2018
Gold leaf, acrylic gouache on paper
Two-panel folding screen
H152×W170cm


*This is a Japanese poem whose words are made to rhyme with each of them.
Carp, go, ascend the waterfall, achieve success
Dragon roar, roar, stream, sun shines, shine in success, climb
Hurrah, hurrah, like the spotless beautiful sky, what a feeling of immense joy

A Carp's ascending a stream symbolizes spectacular success.
This came from the ancient Chinese myth of Dragon Gate.
The myth says a carp turns into a dragon if it can ascend the top of waterfall called "Dragon Gate," the upstream of the Yellow River. This work is named after this myth praying the dragon ascend to the height of the sky, and a touch of Japanese carp streamer is also added to this artwork’s title.
The custom of flying the carp streamers on May 5th started in the 17th century to celebrate and pray for future prosperity and fame for boys.
To this day, people ward off evil spirits with calamus flowers as well.
Since the name of calamus flower in Japanese rhymes with the word of militarism, samurai households came to pray for their son’s prosperity and sword mastery on May 5th.