) define culture as people's way of life in totality,

particularly of a group of people. Culture can also be described as a pattern of both actions and

thoughts. Gyegwe, Anaso, and Haruna (2016) note that culture has many definitions. On the

contrary, "art is life," implying that it is everything that revolves around human beings. Art can

be seen in everything humans do, including how they eat and walk, and there are different types
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of arts, including visual arts. Hence, arts incorporate a wide range of human activities aimed at

aesthetic satisfaction or emotional expression, while culture is people's way of life, and culture is

expressed through arts.

Traditionally, culture is linked to a group living in a community or country. However,

globalization is increasingly creating a global culture that can be associated with all people

across the globe. With increased globalization, many people worldwide are exposed to the same

music, artwork, and language (Islam, 2020). Consequently, global culture has flattened the

cultural terrain around the globe. Technology has allowed the world to experience one culture

(Islam, 2020). Japan is one of the countries that have significantly influenced global culture due

to its richness of culture. The widespread Japanese "cool" culture has made it an international

cultural superpower, specifically in the global creative industry (Saladin, 2019). Japanese "cool"

culture is primarily characterized by ukiyo-e, kawaii, and manga cultures, influencing various

aspects of society, including the visual arts or painting in the contemporary world.

Japan is mainly known for its cuteness culture, known as Kawaii. According to Borggreen

(2011), the word Kawaii mainly translates to cute, sweet, and gentle, while at the same time, it

can refer to weakness or vulnerability. Also, it can mean something pathetic or pitiable.

However, Lieber-Milo and Nittono (2019) state that Kawaii is no longer linked to negative

connotations such as pity as it is currently associated with positive things. Therefore, its positive

connotations have surpassed its negative connotations. Aesthetically, the main physical features

of Kawaii include a round face with large eyes, bright colours, and small bodies (Lieber-Milo &

Nittono, 2019). As a result, Kawaii culture has spread in many parts of the world. The Japanese

government launched a campaign in 2009 which depicted Japan as a soft power and cute in all

aspects of life. Consequently, from a global perspective, Kawaii signifies a Japanese kind and
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cute lifestyle, which is found in almost all aspects of human life, including fashion and visual

arts, as well as designs and products (Borggreen, 2011). Kawaii is now a well-known culture

across the globe, and many celebrated international artists have embraced it, like Lady Gaga,

Ariana Grande, and Stephanie Nguyen, who celebrate Japanese Kawaii.

Locally, in Japan, Kawaii culture has largely been embraced by different visual artists. Many art

exhibitions from Japan have focused on the theme of cuteness and colourful expressions

(Borggreen, 2011). Know, and upcoming visual artists like Murakami Takashi and Nara

Yoshitomo have primarily based their art on cuteness, representing Japanese Kawaii culture. The

incorporation of Kawaii into visual arts in Japan is not new, as its origin can be traced back to the

1990s. Initially, the inclusion of Kawaii in visual arts was mainly linked to young girls who were

popularly known as super girls (Borggreen, 2011). Visual arts portrayed Japanese girls as cute

and colourful. However, this representation of girls in visuals was criticized by some scholars

and members of society as it seemed to objectify girls or women in general (Borggreen, 2011).

The narrative changed in the 1990s when Kawaii’s concept of cuteness included young men,

making the culture gender sensitive and inclusive.

Manga is another Japanese culture that defines "cool" Japan and significantly impacts the

creative industry in the country and beyond. The manga became popular in the mid-1990s and is

one of Japan's most influential pop cultures, particularly concerning the creative industry. It

refers to the Japanese comic (Kinsella, 2000). The culture emerged as a popular entertainment

with main themes such as comedy, music, consumerism, and sex, as well as crime. The main

character of Manga represents human desires, including anguish and frailty.

Consequently, the culture attracted a lot of criticism in the 1990s as some of its practices or

activities defied societal values and norms. For instance, the culture was accused of promoting
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immorality and violence among young people. Many visual arts based on Manga culture are

characterized by physical fights, spurts of blood, and objects pierced into people's bodies. Even

though such features of Manga were tolerated in Japan because the Japanese believe that humans

are mortal, they were discouraged in some parts of the world, including the USA and China

(Mahaseth, 2017). Foreign audiences of Manga artworks were concerned that (Manga) promoted

violence and immoral behaviours in children and youth. However, despite the concerns, many

Japanese visual artists were influenced by Manga culture. For example, many visual paints in

Japan capture tall women with immodest clothes exposing too much of their bodies, including

breasts (Mahaseth, 2017). Manga also created successful artists who are celebrated in Japan and

beyond. In addition, Manga culture significantly impacted Japanese children, mainly concerning

their art and graphics, particularly those who grew up when Manga was a popular medium in the

country.

