#Ukiyo-e

Who Was Toshusai Sharaku? The “Mystery Artist” Who Vanished After Ten Months: Major Actor Prints, Theories on His Identity, and Where to See Them

Toshusai Sharaku debuted suddenly in 1794 with 28 mica-ground okubi-e actor portraits and disappeared about ten months later. A guide to his four periods and major works, the theories about who he was, and where to see his prints.

Who Was Kitagawa Utamaro? The Life and Major Works of the Ukiyo-e Master of Beauties Behind “Three Beauties of the Kansei Era,” and Where to See Them

Kitagawa Utamaro won fame with okubi-e close-up portraits of women, working with the publisher Tsutaya Juzaburo. A guide to his life and major works, his clash with the shogunate’s censorship, and where to see his work, including the British Museum’s Edo painting exhibition.

Who Was Utagawa Hiroshige? The Life and Major Works of the Ukiyo-e Master of “The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido,” and Where to See Them

Utagawa Hiroshige won fame with “The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido,” and his “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo” was copied by Van Gogh. A guide to his life and major works, the color known as “Hiroshige blue,” and where to see his prints, from the Tokyo National Museum’s Hiroshige exhibition to museums named after him.

Who Was Katsushika Hokusai? The Life and Major Works of the Ukiyo-e Master Behind “The Great Wave,” and Where to See Them

Known worldwide for “Under the Wave off Kanagawa,” Katsushika Hokusai kept painting until his death at 90. A guide to his life, his major works from “Hokusai Manga” and “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji” to the paintings of his final years, and where to see them, including The Sumida Hokusai Museum and the Hokusai-kan Museum in Obuse.

Who Was Utagawa Kuniyoshi? Major Works of the Ukiyo-e Master of Warriors, Cats and Giant Skeletons, and Where to See Them

Utagawa Kuniyoshi won fame with his “Suikoden” warrior prints and still astonishes viewers with his cat caricatures and the giant skeleton of “Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Spectre.” A guide to his life, major works, the wit that dodged the Tenpo Reforms, and where to encounter his prints and video installations.

What Is Japonisme? How Ukiyo-e Influenced Monet and Van Gogh, and Related Exhibitions to See in Japan Now

Japonisme was the craze for Japanese art in late-19th-century Europe. How did ukiyo-e influence Monet and Van Gogh? A guide to the key artists and works, and related exhibitions in Japan in 2026–2027.

Famous Japanese Yokai and Masterpieces of Yokai Art: The Night Parade Scrolls, Toriyama Sekien, Hokusai, Kuniyoshi, Yoshitoshi—and Museums to Meet Them

Kappa, tengu, oni, tsukumogami and rokurokubi: Japan’s yokai have been drawn from Muromachi-period picture scrolls to Edo-period yokai encyclopedias, ukiyo-e and manga. A guide to representative yokai, masterpieces of yokai art, and museums and exhibitions where you can meet them in person or on screen.

12 Famous Ukiyo-e Prints: From Hokusai’s “Great Wave” to Sharaku and Kuniyoshi—Highlights and Where to See Them

Hokusai’s “Under the Wave off Kanagawa,” Hiroshige’s “Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido,” Utamaro’s beauties, Sharaku’s actor portraits and Kuniyoshi’s giant skeleton: 12 ukiyo-e masterpieces, with notes on the artists, what to look for, and where to see them in person or as moving images.

What Is HITOHATA, INC.? Company Profile, Works and Awards of the Studio Behind the Ukiyoe Immersive Art Exhibition and Castle Projection Mapping

HITOHATA, INC. produces the Ukiyoe Immersive Art Exhibition, “City of Water: Edo Outer Moat” at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, and projection mapping at Tsurugajo and Hiroshima Castle. Based on the company’s official website, we sum up the profile, business, major works, awards and 2026–2027 schedule of this digital creative company founded in Nagoya in 2019.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Projection Mapping “City of Water: Edo Outer Moat”: The Sotobori Purification Project and Its Mid-2030s Water Plan

Since November 2025, TOKYO Night & Light has screened “City of Water: Edo Outer Moat” on the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building on weekends and holidays. Based on announcements by Tokyo and HITOHATA, INC., we explain the show, the projection mapping held on the Edo Castle outer moat in 2024 and 2025, and Tokyo’s implementation plan to start bringing water to the moat in the mid-2030s.

