Autumn Leaves and Two Birds Kakejiku Hanging Scroll

In this hand-painted hanging scroll, artist Hirano Kousen renders late-autumn foliage on silk. A delicately unfurling wash of vermillion captures the season’s changing hues. The maple tree’s branches recede into the background, suggesting an ephemeral, misty mountain landscape. Two small birds perch among the leaves, seeming to look out on the scene together. The beak of one is open in a chirp, as if the two are in conversation.

The silk surface responds gently to light. As the day changes, the fabric’s subtle sheen shifts, revealing delicate variations in hue and brushwork. Because each scroll is painted by hand, every brushstroke records a moment that cannot be repeated. No two works are exactly alike, each preserving the movement of the artist’s hand at a particular instant in time.

Hirano Kousen was born in 1955 and resides in Gifu Prefecture. Specializing in landscapes and flower-and-bird paintings, Hirano is listed in the esteemed art journal Bijutsu Nenkan (Art Annual).

Kaitakudo Art

Founded in Gifu, a region renowned for its rich Mino washi heritage, Kaitakudo Art has been crafting kakejiku, Japanese hanging scrolls, for over fifty years. Their work is supported by skilled artisans, including nationally certified first-grade specialists in traditional art mounting who uphold time-honored techniques. From planning and mounting to retail, they oversee the entire process in-house, ensuring consistent quality at every step. 

While preserving tradition, they continue to explore new possibilities for kakejiku—developing styles that suit modern interiors and sharing the beauty of Japanese art with the world.

Kakejiku Hanging Scrolls

Japanese hanging scrolls, known as kakejiku or kakemono, are a traditional form of Japanese wall art that has been cherished for over a thousand years. Featuring Japanese calligraphy, seasonal motifs, or paintings, each scroll is crafted with refined techniques that reflect the beauty of nature and culture.

Versatile and timeless, they can be displayed in homes, tea rooms, or modern interiors, and are often referred to as picture scrolls or Japanese scrolls. Their lightweight form makes them easy to roll, store, and rotate with the season or occasion. As an enduring expression of Japanese wall art, hanging scrolls bring harmony to any space.