Hello, I am Shodo artist MADARA. Today I painted with pigments for KANJI TOKYO’s original ‘Japanese T-shirts’. I am also a calligrapher, but I am basically a painter. I especially like watercolours and painting with pigments, and I paint all the time.
Today I am going to write a little bit about goldfish. Goldfish have been very popular in traditional Japanese culture since the Edo period. Goldfish were introduced to Japan from China in the Muromachi period (1336-1573), but only became widely known to the general public in the Edo period (1603-1868). The culture of appreciating goldfish became popular among the common people, and the cool and beautiful goldfish were loved by people as a summer tradition.
Especially in the Edo period, goldfish were sold at goldfish and food stalls and became one of the common people’s pastimes. Goldfish were also believed to bring good luck, with their bright red colour symbolising happiness and prosperity. The breeding of goldfish has progressed, giving rise to a variety of species such as the Dekomegane and Ryukin, which can now be found all over Japan. This time I painted the ryukin red.
Even today, goldfish are a staple of festivals and fairs. For example, Yamato Koriyama City in Nara Prefecture is known as ‘Goldfish City’ and has many fish farms. Goldfish are still much loved by many Japanese, as the ‘National Goldfish Sukui Championship’ is held in Yamato Koriyama City.
Goldfish are also used in ukiyo-e prints, contemporary art and interior design, and are often depicted in goldfish bowls and lanterns.
If you design a T-shirt with a goldfish on it and write the foreigner’s name in Chinese characters, it will be a beautiful T-shirt. And I drew it thinking of the smiling faces of Japan-loving foreigners who would be happy to wear it.