Another culture is Ukiyo-e, one of Japan's most common traditions. Ukiyo-e originated from

Buddhism, meaning "pictures of the floating world" (Ellis, 2019). They are woodblock prints

that convey pleasure. The tradition was dominated and controlled by the middle class, who lived

in urban areas. Those middle-class were called chronic, meaning "people of the town." The

group of chains became a powerful socio-economic force in Japan and threatened the country's

traditional feudal system (Ellis, 2019). Specifically, it was characterized by a lifestyle that defied

the country's traditional feudal order and was viewed by many Japanese as a counterculture.

Unlike other schools of art, Ukiyo-e focused on bock-printing without relying on the brush as the

tool for creating the painting or visual art (Kozbelt & Durmysheva, 2007). Some notable

characteristics of Ukiyo-e include bold linework, bold and vivid colours, strong shapes and
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designs, and nature-oriented art (Spinks, 2022). The artwork culture flourished between 1603

and 1867, particularly during the Endo period, characterized by internal tranquillity in Japan.

Like many forms of art, Ukiyo-e influenced many artists devoted to this particular artwork. Some

artists significantly influenced and impacted by this tradition include Degas, Manet, and Whistler

(Kozbelt & Durmysheva, 2007). Also, other artists like van Gogh were firmly attached to the

culture that they made numerous copies of such art. Woodblock prints were not only highly

regarded but also perceived as one of the severe forms of art. In addition, the artworks were

mainly used to accomplish commercial interests. Even though the tradition emerged in the 17th

century, it is still relevant and applicable in contemporary creative art (Spinks, 2022). Many

logos, packaging, and arts used today are based on the concept of Ukiyo-e.

According to Favell (2012), the three Japanese cultures impacted Japan significantly, especially

concerning the creative industry. They resulted in the concept of cool Japan, which, although it

appeared as a fantasy to many people, existed and influenced local artists. Importantly, cool

Japan led to a super flat movement in Japan. At the same time, the culture made many artists

emerge and succeed in the creative industry. Takashi Murakami was one of the artists that

flourished during the Cool Japanese culture. Favell (2012) argues that Murakami became the

face of Cool Japan both locally and globally. Besides Murakami, Yoshitomo Nara is another

Japanese artist whose success is linked to the Cool Japanese culture (Favell, 2012). Nara was one

of the women who flourished due to the Cool Japan tradition. She was Murakami's peer.

Japanese cultures like Kawaii largely shaped the work of the two artists.

Other artists whose work and success can be associated with the culture include Mayuka

Yamamoto, Tomoko Nagai, and Ayako Rokkaku. Even though Ayako Rokkaku’s arts involve

children's flush toys, her work evokes a strong sense of Japanese culture, especially Kawaii. In
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addition, Mayuka Yamamoto was a polished Japanese artist, and he is mainly known for oil

painting, particularly of children, with the primary objective of revealing the inner world. Her

painting is mainly inspired by nature, as well as the Japanese culture. Therefore, the primary

purpose of this research is to explore how Ukiyo-e, Kawaii, and Manga cultures influence

Japanese contemporary paintings, particularly concerning the work of the five Japanese artists

mentioned above.

Problem Statement

Many scholars have explored Japanese culture. Numerous studies have been conducted to

explore and explain the position of Japanese culture in the global arena. Studies have confined

the country as a global cultural superpower due to its rich culture, which has been promoted and

embraced in many parts of the world. At the same time, there is sufficient in various aspects or

elements of the Japanese culture, including Ukiyo-e, Kawaii, and Manga. Based only on

available research-based evidence and information, Japanese culture influenced the work of

many artists, making them flourish. However, there needs to be more knowledge on how the

Japanese culture, especially Ukiyo-e, Kawaii, and Manga, influences the country's contemporary

paintings or visual arts. As a result, there is a need to explore how Japanese culture specifically

influenced Japanese contemporary painting by focusing on specific artists whose arts rely on

ukiyo-e, kawaii, and Manga.

Research Objectives

General Objective

The research explores how Ukiyo-e, Kawaii, and Manga cultures influence contemporary

Japanese paintings.
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Specific Objectives

i. To explore the effects of Kawaii culture on the Japanese contemporary visual arts.

ii. To explore the effects of Manga culture on the Japanese contemporary visual arts.

iii. To determine the effects of Ukiyo-e culture on the Japanese contemporary visual arts.

