Japanese Gallery Kensington

Japanese Gallery Kensington Buy Japanese Art Online - Ukiyo-e woodblock prints, lacquerware, metalware, ceramics. Japanese Antiques and Contemporary Art.

Japanese Gallery Kensington holds one of the largest collections of Japanese antiques in the world. The gallery has a large variety of Japanese artefacts, such as 13th century Japanese swords, lacquer wares, ukiyo-e woodblock prints and exquisite ceramics. Entering the gallery is like visiting a museum, except it is possible to hold the objects that fascinate you in your hands. Established in 1977

, the gallery is currently located in the world renowned antiques district of Kensington. We regularly advise and assist in authentication for museums, auction houses and educational institutions. Information relating to Japanese art and antiques is available on our website as an educational resource.

Our gallery will be exhibiting at Printemps Asiatique Paris at Galerie Charpentier from 5–8 June. As a preview of the ex...
27/05/2026

Our gallery will be exhibiting at Printemps Asiatique Paris at Galerie Charpentier from 5–8 June. As a preview of the exhibition, we would like to introduce two works from Tsukioka Yosh*toshi’s “One Hundred Aspects of the Moon” series.
Consisting of 100 designs inspired by moon-related stories and legends, the series is especially known for its dramatic scenes, strong emotions, and striking moon imagery.
In addition to ukiyo-e prints, we will also present swords, samurai armour, Satsuma ware, and other Japanese works in Paris this June. More information: printemps-asiatique-paris.com
-
Nous participerons à Printemps Asiatique Paris dans la Galerie Charpentier du 5 au 8 juin.
Après l’exposition, nous souhaitons présenter deux œuvres de la série « Les Cent Aspects de la Lune » de Tsukioka Yosh*toshi.
Composée de 100 estampes inspirées de récits et légendes liés à la lune, cette série est particulièrement connue pour ses scènes dramatiques, ses fortes émotions et ses remarquables représentations de la lune.
En plus des estampes ukiyo-e, nous présenterons également des sabres, des armures de samouraï, des céramiques Satsuma et d’autres œuvres japonaises à Paris en juin.
Plus d’informations: printemps-asiatique-paris.com
‌

Artist: Yosh*toshi Tsukioka (1839-1892)
Image 1: Title: A Buddhist monk receives cassia seeds on a moonlit night
Image 2: Suzaku Gate Moon

We are delighted to announce that our gallery will be exhibiting at the 9th edition of Printemps Asiatique Paris at Gale...
26/05/2026

We are delighted to announce that our gallery will be exhibiting at the 9th edition of Printemps Asiatique Paris at Galerie Charpentier from 5–8 June, as part of Paris Asian Art Week.

During the fair, we will present a wide selection of Japanese works, including ukiyo-e, samurai armour, swords, and Satsuma ware.

We look forward to welcoming visitors to the fair in Paris this June.

More information can be found on the official website printemps-asiatique-paris.com

—
Nous sommes ravis d'annoncer que notre galerie participera à la neuvième édition du Printemps Asiatique Paris à la Galerie Charpentier, du 5 au 8 juin, dans le cadre de l'Asia Week Paris. À cette occasion, nous présenterons une large sélection d'œuvres japonaises, notamment des ukiyo-e, des armures de samouraï, des sabres et des faïences Satsuma.

Nous nous réjouissons d'accueillir les visiteurs à Paris ce juin.

Plus d'informations sur le site officiel printemps-asiatique-paris.com

Waves, dragons, and an almost supernatural presence.This figure is Nyu'unryu Kosonsho, the Daoist mystic from the Chines...
21/05/2026

Waves, dragons, and an almost supernatural presence.
This figure is Nyu'unryu Kosonsho, the Daoist mystic from the Chinese classic Water Margin, known in Japan as Suikoden.
Known for summoning wind and storms through mystical powers, he was one of the legendary heroes of Liangshan.
During the 19th century, Japan experienced a huge Suikoden boom, and Utagawa Kuniyoshi became especially celebrated for his dramatic warrior prints inspired by these stories.
The swirling dragon, crashing waves, and intense movement in this work show the powerful style that made Kuniyoshi so iconic.

