Japanese art comes in many shapes and styles; everything from sculptures to paintings. They began creating complex art as far back as the 7th and 8th centuries AD. Japanese artists expressed feelings about war and fighting among the countries since Japan wasn't really at peace with very many of them. They expressed the loneliness felt as Japan was isolated from the rest of the world. Even Japanese writing was a form of art, Caligraphy, painted with a brush rather than written by pen. By the 15th century, secular and religious art was abundant.

As lovely as art such as pottery and drawings are, there is a lot more to Japanese artistic expression than that. For instance, other ways of expression were physical, including dancing, singing, and acting. Stone or clay instruments are played, and elaborate costumes and dances are performed. Instruments may vary from flutes to large drums, gongs, and stringed instruments. Theatre art is very dramatic and expressive, revealing feelings about government, life style, and hope. "Court dances" were often performed in accompaniment to the orchestra. They are typically very lyrically with a variety of styles depending on the dance's tone. Anything from long, slow, graceful moves to short, dramatic, powerful ones is expected in these dances.

Some art was complex, as were other forms were incredibly simple. In a way, it was a matter of traditional verses abstract in that art varied so deeply. Basically art has always had and will continue to have a dramatic effect on Japanese culture.