Research Questions

i. What is the influence of Kawaii culture on the Japanese contemporary visual arts?

ii. How does Manga culture influence the Japanese contemporary visual arts?

iii. How does Ukiyo-e culture influence the Japanese contemporary visual arts?

Significance of the Study

This study helps in narrowing the knowledge gap on how specific Japanese culture

(Ukiyo-e, Kawaii, and Manga) affects or influences the country's contemporary painting.

Specifically, it reveals the Japanese context's relationships between culture and arts. In addition,

the study's findings can be used to create visual arts that accurately capture Japanese culture.

Finally, the findings of this study are relevant to artists and the creative industry in Japan.

DEVELOPMENT

Contemporary Art
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When most individuals think about art, they may picture famous works created in earlier times.

However, the arts are still alive and well, evolving constantly to mirror the wider world.

Contemporary art is the term used to describe modern and recent art. According to Zitcer and

Almanzar (2020), contemporary art covers creations made in the twentieth century, which more

widely refers to the art of the present. It broadly refers to artwork created from the current day

onwards from the Modern Art movement (Stallabrass, 2020). Contemporary art does not merely

refer to works created at a specific time. This particular artistic style does have a unique

technique or character that sets it apart from others. However, it is challenging to categorize

because it encompasses many styles. Some contend that contemporary art's fundamental strategy

and objective is to contest the essence of creative expression. The audience can also start to

wonder what exactly constitutes art. As a result, it may be harder to precisely define this genre of

art than any other because it is not very homogeneous. Contemporary art is significant to

societies for various reasons, such as the ability to express oneself and offer cultural and social

commentary. In this research section, a systematic literature review which is more qualitative,

has been conducted.

Kawaii Culture in Japan

From anime to video games to fashion trends, the cultural influence of Japan is widely

acknowledged. Japanese kawaii culture is one subculture that has gained popularity as it has

spread worldwide due to globalization and increasingly technological society. The culture of

cuteness in Japan is known as kawaii. To Japanese people, kawaii means more than simply a

word. The term itself has grown to imply someone or something without any destructive features

and has taken on the personas of cute, adorable, and loveable personas. The celebration of all
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things cute and the acceptance of fictitious characters as the personification of goodness are

described as part of this culture.

Kawaii is a term that describes things that are young, cute, and infantile and is centred on the

endearing physical characteristics of young animals and children (Oe & Weeks, 2020). Animals

can adopt human characteristics to make them seem more realistic. Relative to animals,

especially cats, humans might adopt their traits, such as tails and ears, to better convey their

emotions. Cuteness is celebrated in kawaii art. There are several varieties of cuteness, including

bus-kawaii, Kimo-kawaii, ero-kawaii, and guro-kawaii. Takashi Murakami is one of the most

well-known kawaii artists in Japan. Murakami's cartoon-pop aesthetic has earned him the

moniker the Warhol of Japan. Since Japanese culture celebrates youths, in which men and

women want to imitate young adults by incorporating the kawaii fashion style and lifestyle,

kawaii is famous in Japan. It is also a means of escaping the oppressive social pressures and long

work hours that many individuals in Japan experience.

Japan's Manga Culture

Among the most widely used types of amusement in Japan is Manga. Several Manga is read

weekly, whereas others are widely distributed as serials in national daily newspapers. It is a

phenomenon that appeals to both adults and children. The scope and variety of audience

members who connect to these materials are demonstrated by the idea that the yearly sales of

manga magazines and books account for between 35 and 40 % of all publications in Japan.

Manga is a powerful influencer in the young subculture and an essential kind of entertainment

for the culture. Weeklies have had extensive marketing and exploding circulation since the

1960s. Several talented illustrators, including Tezuka Osamu, Chiba Tetsuya, and Ishinomori

Shtar, played a vital role in the early growth of mass-market Manga. Most of their works
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continue to be considered classics. Tezuka's works of art played a significant role in developing

the cinematic methods utilized to depict emotion and action. Romance comics dominated girls'

markets, frequently showing sublimated female dreams and the satisfaction of love longings.

