Japanese Artists Present 2026 Year of the Horse New Year's Card Collection

A collection of Japanese New Year's cards, known as nengajo, has been assembled for 2026, which marks the Year of the Horse according to the zodiac. The horse is considered an auspicious symbol in Japanese culture, associated with strength and positive outcomes due to linguistic wordplay. Multiple artists and designers contributed works featuring equine themes. Chisato Kishimoto created a card with an uplifting message. Cohak Ame produced a retro-pop illustration with traditional New Year symbols. Ayame Higuchi presented a nihonga painting of a divine horse, displayed at the Daimaru Tokyo department store's art gallery through January 13, 2026. Grape Logo Design offered a typographic interpretation of formal New Year greetings. Hiro Mizuno contributed a neon-pop design. Bento Graphics produced an animated video with horse racing motifs. Junichi Kishi blended Japanese and Scandinavian woodblock styles. Lito crafted a piece using leaf-cutting techniques. Masaya Mizukawa incorporated a horseshoe shape framing Mount Fuji. Mojiro created calligraphic art featuring the kanji for horse. Yusuke Nakamura applied his distinctive illustrative style. Nao Sakamoto shared tender animal drawings. Reiko Okamoto, a veterinarian-turned-illustrator, used mixed techniques including stenciling to depict white horses. The art duo Sara illustrated the transition from the snake to the horse year. Shunsuke Satake repurposed a wooden frame from a previous exhibition. Satsuki Aritome designed a minimal print with debossed hoofprints. Takuya Kawaguchi rendered a floral horse in black and white. Traditional Label Lab employed Edo-era calligraphy styles. Syoyo's card combined optical illusions with poster art. Yuiai's work, titled "On Your Marks," depicted equestrian accessories with lighting effects. The collection aims to inspire a dynamic and transformative year.