September 26, 2013 – To the province Shizuoka Japan Mint has dedicated the latest issue in its Japan 47 Prefectures Coin Program. The 1,000 Yen pure silver coin features Mt Fuji following a famous folding screen design.
On the obverse Mt Fuji is depicted from the folding screen ‘Gunjo Fuji (Ultramarine Mt Fuji)’ by Yokoyama Taikan), while the common reverse design of the 1,000 yen silver coin depicts snow crystals, the moon and cherry blossoms.
Mt Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan and well known as a national symbol of the country. In July 2013, it was registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site as ‘Fujisan (Mt Fuji), sacred place and source of artistic inspiration’.
Snowy Peak with Cranes by Yokoyama Taikan, 1958. Source: Yokoyama Taikan Memorial Museum, Tokyo.
The six folding screen ‘Gunjo Fuji’ or ‘Ultramarine Mt Fuji’ was drawn by a maestro of the modern Japanese art world, Yokoyama Taikan (1868-1958). With a somewhat top-down view, the white clouds standing out across the screen are depicted on the golden background as well as the thickly grown trees on the left hand and Mt. Fuji with the snowcap on the right.
For more information on this coin and the coin program, please go to the Japan Mint website.
You can see more pictures by Yokoyama Taikan at the Adachi Museum website.
The Modern Tokyo Times explains the importance of this artist.