Star Wars Japanese Ink Warrior Paintings Give Darth Vader And Stormtroopers Samurai Portraits – Design You Trust

Star Wars Japanese Ink Warrior Paintings Give Darth Vader And Stormtroopers Samurai Portraits

Given the inspiration that Akira Kurosawa’s films and the lore of samurai warriors have meant for the Star Wars franchise, it’s no surprise that affinity between Japan’s feudal warriors and the galactic epic has produced some truly awesome collaborations.

The ink paintings are drawn by Kojo Masayuki, a professional artist and one with a talent for Bujinga, or traditional Japanese warrior portraits. They were a type of ukiyo-e print that depicted the battle scenes and the heroics of early Japan’s warriors.

h/t: grapee

In keeping with the code of the Samurai, the military men in these pictures are not simply warriors or combatants, but those who have committed themselves to being “prepared” for all that standing on the battlefield means. Kojo says he captures that preparation and shows it in his paintings, and notes that one can observe the kind of preparation that separates true warriors from simple fighters in the epic Star Wars series.

Even cooler is that each painting comes with a corresponding title written in kanji that correspond to the characters. For instance, the “堕悪巣俾荼” above Darth Vader’s print can be phonetically read as “Darth Vader”, but the meaning can be interpreted as “servant in pain who fell to the web of sin”. “風暴兵” for Storm Troopers can be read as “violent wind soldiers”.

If you want more awesome content, subscribe to 'Oh, Design You Trust,' our brand new Facebook page! Trust me, you won't be disappointed.

More Inspiring Stories

Russian Artist Creates A Crazy Sole Drinking Art Project
Artist Playfully Reimagines Classic Art Paintings As LEGO People
"Packed Music": Artist Alessio Bichi Turns Album Covers Into Clever Brand Packaging
Man Reimagines His Life With Kendall Jenner In Humorous Photo Edits
The Art of Japanese Portrait Photography by Kishin Shinoyama
Anatomical Illustrations Of Japanese Folk Monsters
An Artist Reimagined Her Life As A Potato In Cute Sad Comics
Artist Criticizes Our Society By Showing Two Different Sides Of The Same Story
Dad Recycles Old Crayons Into New Ones for Schools, Hospitals and Art Programs
Doctors Told Model With Jaw Cancer To Have An Abortion, So This Is What She Did
Valentine’s Day Cards For Couples Who Hate Corny Love Crap
"Iconic Covers": Russian Designer Represents Famous Album Covers as Icons
"Transmetropolitan": Photographer Omi Kim Explores Neon Streets Of Cyberpunk Japan
Dressed Cats: Postcards From The 1950's By Artist Eugen Hartung Published By Alfred Mainzer, Inc.
Photographer Asked 16 Artists To Draw His Portrait Photos In Their Own Style, And The Result Is Fabulous!
Japanese Town Looks to Giant Squid Sculpture for Its Post-Pandemic Fortunes
With No Photoshop: These Creative Vintage Collages From An American Artist Are So Exciting
Japan's Bombastic Street Style Puts New York Fashion Week To Shame
Illustrator Repaints Disney Princesses In Her Unique Style
Muslim Lolita Fashion Is A New Trend Inspired By Japan
Guy Hilariously Trolls IKEA By Installing A Fake “Relationship Saving Station”, And It Might Just Save Your Marriage
Russian Artist Stas Novikov Creates Fantasy Photomanipulations And Surreal Worlds
An Artist Has Designed Attractive Anti-Social Media Banners To Fight Social Media Addiction
This Barbershop Will Give Kids A Discount If They Read