Mario, Pokémon, Link, Star Fox and more are brought to life through the same process used 200 years ago.
woodblock
Recently, we brought you the news that you can now view an online animated sketchbook version of works by famous Japanese Ukiyo-e artist Hokusai. But what if you’re not content just looking at beautiful art online? What if you could see it every time you look down at your feet? Well, with these awesome printed sneakers from TeeFury.com, you can get some culture into your wardrobe while still looking cool!
Oh, and as an added bonus, they’ve stuck Godzilla’s ugly monster mush into the design, too!
Ukiyo-e Heroes are a group of artists who work in the medium of tradional Japanese woodblock printing (ukiyo-e), a style most strongly associated with Japanese culture. This group has turned their facebook page into a virtual gallery displaying their favorite muse: video games.
When you think of Japanese ukiyo-e, or woodblock prints, you probably think of Hokusai’s beautiful landscapes in his Thirty Six Views of Mount Fuji, or the stylized prints of beautiful courtesans in traditional Japanese dress. But there are also many pieces of Japanese art and ukiyo-e from the Edo to the Meiji period (between 1603 and 1912) that represent a more mythical and macabre side of Japan.
The following is a collection of 20 pieces that all contain skulls or skeletons in some form, many of them by renowned and famous artists of the time.




Private booths are coming to Japan’s Shinkansen bullet trains even sooner than we’d thought【Video】
The Purple Lucky Bag from Village Vanguard is an extra-large waste of money
Japanese beef bowl chain Sukiya’s 2026 Smile Box lucky bag basically pays for itself
Dragon Quest Burgers and Slime drinks are coming to McDonald’s Japan【Video】
Harajuku’s new permanent Tamagotchi shop is filled with cuteness and a surprising lack of poop
Majority of Japanese mayors say foreign residents are essential but most see good and bad effects
Nephew receives SD card after his uncle passes away, finds treasure trove of gems from the past
New Japanese menstrual product seeks to help women spot unidentified iron deficiencies
Brand-new Pokémon park opens in Japan with larger-than-life-size Lapras【Photos】
Our top 3 cafes in Azabudai Hills, Tokyo’s newest and possibly swankiest shopping complex
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
Hayao Miyazaki says Happy New Year to Studio Ghibli fans with new art for Year of the Horse
We found possibly the quietest Japanese-style hotel in Tokyo’s bustling Shinjuku district
Cup Noodle tries an authentic Jiro-style ramen, but something’s not quite right
The best Starbucks Japan Frappuccinos we want to drink again in 2026
We revisited Sweets Paradise after a decade to see if Japan’s dessert buffet still delivers
That time Seiji called JASRAC to ask why he didn’t get paid royalties for his song being on TV
Japan’s oldest largetooth sawfish in captivity back on display in Mie Prefecture
Pizza Hut Japan’s hot lucky bags are perfect for a New Year’s pizza party
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo considering law requiring more trash cans following litter increase in heavily touristed area
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Tokyo event lets you travel back in time, for free, to celebrate 100 years since Showa era start
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Sanrio theme park in Japan announces plans to expand into a Sanrio resort
Stamina-destroying “Paralysis Noodles” are Tokyo’s newest over-the-top ramen innovation
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
Majority of Japanese mayors say foreign residents are essential but most see good and bad effects
Nephew receives SD card after his uncle passes away, finds treasure trove of gems from the past
New Japanese menstrual product seeks to help women spot unidentified iron deficiencies
Brand-new Pokémon park opens in Japan with larger-than-life-size Lapras【Photos】
Our top 3 cafes in Azabudai Hills, Tokyo’s newest and possibly swankiest shopping complex
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
What Hayao Miyazaki’s Mei would look like if Studio Ghibli released My Neighbor Totoro in 3-D
Four Shinto shrines to pray for love at in Japan to start the New Year
Record number of foreign children in Japan need help understanding Japanese in school
Village Vanguard possibly tops its own record for most useless junk in a lucky bag this year
Japan’s new “painful sadness” snacks are a deliciously mysterious linguistics lesson【Taste test】
Rakuten randomly offers 58 New Year’s osechi feasts in Japan, but did we get a star or a dud?
Tokyo fish market breaks New Year auction record as single fish sells for over 5 million yen【Vid】