Manga became a tool for practical instruction and education in the 1980s. One million copies of

Ishinomori Shtar's Introduction to Japanese Economics, a well-known example of so-called

study manga, were sold. Ishinomori was a prolific illustrator who generated between 200 and

300 pages every month. Manga is also edifying, trashy, creative, humorous, and inspiring

(Shahiwala, 2021). They portray various themes, including sports, romance, the workplace, and

the parliament. It may be a surprise that Manga is now well regarded in society, given that it was

initially intended for young audiences. It is now, nevertheless, a literary genre deserving of a

rigorous critical examination. Similar to those for novels and nonfiction, prestigious publishers

like Kodansha and Bungei shunj provide annual literary prizes.

Japanese Ukiyo-e Art

Ukiyo-e is a style of Japanese woodblock printing and art that dates back to the seventeenth

century. This new art form is typically hyper-realistic artwork that diverted most painters of the

period aimed for. Simple line drawings were typically used to produce these minimalist designs,

which were then expertly polished with vibrant colours. The stark contrast between the

straightforward, narrowly focused design and the dramatic, brilliant colour aids in bringing the

two-dimensional, flat design to life. Ukiyo-e woodblocks or woodcuts could be used to create a

variety of prints (Biron et al., 2020). Similar to contemporary posters, children's books, flyers,

and pin-up pictures of celebrities, ukiyo-e were initially produced for commercial use by

common people. They offer a priceless window into the typical lives of common individuals

during the Edo as well as Meiji eras because they showed scenes from modern life.
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Ukiyo-e frequently depicts its subject matter in a strong, straightforward manner that draws the

attention and attracts to even the most basic preferences. The fun or whimsy of several ukiyo-e is

communicated by caricature and many little elements like the facial expressions and

circumstances of the subjects in the image. But an artist's senses are delighted by the complex

composition and the use of colour, perspective and pattern. Japanese talented printmakers and

painters were highly meticulous about the artistic value of their artwork, although they knew the

ukiyo-e were going to be thrown away. Ukiyo-e has a wide range of elements which can be

utilized to innovate the field of graphic design. It's adaptable, striking, and distinctive.

Nowadays, using Ukiyo-e is simply one approach to separate out from the audience and put a

more straightforward, conventional, yet daring twist on marketing and promotion.

Japanese Contemporary Artists Influenced by Kawaii, Manga and Ukiyo-e

Yoshitomo Nara

Yoshimoto Nara is a key figure in Japanese contemporary art. He is particularly linked to the

emergence of Superflat art, a phrase Takashi Murakami, a native of Nara, created to characterize

a movement that combines two-dimensional artwork with the more reflective aspects of fine art.

To depict contrasting feelings and fears from childhood within a single figure, Nara's deceptively

straightforward artwork employs cartoon-like motifs. His children are often depicted in a

condition of defiance and rebellion, while occasionally they are more calm or introspective

(Suereth, 2021). Nara's large-eyed characters show several inspirations, including 1960s Manga

and anime. Nara has frequently been linked to Japanese anime and manga traditions because of

his ethnicity and the illustration quality of his work, but Nara's work is influenced by a much

wider spectrum of genres, including Western Punk.

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Yoshitomo Nara draws inspiration from Japanese Kawaii culture for his exploration of modern

concerns of alienation and loneliness in a global society, as well as his desire for lost purity and

pure emotions. His creations are well known because they are a part of some of the most

prestigious collections. Murakami coined the word "super flat" to define a form of Okiyo-e, a

contemporary Japanese art form that exhibits a crucial and conflicted attitude toward

consumerism and popular culture. Nara was influenced by traditional Japanese Okame and

Okame theatrical masks as well as do-era ukiyo-e woodblock prints when developing his

Superflat form (Looser, 2018). The more "digital" look of Murakami's work contrasts

dramatically with the painterly beauty as well as unrestricted, hand-drawn lines that define Nara's

body of work as can be seen in figure 1.1 below.

Fig. 1.1

Murakami Takashi

Takashi Murakami's meteoric rise to prominence in the modern world of art has been greeted

with praise and critiques in equal measure. He is identified for his works that are maniacally
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enthusiastic and brightly colored. Murakami brilliantly eliminates the line between low art and

high art by fusing pop culture references with the rich aesthetic heritage of Japan. Murakami is

primarily inspired by anime and Manga, and his paintings and sculptures often depict cartoonish

creatures with big eyes as well as overstated body parts in bright, candy-colored pictures

(Yazovskaya, 2018). His artwork frequently features brightly colored mushrooms, huge, blinking

eyes, as well as smiling flowers.

