I’m not good with languages, but I liked the day when we sang that in Spain cows do not say “moo.” Some Japanese depictions are like ours, others not. This group offers designs with flying creatures, weather events and myths of air. Birds are what you expect; cranes, sparrows, swallows, ravens and hawks look much as you see them in western art. Earlier designs shows flocks of sparrows, dark as an ominous cloud.

Butterflies are a happy decorative motif. But what’s with the bats? Meaning can be carried to unlikely ends as here, in which a Chinese character for happiness, “fu” is linked to a Japanese word for “bat” so when I think vampires, they think good fortune. Snow is a circle with little circles cut out of the edge. Mist and fog are swirly lines while dragons and storm monsters visit from time to time.

Big Cranes in Pine
[#3012] Big Cranes in Pine
Chrysanthemums Shaped like Diamonds over Swirling Mist
[#41009] Chrysanthemums Shaped like Diamonds over Swirling Mist
Stylized Mist
[#25012] Stylized Mist
Chrysanthemums in Stylized Mist
[#26021] Chrysanthemums in Stylized Mist
Cherry Blossom in Field
[#11015] Cherry Blossom in Field
[#5210] Decorated Bands with Storm Gods
Storm Gods
[#36001] Storm Gods
Stylized Storm
[#52049] Stylized Storm
Snowy Sky with Bamboo under Snow
[#45014] Bamboo under Snow by Night Sky
Sparrows in Snow Covered Bamboo
[#9890251] Sparrows in Snow Covered Bamboo
Snowflakes Over Stripes
[#9003] Snowflakes Over Stripes
Turtles and Cranes in Snowflakes
[#36012] Turtles and Cranes in Snowflakes
Integrated Bands of Nature
[#44016] Integrated Bands of Nature
Big Bamboo in Snow
[#52056] Big Bamboo in Snow
Snowflakes and Ogee with Bamboo and Sparrows
[#37047] Snowflakes and Ogee with Bamboo and Sparrows
Art Nouveau Iris over Stripe
[#5001] Art Nouveau Geese in Flight over Stream
Sparrow Nimai Gata
[#9011] Phoenix Nimai Gata
Chinese Style Brocade
[#9890162] Chinese Style Brocade
Classic Fabric Patterns in Clouds
[#9890218] Classic Fabric Patterns in Clouds
Cranes in Flight
[#48010] Cranes in Flight
Plover in Bamboo
[#9023] Puffed Sparrow in Bamboo
Stylized Plover
[#37050] Stylized Plover
Dragons on Wind
[#38010] Dragons on Wind
Bats and Weave
[#8026] Bats and Weave
Bats Big and Small
[#34021] Bats Big and Small
Bats and Fern Fronds
[#34029] Bats and Fern Fronds
Wild Flowers with Finch or Sparrow
[#26016] Wild Flowers with Finch or Sparrow
Hawks on Wind
[#3006] Hawks on Wind
Hummingbirds in Summer Flowers
[#44001] Hummingbirds in Summer Flowers
Butterflies on Wheat
[#12014] Butterflies on Susuki Grass
Flock of Swallows
[#9059] Flock of Swallows
Ikat Butterflies
[#6003] Shibori Butterflies
Raven in Leafless Tree
[#29019] Raven in Leafless Tree
Butterfly and Mum
[#9037] Butterfly and Mum