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最新号紹介

12,1月号2025.10.31発売

今こそ知りたい!千利休の『茶』と『美』

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Art

2025.08.03

Results are in! The most adorable Ukiyo-e animals, voted by our readers

A true genius, Kuwagata Keisai (鍬形蕙斎)—who debuted as a ukiyo-e (浮世絵 artist at the age of 15 under the name Kitao Masayoshi (北尾政美), a disciple of Kitao Shigemasa (北尾重政)—produced numerous actor portraits and illustrated books. In an Edo period filled with adorable animal paintings—Jakuchu (若冲)’s monkeys, Kuniyoshi (国芳)’s cats, and the puppies of Okyo (応挙) and Sengai (仙厓)—Kuwagata carved out a new artistic realm with his belief that ‘simple shapes are cute!’ His soft and whimsical Choju Ryakugashiki (鳥獣略画式) collection is brimming with charm. When we held a popularity poll on the WARAKU web Instagram, we received loads of votes and comments! Here we reveal the ranking results in this article as well ♡

Too cute to handle! Top picks from the whimsical Choju Ryakugashiki

Let’s get straight to the results! You can find readers’ comments on WARAKU web’s Instagram account.

4th Place – Even fish can be made this cute?!

Rays were especially popular! Their adorably troubled expressions are just so endearing ♡

3rd Place – Amphibians and reptiles are cute too

The various poses of the turtles has us hooked ♡

2nd Place – Different movements and herds are adorable too

Deer and monkeys were equally popular ♡ The stretched-out deer and the monkeys in a line—simply too cute ♡

1st Place – Beloved cats and even fierce beasts are made cute!? and even fierce beasts are cute?!

This one took the top spot! Tigers in particular were wildly popular!
It’s amazing how such ferocious animals could be reduced to just a few lines and still look so cute!

With only the subtlest brushstrokes, Kuwagata Keisai was able to capture the tenderness of small animals and even the comic charm of fierce beasts. His technique feels like magic. In fact, it’s said that Hokusai’s Hokusai Manga (北斎漫画) was inspired by this very stylised ryakugashiki style!

The votes may already be in, but which animal is your personal favourite?
Check out our Instagram from the link below!

Image credit: Choju Ryakugashiki (鳥獣略画式) by Kuwagata Keisai (鍬形蕙斎), courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (image cropped for use).

This article is translated from https://intojapanwaraku.com/art/272113/

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お鶴さん

埼玉県出身。漫画とゲームが大好き。男の子4人の子育てに奮闘中。親が国語教師で本だらけの環境で育ちました(読んではいない)。
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最新号紹介

12,1月号2025.10.31発売

今こそ知りたい!千利休の『茶』と『美』

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