They Hang Me in Tokyo: A Barbarian Artist’s Life-Changing Journey to Master Nihonga, the Traditional Art of Japan

Enter the hidden world of Nihonga art in this one-of-a-kind memoir blending West and East.

Hidden deep in the heart of Tokyo, a small shop sells something hardly known to the outside world. A coveted permanent pigment infused with minerals and gemstones, this rare paint has been used for centuries by Nihonga masters and few others. Nihonga, a living tradition of Japanese painting known for its blend of naturalism and abstraction, fine, delicate lines, and ethereal beauty, is a world wrapped in mysticism, inaccessible even to most Japanese people.

For American artist Allan West, finding the permanent pigments to use for his burgeoning art career became an obsession. Against all advice, Allan moved to Japan to seek out the hidden world of Nihonga and unlock its secrets and profound beauty. His quest took him from Carnegie Mellon and the safety of his Western roots to the bustling streets of Tokyo to learn from the masters. Driven by an unwavering commitment to his passion as an artist, West was not prepared for the challenges of being a barbarian in a culture steeped in tradition and formality.

Blending culture clash, determination in the face of obstacles, and triumph over what's never been done, They Hang Me in Tokyo is the amazing true story of Japanese customs, art secrets, and a foreigner's relentless quest to belong. When West rejected modernism to study with one of the five reigning "mountains" of traditional Japanese painting, he took on a transformative journey of struggle and acceptance spanning continents and gaining him worldwide recognition.

They Hang Me in Tokyo is a vivid tapestry of contrasting cultures that shows the boundless creative possibilities when passion meets perseverance. Enter the mesmerizing world of Nihonga in this captivating memoir of acceptance.