Artist: Kuniyoshi Utagawa (1798-1861)
Title: Nyu'unryu Kosonsho
Series: One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Suikoden
Publisher: Yamazaki Kimbei
Date: c. 1828
Size: 38.3 x 26.3 cm

More details about the print at japanesegallery.com.

Their master was unjustly forced to commit sepukku.In response, 47 masterless samurai spent nearly two years hiding thei...
15/05/2026

Their master was unjustly forced to commit sepukku.

In response, 47 masterless samurai spent nearly two years hiding their identities and waiting for the right moment to take revenge.

Chushingura, the story of the 47 ronin, remains one of Japan’s most famous historical tales.

Among them, Horibe Yasubei (Oribe Yasubei) became especially celebrated as a master swordsman, admired for both his bravery and unwavering loyalty.

More than a revenge story, Chushingura came to symbolise honour, duty, and the spirit of the samurai, continuing to inspire kabuki theatre, films, and ukiyo-e prints for over 300 years.

-

Artist: Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798–1861)
Series: Stories of Faithful Hearts and True Loyalty
Publisher: Ebiya Rinnosuke
Date: 1847–1848

Slide 1: Oribe Yasubei Taketsune
Slide 2: No. 19 Uramatsu Handayûi Takanao
Slide 3: No. 8 Yukugawa Sampei Munenori
Slide 4: No. 44 Mase Chudayu Masa-aki

We have many other Chushingura prints by Kuniyoshi.
Please visit japanesegallery.com for more details.

This antique Juyo Katana (重要刀剣) is from the early 14th century (Nambokucho-era). The sword is attributed to the Aoe smit...
23/04/2026

This antique Juyo Katana (重要刀剣) is from the early 14th century (Nambokucho-era). The sword is attributed to the Aoe smiths in Japan, who possessed striking characteristics not seen in other provinces. The Kozuka for the sword has a unique feature, as the Kozuka itself is stored within a small case. The sword is unsigned and comes accompanied by a Koshirae, both in great condition.

This item is available in our next auction, which will take place on Saturday, 2nd May at 1:00 PM BST. The catalogue for the auction includes antique Japanese woodblock prints and 3D items such as tsuba and ceramics.

LOT 1: Katana, NBTHK Juyo, Aoe, Early Nambokucho Era

Register to bid online via JGAUCTION.COM

-

Kiyochika's portrait of Kikuchi Takemitsu is a study in defiant survival. The warrior stands over a fallen enemy, grippi...
16/04/2026

Kiyochika's portrait of Kikuchi Takemitsu is a study in defiant survival. The warrior stands over a fallen enemy, gripping a severed head in one hand and a sword between his teeth, his richly decorated armour battered from battle. His long hair is loose and windswept, the gaze sharp and cold despite his injuries. Behind him, a dark horse stands calm and steady, draped in vivid red tassels, contrasting with the chaos of arrows scattered on below where the enemy lies in defeat.

Artist: Kiyochika Kobayashi (1847-1915)
Title: Kikuchi Takemitsu
Series title: Instruction in the Fundamentals of Success
Publisher: Matsuki Heikichi
Date: 1880s - 1890s

More details about the print at japanesegallery.com.

Sprinting through the shadows between the pine trees, swords drawn and robes flying, Gekko Ogata captures a warrior in t...
13/04/2026

Sprinting through the shadows between the pine trees, swords drawn and robes flying, Gekko Ogata captures a warrior in the heat of battle.

This 1895 print depicts Horibe Yasubei Taketsune, one of the celebrated forty-seven ronin, barefoot and fierce as he tears across the scene. In his left hand, he grips a blade, and still clasped to its handle is a severed hand, a grim trophy of the fight just won. Behind him, a pale landscape opens up, depicting tents and a distant crowd. The contrast between that quiet background and the explosive energy of the figure is masterful.

Gekko's style sits apart from his ukiyo-e predecessors, it seems to be more naturalistic and cinematic.