Fig. 1.2

Mayuka Yamamoto

Wide-eyed toddlers in animal suits who look directly at the observer or float aimlessly in surreal

landscapes ranging from magical forests to freezing tundras are the subject of Mayuka

Yamamoto's meditative paintings. The costumes worn by Yamamoto's young subjects serve as a

kind of shield or double skin that either amplifies or conceals their inner feelings, bringing to
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light their psychological moods. Mayuka Yamamoto's artworks evoke memories of childhood

and are influenced by Japanese Kawaii culture(Lieber-Milo & Nittono, 2019). Japanese Kawaii

aesthetics of cuteness is a source of inspiration for Mayuka Yamamoto's works of art. Her works,

which are filled with a feeling of nostalgia, are built around some kid figure who is either merged

with animal traits or costumed in animal costumes. The characters' vacant stares and the

background's bright pastel hues convey innocence and adolescent disobedience. The artist's

debut solo show at GR gallery will take place here as can be observed in figure 1.2.

Kawaii has shown to be incredibly famous in Japan, especially with kids and teenagers (Lieber-

Milo & Nittono, 2019). There is a lovely culture in Japan that everybody is aware of, but

Murakami claimed that it is difficult to understand without going deeper. It's similar to Pop Art

in that you can't grasp it unless you understand American consumer culture. Japanese pop culture

icons like Hello Kitty and Pokémon are exploited to sell copious amounts of items. A sizable

group of enthusiasts known as Otaku is devoted to Manga and anime and enjoy collecting related

products. Japanese anime and Manga's flat colors, flat themes, and black outlines are all

influenced by ukiyo-e (Yazovskaya, 2018). Takashi Murakami, the man behind the Superflat

movement, drew inspiration from the eccentric artists of the Edo period, as evidenced by his

Durama paintings

Tomoko Nagai

Japanese artist Tomoko Nagai uses theatrical staging to portray a variety of animals, kids, vibrant

trees, and mushrooms against a background of woodlands and residential spaces. She is

renowned for using a pastel color scheme that softly changes based on the emotion or season

depicted in a piece. Tomoko Nagai was raised in Tokyo and was born in the Aichi Prefecture.

Although she may employ teddy animals and children's plush toys in her artwork, invoking the
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Japanese concept of kawaii(Stokrocki, 2020), there is undoubtedly a spooky undercurrent in the

dreamlike form of the tales conveyed as can be seen in figure 1.3.

Fig. 1.3

Ayako Rokkaku

Ayako Rokkaku is a self-taught Japanese artist whose vivid and surrealistic drawings serve as a

reminder of the strength of a child's imagination. Pinks, yellows, blues, and greens make up the

majority of Rokkaku's strong and vibrant color pallet. These vibrant, rainbow-hued paintings

have an impressionistic, dreamy look and are strewn with flowers, animals, and depictions of

female figures. The stylized female characters in Rokkaku's paintings have big eyes and lengthy

limbs, imitating the visuals, tones, and facial emotions of Japanese comics(Stokrocki, 2020).

These characters can be seen playing in the fields, resting, and dancing in eleven nameless

paintings by the artist.

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Rokkaku uses her bare hands to apply acrylic paint to the canvas as she moves, creating her

artwork in an instinctive, theatrical manner. Between vague abstract shapes and figurative

elements, the artist's visual language alternates. Its aesthetic is unmistakably influenced by

kawaii culture and is as expansive and unlimited as a child's creative imagination. The

worldview that underlies Rokkaku's creations is vibrant and appears to be harmonious at first

glance, but danger lurks just beyond the surface. By manually putting paint in vibrant colors and

cardboard with her fingertips, she gets her manga-influenced girls to life.

Fig 1.4

The majority of the time, the characters in the works are cartoonish, caricatured girls created in

the popular Japanese manga style, as is the case with the piece up for auction. The girls have

huge eyes, long arms, and cute clothes(Stokrocki, 2020), and their outward sweetness and

innocence contrasted with the hidden sulky and aggressive attitude of their facial expressions,

showing that feelings like insecurity, anxiety, and fury lurk just under the naive, cheerful surface.
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The girls' lovely outfits, long arms, and huge eyes give off a sweet and innocent appearance that

contrasts with their sulky interior as can be seen in figure 1.4.

METHODOLOGY

Research Design

The study will adopt a qualitative research design, descriptive research based on evidence

obtained from secondary literature material on the art and culture of the Japanese. This is

because this research design can describe the current status of a phenomenon. In this case, the

study seeks to find out the effects of Japanese culture (Kawaii and Manga/Anime) on

contemporary visual art. Through the descriptive analyses, it would be possible for the

researchers to develop relevant information attributing to the Japanese culture (Rose et al., 2022).

