Katsushika Hokusai
Katsushika Hokusai was a Japanese artist best known for his woodblock prints and ukiyo-e art that focused on landscapes. Born in 1760, Hokusai lived through a time of great cultural flourishing in Edo (modern-day Tokyo). He gained widespread recognition for his series of prints titled the Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji, which depicted various views of Mount Fuji in different seasons and weather conditions.
Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji
Hokusai dedicated his life to art and he said, “I have been sketching from the age of 6 but nothing I did before the age of 70 was worthy of attention.” True to his word, he started work on his Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji when he was 70, in 1830.
Each print in the series offers a different perspective of Mount Fuji, showcasing the mountain’s majestic beauty from various vantage points. The series as a whole highlights Hokusai’s appreciation for nature and his skill in translating that appreciation into stunning visual representations such as the Red Fuji. However, the most iconic print from this series is undoubtedly the Great Wave off Kanagawa. Depicting powerful waves crashing against Mountain Fuji in the background, this print is a testament to Hokusai’s ability to capture the dynamic forces of nature in his art. The image has become a globally recognized symbol of Japanese art.
Sumida Hokusai Museum
Today, his legacy lives on through the Sumida Hokusai Museum which opened in 2016, designed by Kazuyo Sejima (SANAA). It houses a vast collection of his works, including prints, paintings and sketches. Visitors can explore Hokusai’s life and art at this museum in Sumida-ward, Tokyo, where Hokusai lived for almost the entire 90 years of his life. The museum also features rotating exhibitions that highlight different aspects of Hokusai’s career, offering visitors a comprehensive look at the artist’s evolution over time.
Open: Tuesday – Sunday from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm
Closed: Monday. Open if Monday is a national holiday, closed on Tuesday. Also closed December 29-January 1.
It may close on a temporary basis – check with the museum.
Sumida Hokusai Museum Access
2-7-2 Kamezawa, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130-0014
A 4-minute walk from Ryogoku station on the JR Sobu Line
Mita Arts Gallery – if you want to buy ukiyo-e prints
After visiting the Hokusai Museum and you want to buy some high-quality prints, or even cheap reproductions of Hokusai’s prints, go to the Kanda Jimbocho bookstore district where art galleries sell fine prints from the ukiyo-e “pictures of the floating world” period.
A premier art gallery is Mita Arts Gallery
Ivy Building 4F, 1-10-1, Kanda Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0051
Open: Tues-Sat 10:30-18:00
Closed: Sun, Mon and Japanese national holidays
English
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