Sparrows and Bamboo with Calligraphy Kakejiku Hanging Scroll

Quiet scenery and Zen words resonate with one another in this hanging scroll, leaving the space with a calm, lingering afterglow. The striking circle at the top of the composition is rendered as a symbol of a window. Beyond it, the world seems to open outward, so that when the scroll is hung, it can feel as though an additional window has appeared within the room.

Near the window, two sparrows perch on a bamboo branch. They look almost as if theyre exchanging words, lending the entire work a gentle presence. In Japanese culture, sparrows have long been regarded as auspicious motifs, associated with family safety and the flourishing of descendants. Bamboo, depicted alongside them, is another traditional emblem of good fortune: rooted deep in the earth and growing straight, joint by joint, it signifies resilient vitality and steady growth. Together, bamboo and sparrows form a classic, well-loved pairing in auspicious Japanese imagery.

At the center is the Zen phrase Every Day is a Good Day, often understood as a reminder to live each day with care. The calligraphy is painted with ink mixed with metallic pigment; as it dries, a soft gold sheen gradually surfaces. The effect shifts with the angle of light, offering a changing expression and a different mood over time.

The artist, Kimura Ryohei, is a Japanese-style painter from Kagoshima Prefecture, born in 1958. Now based in Gifu, he continues to pursue expression through washi paper and bokusaiga (ink-and-color painting), working with motifs such as birds and flowers, landscapes, and figures as a member of the Bokusai-kai (Ink and Color Painting Association)