It will base its findings on ethnographic studies to get an in-depth understanding of the culture of

the Japanese (Yoshihara, 2022). Several researchers and anthropologists have documented

reports based on different cultures worldwide in secondary reference materials (Benitez et al.,

2022). This study, therefore, aims at making appropriate deductions based on relevant evidence

that describe the culture of the people of Japan.

Data Collection and Analysis Procedure

The researcher will collect secondary data from peer-reviewed journal articles and published

dissertations. Various secondary data sources will be collected and sample information

describing the Japanese culture will be selected for scrutiny and careful analysis. Secondary data

sources contain literary information from scholars who have studied culture over time (Wiegand,

2022). It will increase the effectiveness and validity of the information obtained from various
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secondary sources that the researchers will choose while basing their deductions. The study will

therefore analyze the previous documentation from research departments qualitatively. The

secondary information will be obtained from; libraries, publications, cultural journals, and

articles relevant to answer the research question (Meyer, 2022).Case studies examining the

Japanese cultural orientation will also enable the researchers to know the sub-cultures and micro-

cultures and what motivates their formation in the social aspect. The research findings will then

be analyzed through a systematic literature review process by exploring different secondary data

sources to give meaning to this study to account for the cultural dynamism of the Japanese.

CONCLUSION/CONTRIBUTION

Overall Contemporary Art Analysis

Twenty years ago, the modern art market was very different. It has experienced significant

structural changes, with an increase in artists and artworks. It has also developed and increased

geographically, with participation in auctions increasing from 39 to 64 countries (Artprice.com,

2022). With the fluidization of remote transactions, it has advanced and is currently the most

vibrant and lucrative sector of the whole art market. Twenty years later, there are roughly twice

as many auction houses involved in the Modern Art Market, three times as many specialist

programs, and six times as many sold lots. The contemporary section, which used to make up a

very modest portion of the worldwide art market, now makes up 15% of it (Artprice.com, 2022).

With an auction turnover of slightly under $2 billion, compared to under $92 million in 2000, it

has now surpassed both of the Old Masters as well as the 19th century.
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Fig 2.1."Global Contemporary Art sales: turnover and lots sold"

Contemporary art Analysis in Japan

The total Japanese art industry is thought to be worth 218.6 billion yen. The art market regained

in 2021, but declined (by 15%) from 2019, when Corona's effects were most felt (Sidorova,

2022). In contrast, Japan is projected to account for 3.7% of the global art industry in 2020 (5.2

trillion yen), rising from 3.2% in 2019(Tuszko, 2021), in part because of currency fluctuations

(the market size of domestic operators is 192.9 billion yen). Examined were the connections

between buying and appreciating art as well as how exhibitions affect market expansion.

Additionally, statistics involving domestic art auctions were examined, and it was found that

while some pieces of art (known as "arts and crafts") decline with time, other works retain part of

their original worth and can be classified as assets. The modern art market saw quick changes, as

evidenced by Takashi MURAKAMI's sudden climb to fame(ŽDANOVIČ, 2022). Nearly

invisible in 2000, he entered the top 10 in the world in 2008. Mushroom Youkai, which is shown

below, is an example of his well-known artwork from 2000.

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Fig. 2.2"Mushroom Youkai’ was created in 2000 by Takashi Murakami in Neo-Pop Art style."

The value of his Mr. Dob sculptures increased by Ten between both the late 1990s and the start

of the 2000s, which was a sign of his popularity. But it wasn't until My Lonesome Cowboy was

sold that Murakami's works began to reach their peak sales (ŽDANOVIČ, 2022). This clever

sculpture known as the "great ejaculator," which was inspired by Manga and Otaku, exposed the

American industry to Murakami once that sold for $13.5 million, which was ten times the

estimation. On May 14, 2008, the artist, who was present to see his own record, seized the

chance to spend $1.1 million on Light my Fire (2001), a significant sculpture by his fellow

countryman Yoshitomo NARA (Yi-Ding, 2019). Murakami, together with the American artist

Jeff Koons and the British artist Damien Hirst, both adept at utilizing the terms of mass

communication as well as marketing to their advantage, had just brought Contemporary Japanese

Art into the fight for capitalism with the sale of My Lonesome Cowboy and the acquisition of the

Nara work.
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Kawaii's effects on art

It is visible that kawaii culture, that is currently one of the major themes of Japanese popular

culture, has now expanded throughout the entire world. One of the most well-known artists in

Japan, Murakami founded the Superflat art style(Hi, 2021). Superflat blurs the distinction

between high art and popular culture by drawing inspiration from Japan's obsession with

cuteness, particularly anime and Manga. The artist's smiling flowers, as well as the renowned

Mr. DOB, who is a perfect example of Kawaii, are among of his greatest well-known creations.

