Exploring with Hokusai! The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Ukiyo-e Prints

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Exhibition Handout

Exploring with Hokusai! The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Ukiyo-e Prints

Thu, December 11, 2025 - Mon, February 23, 2026
Each brush-drawn painting is a unique work. In contrast, ukiyo-e prints were mass produced and sold commercially. Since people visiting Edo would purchase prints to take home as souvenirs, they circulated widely. Today, ukiyo-e prints, including, of course, Hokusai’s Under the Wave off Kanagawa, from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, are known throughout the world. Those mass-produced works have been scattered here and there, giving many people opportunities to see them.
Ukiyo-e prints were also a medium for communicating information. And still are: these prints give us glimpses of the everyday lives of people in Edo. In this exhibition, we focus on ukiyo-e prints, exploring their history, the techniques used, and their themes. Please enjoy the wide-ranging appeal of ukiyo-e prints.
Term
December 11 - February 23, 2026
*Some exhibits are changed during the term

1st term: December 11 - January 18, 2026
2nd term: January 21 - February 23, 2026
Open
Tuesday-Sunday
Closed
Mondays, December 29 – January 2, 2026
Hours
9:30 am - 5:30 pm (last admission 5:00 pm)
Exhibition room
3rd floor Exhibition Room
Organizers
Sumida City, The Sumida Hokusai Museum