Artist: Gekko Ogata (1859-1920)
Title: Horibe Yasubei Taketsune
Series: Illustrations of the Forty-seven Loyal Retainers
Publisher: Takekawa Risaburo
Date: 1895

More details about the print at japanesegallery.com

In this fierce print from his Heroes of the Grand Pacification series, the warrior Hayashi Tanshiro Taketoshi dominates ...
01/04/2026

In this fierce print from his Heroes of the Grand Pacification series, the warrior Hayashi Tanshiro Taketoshi dominates the frame in full battle armour, its intricate lacquered plates rendered in extraordinary detail. Wild hair erupting from his head, he clutches two severed heads, blades crossed at his feet. His expression is ferocious, almost theatrical - somewhere between triumph and fury.

Kuniyoshi was a master of the musha-e genre, and this work shows exactly why his warrior prints remain some of the most electrifying works in the ukiyo-e canon.

Artist: Kuniyoshi Utagawa (1797-1861)
Title: Hayashi Tanshiro Taketoshi
Series: Heroes of the Grand Pacification
Publisher: Yamamoto-ya Heikichi
Date: c.1848-1849

More details about the print at japanesegallery.com.

What did London look like to people in Japan over 150 years ago? Artist Sadanobu I Hasegawa gives us a fascinating glimp...
23/03/2026

What did London look like to people in Japan over 150 years ago? Artist Sadanobu I Hasegawa gives us a fascinating glimpse in his 1871 woodblock print titled London, the United Kingdom.

Created during Japan’s early Meiji period, a time when the country was just opening up to the world, this print captures a distant, imagined London. The city is depicted with royal guards, umbrellas, and a sense of rainy bustle that still feels unmistakably British today.

It is also a wonderful reminder of how art can travel across borders long before we could.

Artist: Sadanobu I Hasegawa (1809-1879)
Title: London, the United Kingdom
Series title: Collection of Cutout Pictures of Various Countries and Surveniors
Publisher: Wataya Kihei
Date: 1871

More information at japanesegallery.com.

This red kimono titled Happy Kimono (Ai-3) by Kunio Kaneko is skillfully adorned with the kanji 愛 (ai), meaning ‘love’. ...
19/03/2026

This red kimono titled Happy Kimono (Ai-3) by Kunio Kaneko is skillfully adorned with the kanji 愛 (ai), meaning ‘love’. But look closer as the background reveals another story.

Kaneko incorporates gold and silver leaf into the composition, a technique rooted in traditional Japanese art. These metallic leaves are applied delicately by hand, catching and reflecting light so the surface subtly shifts as you move. Gold and silver have long been associated with the sacred and the celebratory - often used in screens, temples, and ceremonial objects.

Here, the shimmering background elevates the everyday form of the kimono into something timeless. Love is not loud or decorative alone, it is precious, layered, and enduring.

For more information about the print, please go to japanesegallery.com

#愛

Step inside the atmosphere of Tokyo in the early 20th century with this beautiful print, Inside Asakusa Kan’non Temple b...
16/03/2026

Step inside the atmosphere of Tokyo in the early 20th century with this beautiful print, Inside Asakusa Kan’non Temple by Eisho Narazaki.

The scene captures the interior of the famous temple in Asakusa, where towering lanterns hang overhead, and visitors gather in quiet reverence. Narazaki brings the space to life with rich architectural detail, soft light, and the gentle movement of people in the background.

Published by the renowned Watanabe Shōzaburō, a key figure in the shin-hanga movement, this print beautifully blends traditional Japanese woodblock techniques with a modern sense of atmosphere and perspective.

Artist: Eisho Narazaki (1864–1936)
Title: Inside Asakusa Kan’non Temple
Publisher: Watanabe Shōzaburō
Date: 1932

Available on japanesegallery.com

Address

66E Kensington Church Street
London
W84BY

Opening Hours

Monday 12pm - 5pm
Tuesday 12pm - 5pm
Wednesday 12pm - 5pm
Thursday 12pm - 5pm
Friday 12pm - 5pm

Telephone

+442072292934

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Japanese Gallery Kensington posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Museum

Send a message to Japanese Gallery Kensington:

Shortcuts

Share

Category