Our yearlong mini-essay series journeys through classical works, paintings, proverbs, and cultural heritage — all connected with horses, both in Japan and beyond.

In the autumn series on proverbs, our videos were viewed about 800,000 times, giving us the opportunity to explore the wisdom of the ages together with viewers around the world.

Now, the final Winter Series begins.
The first episode, released on November 7, features the Japanese saddle — wa-kura —.
The saddle is an essential tool that has allowed people to ride, to travel, and to share their world with horses.

Its origins trace back more than four thousand years.
In Japan, it came to be adorned with lacquer, maki-e, and mother-of-pearl, and gradually evolved into a unique expression of beauty.

When people faced great challenges, beauty itself was an inseparable element of the moment.
That is the message that runs through this episode.

The saddles cherished by the tenka-bito — Japan’s rulers — reflect their sense of beauty and their guiding ideals.
The saddles of Ashikaga Takauji and Oda Nobunaga are known through poems and chronicles, while those of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu remain preserved as historical masterpieces.

Gold and silver maki-e, mother-of-pearl inlays, motifs of seasonal flowers, auspicious animals, and even Nanban-style from distant lands — within these works lie the skill and spirit of artisans who pursued perfection.

Wa-kura —a work of art, shaped by the strength and beauty shared by warriors, horses, and master craftsmen.

Next, we move to Europe, to explore a legacy of horses immortalized in bronze — a heritage that continues to embody the strength and quiet dignity of the ancient world.
Please look forward to the next episode, premiering on November 15.

Saddle image: ColBase
Saddle with Hydrangeas, Lacquered wood with maki-e and mother-of-pearl inlay, 18th century, Edo period, Tokyo National Museum Collection
Horse illustrations: Created by our company using generative AI
Background text: From The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (Shinchō Kōki, vol. 14 “The Imperial Horse Parade”) —the passage describing Nobunaga’s favorite horse, Oni Ashige.