Fig 2.3

Yoshitomo Nara is seen as another another artist who was influenced by kawaii.The Japan artist

initially attracted attention during the 1990s Japanese Pop Art movement and since then had

nearly Forty solo shows across the globe. Yoshitomo Nara has been a well artist who has built a

solid name in the worldwide art community. The paintings of animals and children that Nara is

most recognized for that appear to be both innocent and ominous at the same time are

equivocal(Gere, 2022). Kawaii culture had an influence on these paintings. Kawaii brings his
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artfully into reality. The Little Star Dweller, one of his iconic works, was sold in 2015 for at

Christie's New York.

Fig 2.4 FThe Little Star Dweller byYashitomo Nar

Manga

Top Selling Artworks

Some artists, like Yoshitomo Nara, credit their popularity in the art market to incorporating

manga culture into their work. A recognizable brand on the Asian industry, Japan's most popular

artist of his time finished the time in first position with a sum of $137 million. Hong Kong,

which produced 80% of this amount, received his finest work. In addition, Nara finished the term

as the third-best-selling artist worldwide (after Basquiat and Banksy), compensating for 5% of

the market's overall revenue. His works' prices have increased in value over the past two years,

and he continues to command greater prices than Yayoi Kusama, a success that highlights the

value of the Manga style in important collections.In a survey published on February 25 by the

Association (AJPEA), it was predicted that print as well as online manga sales rose 1.9% in

2018.
 24

In contrast to 433.0 billion yen ($3.88 billion) in 2017, the market reached 441.4 billion yen

($3.96 billion) in 2018. Sales of physical manga magazines fell to 82.4 billion yen (about

Approximately usd739 million; a 10.1percentage fall), while sales of physical manga

compilation book volumes (tankbon) fell to 158.8 billion yen (roughly US$1.42 billion; a

4.7percentage decline in comparison to the prior year). Sales of digital manga magazines were

3.7 billion yen (approximately US$33.2 million; a 2.8percentage rise), while sales of digital

collected books reached 196.5 billion yen (roughly US$1.76 billion; a 14.8percentage increase).

Critiques

"Manga" is a thorough examination of a rich and complicated art form that is filled with passion

for the work and the ability it has had to improve lives. Even though it is nevertheless a billion

dollar industry, sociological and technological progress pose problems for it. It will undoubtedly

synthesize as it always has (with games, anime, and other media), particularly in light of the

2016 triumph of the enhanced phone game Pokémon Go. The display demonstrates how the

artwork has influenced civic life domestically and internationally, as shown, for example, in

Kyoto's "Let's take the train" advertising. On the other side, it's always uncertain if Manga's

actual creators will prosper. Without a doubt, the art style will continue to represent and

accommodate all facets of Japanese experience, including the desire to flee and the desire to fit

in, societal changes and resistance. A good example is Gengoroh Tagame's My Brother's

Husband, which deals delicately and thoroughly with the effects of homophobia among family

members.

Ukiyo-e's Impressionism
 25

Ukiyo-e played a role in the growth of Western art, especially the Impressionism painting

movement. The straightforward woodblock drawings gave the impressionist painters new

confidence in their ability to depict scenes from daily life without regard for authenticity or fine

detail, but only for the elegance of the artwork itself. According to some art historians, the

"father" of contemporary Western art can be found in Ukiyo-e woodblock paintings, specifically

those by the Japanese printmaker Hokusai(Spinks, 2022). The artwork seen below is one

instance in Fig 2.5.

Fig. 2.5

The Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, and Nouveau art periods were all greatly influenced by

this Japanese artistic style. Japanese woodblock prints are credited for introducing the ideas of

flat surfaces of color, uneven compositions, unusual stances, and commonplace subjects into art.

These "Oriental" ideas were thoroughly adopted by contemporary masterpieces of painting,

architecture, as well as design. The Impressionists were also influenced by Ukiyo-e art to

concentrate just on the subject and to leave out extraneous features and complex backdrops
 26

(Spinks, 2022). It also taught the impressionists as well as post-impressionists the value of a

"flat" aesthetic in painting.