Winter 2026–27: Projection Mapping at Tsuruga-jo Castle, Osaka City Central Public Hall and Hiroshima Castle, plus Ukiyo-e Immersive Art Exhibition GIFU — Dates, Hours and Admission at a Glance

From November 2026 to January 2027, castles and an Important Cultural Property in Aizuwakamatsu, Osaka and Hiroshima become canvases for projection mapping, while Gifu hosts an immersive ukiyo-e exhibition. Here are the dates, hours, admission and access for four events produced with HITOHATA, INC., with answers to frequently asked questions.

[Autumn/Winter 2026] Ryogoku and Kiyosumi-Shirakawa Art Guide: The Sumida Hokusai Museum, Edo-Tokyo Museum and Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo

Ryogoku and Kiyosumi-Shirakawa, two stops apart on the Oedo Line, are home to museums devoted to Hokusai, Edo history, Japanese swords and contemporary art. The Maruyama Okyo exhibition opens at the Edo-Tokyo Museum on November 28, and the two special exhibitions at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo run until December 6 and 13. We summarize exhibitions, admission and how to get around.

Ukiyo-e Immersive Art Exhibition GIFU Teams Up with Gifu Park’s Gifu Castle Rakuichi: Ukiyo-e Set Meal and Tea, Plus ¥200 Off for Visitors in Kimono

The “Ukiyo-e Immersive Art Exhibition GIFU,” opening November 6, has announced four collaboration products with the neighboring Gifu Castle Rakuichi in Gifu Park, including a set meal inspired by Hokusai’s “Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji” and tea with sweets. Visitors coming in kimono or showing the JAF app get ¥200 off same-day tickets.

Ukiyoe Immersive Art Museum GINZA to Open in Spring 2027, Bringing Permanent Ukiyo-e Immersive Art to Ginza

The immersive ukiyo-e exhibition that has toured 11 cities in Japan and abroad will become a permanent facility in Tokyo in spring 2027. It will present more than 300 works by Hokusai, Hiroshige and others in eight visual spaces, along with displays of original prints and a gallery, but its location and prices have not yet been announced.

MUSE Creative Awards 2026: Gold for the Ukiyo-e and Yokai Immersive Art Exhibitions and the Senso-ji Projection

At an international award organized by the US-based IAA, two immersive exhibitions on ukiyo-e and yokai and a projection mapping show at Senso-ji won Gold. The second edition of the Senso-ji event opened on October 30.

What Does It Mean to “Animate” Ukiyo-e? The Lines, Colors and Printing of Woodblock Prints, and Methods of Digital Reconstruction

Prints by Hokusai and Hiroshige are made by printing line blocks and color blocks one over another. We confirm how this works using materials from museums and workshops, and compare how the Ukiyo-e Immersive Art Exhibition, teamLab and museum video displays reconstruct the pictures.

MOA Museum of Art to Show National Treasure “Red and White Plum Blossoms” Screens: Three National Treasures from January 2027, Followed by All 46 Hokusai Prints

To mark the 10th anniversary of its renovation, the MOA Museum of Art in Atami will hold a masterpieces exhibition bringing together its three National Treasures, including Ogata Korin’s “Red and White Plum Blossoms” screens. From February 26, it will be followed by an exhibition of all 46 prints of Hokusai’s “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji.”

Artizon Museum’s “ARTIZON NOW” Opens February 23, 2027, Spotlighting New Acquisitions

An exhibition presenting “the Artizon Museum now,” centered on newly acquired works. Including ukiyo-e prints and Noh costumes shown for the first time, it spans Western modern art, contemporary art, design and classical Japanese art across the 6th, 5th and 4th floors.

“Impressionist Monet and Ukiyo-e” at THE MOVEUM YOKOHAMA from October 24; Hokusai and Hiroshige Also Featured

The Toyota Group’s immersive venue on Yamashita Pier in Yokohama takes up Monet’s connection with Japanese art in its second program. In five chapters and about 45 minutes of video and sound, it depicts the resonance between ukiyo-e and Impressionism.