One our very favorite TV shows in 2024 is “Shogun” on Hulu. It received a whopping 99 points by Rotten Tomatoes. It is based on James Clavell‘s historical novel, “Shogun”, which fictionalized key events and figures of 1600 Japan taking the Azuchi–Momoyama period to its end, doing much to usher in the Edo period. The novels were fascinating and the TV series beautifully captured the historical aspects of the period. Japanese actor Hiroyuki Sanada is outstanding!

My post explains why Marla and I love Japanese culture and antiques.

I began watching the classic films of Akira Kurosawa years ago and even introduced our oldest gandsons to the genre when then were in their early teens. The 1954 film, “The Seven Samurai” is a classic.

The 1984 Kurosawa film, “Ran”, is a masterpiece as well.

We display a large Musha Ningyo “Gogatsu” Boys Day doll on a Sendai tansu chest.

This is a late Edo or early Meiji Period Boys Day doll set featuring the famous samurai, “Yoshitsune” in full armor with “Benkei”, a warrior monk.

Another large Boys Day samurai doll.

A closeup of two minister Girls Day (Hinomatsura) dolls.

A closeup photo of an early Meiji Period, “E-hon” book featuring a samurai on the cover.

This is an advertising piece for our old Denver Wesco Fabric’s showroom. In 1991 Marla and I began carrying an assortment of Japanese antiques in our Denver showroom. Wholesale decorative fabrics and window coverings were our main business, but we wanted a diverse and unique showroom look.

We started the hunt for beautiful items at various companies around San Francisco. Our favorites were Nakura and Narumi in San Francisco. We purchased so many items from Nakura the owner suggested we should go to Japan and purchase directly. We used Tomoe Nakura’s brother Yasuo as an agent and piggybacked on Nakura’s container for a small fee. This was the beginning of a wonderful journey. Sadly both suppliers are now closed. Marla and I sold Wesco Fabrics in 2017.

I’m admiring a “Musha ningyo ‘Gogatsu” doll on display in the lobby of our Kyoto hotel in the early 1990’s.

Marla is with our wonderful agent,Yasuo Nakura, on one of our buying trips to Japan. We are negotiating to purchase a Meiji Period Mizuya kitchen tansu chest at a warehouse near Lake Biwa northeast of Kyoto.

Yasuo kept us shopping around the Kyoto area untill late at night. Around 10 PM he took us to a dark warehouse which was full of fascinating “Boys day” Samurai dolls from the Meiji period.

We purchased a number of these and sold them in our warehouse and showroom.

We are finalizing orders.

Our showroom evolved from Japanese antiques to beautifully unique furniture and accessories from Thailand, Bali, Myanmar, and China. We also sourced antiques in France, Holland, and eastern Europe. The photo above shows the diversity of newly arrived items in our Denver warehouse.

As a small boy I admired a 19th century Japanese Satsuma bowl in my Mother’s china cabinet. It was an early catalyst for my interest in Japanese antiques. We often visited the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park and this too propelled me on a collector’s journey. Marla and grandson Vaughan are on the “Drum Bridge” the Japanese tea garden.

The Japanese Tea Garden is one of my truly favorite places!

We always enjoyed having tea in such a beautifu setting..

Even after countless visits I can’t wait to return to the Japanese Tea Gardens.

Photos: Dick Gentry. Not to be used without permission.