The primary goal of art is to create an image that conveys emotional attitudes to society. The

widespread Japanese cool culture has made it an international cultural superpower, specifically

in the global creative industry. Japanese "cool" culture is largely characterized by ukiyo-e,

kawaii, and manga cultures, with influence various aspects of society, including the visual arts or

painting in the contemporary world. Aesthetically, the main physical features of Kawaii include

a round face with large eyes, including bright colors and small bodies (Lieber-Milo and Nittono,

2019). Kawaii culture has spread in many parts of the world due to a campaign that was launched

by the Japanese government in 2009, which depicted Japan as a soft power and cuteness in all

aspects of life.

Contemporary art is the term used to describe modern and recent art. The three Japanese cultures

impacted Japan significantly, especially concerning the creative industry. They resulted in the

concept of cool Japan, which, even though it appeared as a fantasy to many people, existed and

influenced local artists. Contemporary art is significant to societies for a variety of extra reasons,

such as the ability to express oneself as well as offer cultural and social commentary.

In Japan, Kawaii culture has largely been embraced by different visual artists. Many art

exhibitions from Japan have focused on the theme of cuteness and colorful expressions. Know

and upcoming visual artists like Murakami Takashi and Nara Yoshitomo have largely based their

arts on cuteness, which represents Japanese Kawaii culture. Consequently, in a global

perspective, Kawaii signifies Japanese kind and cute lifestyle, which is found in almost all

aspects of human life, including fashion and visual arts, as well as designs and products. The

incorporation of Kawaii into visual arts in Japan is not new as its origin can be traced back to the
 27

1990s. Many visual arts that are based on Manga culture are characterized by physical fights,

spurts of blood, and objects pierced into people’s bodies. Manga culture significantly impacted

Japanese children, mainly concerning their arts and graphics, particularly those who grew up

when Manga was a popular medium in the country.

Japanese Contemporary Artists have been influenced by Kawaii, Manga and Ukiyo-e.

Yoshimoto Nara, who is a key figure in Japanese contemporary art is particularly linked to the

emergence of Superflat art, a phrase Takashi Murakami, a native of Nara, created to characterize

a movement that combines two-dimensional artwork with the more reflective aspects of fine art.

Yoshitomo Nara draws inspiration from Japanese Kawaii culture for his exploration of modern

concerns of alienation and loneliness in a global society, as well as his desire for lost purity and

pure emotions. Takashi Murakami's meteoric rise to prominence in the modern world of art has

been greeted with praise and critiques in equal measure.

Murakami is primarily inspired by anime and Manga, and his paintings and sculptures often

depict cartoonish creatures with big eyes as well as overstated body parts in bright, candy-

colored pictures. Mayuka Yamamoto's artworks evoke memories of childhood and are influenced

by Japanese Kawaii culture. Kawaii aesthetics of cuteness is a source of inspiration for Mayuka

Yamamoto's works of art. Japanese artist Tomoko Nagai uses theatrical staging to portray a

variety of animals, kids, vibrant trees, and mushrooms against a background of woodlands and

residential spaces. She is renowned for using a pastel color scheme that softly changes based on

the emotion or season depicted in a piece. Ayako Rokkaku is a self-taught Japanese artist who’s

vivid and surrealistic drawings serve as a reminder of the strength of a child's imagination. By

manually putting paint in vibrant colors and cardboard with her fingertips, she gets her manga-

influenced girls to life.

 28

Finally, I think that the culture of Kawaii, Ukiyo-e and Manga should be passed to other

generations through undertaking the teaching of students in contemporary arts related courses.

Also, to innovate the field of graphic design, Japanese artists should use their art culture, such as

Ukiyo-e by utilizing its wide range of elements. It makes the artwork unique and creative from

artworks in other places, since it's their own style of art. I also believe that Japan should use the

digital media to give information about the influence of Kawaii, Manga and ukiyo-e

contemporary art Japan, so as to promote it's use on art. Also, foreign audiences of Manga

artworks were concerned that it (Manga) promoted violence and immoral behaviours in children

and youth. However, despite the concerns, many Japanese visual artists were influenced by

Manga culture.Japanese visual Artists should use the Kawaii, Manga and Ukiyo-e culture, to

create art that has positive content since positive content reflects positivity to the society. Thus, I

think Manga still positively contributed to visual despite the concerns, which were valid

reasonable. Based on my analysis, I am persuaded that the art culture, Ukiyo-e, Manga, and

Kawaii should be used as an inspiration by the Japanese artists to hold up their culture as well as

their history, which is passed on from generation to generation.

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