Marunouchi House, a restaurant on the 7th floor of the new Marunouchi Building, will celebrate its 15th anniversary on April 27, 2022. To celebrate, the UKIYO-E PROJECT in Marunouchi House event will be held from March 1 to March 31, with a number of contemporary ukiyo-e prints on display. A printing demonstration and hands-on event will also invite guests to see more of the artistic process. 

Marunouchi House 15th Anniversary Logo

David Bowie Hengekyou “Kidomaru”

Printing Demonstration

15th Anniversary Special Reusable Bag

This event is being held with help from the UKIYO-E project, which is working to bring the expressive imagery of ukiyo-e to the modern age. Woodblock prints are a part of Japan’s history, and visitors will have more of a chance to understand this unique art form by participating in the exhibition’s many events.

Starting on March 7, guests who spend ¥2,000 yen (tax included) or more per person at Marunouchi House will receive a 15th-anniversary special reusable bag designed by Naomi Hirabayashi. 

The Kadokawa Musashino Museum in Saitama is currently holding the 360-degree experimental exhibition Ukiyo-e Theater from Paris to continuously promote Japanese culture to the world. Actor Chafurin, known for his voice work in popular anime series like Detective Conan and Chibi Maruko-chan, is the owner of ‘Shurindo,’ a group of popular actors devoted to storytelling with sake. The recitation group will be holding a special event at the museum on January 16, 2022, where a group of personalities will perform the classic story ‘Hoichi the Earless,’ a popular piece of Japanese folklore. 

Ukiyo-e from Paris Design

Starring: Chafurin, Ryota Osaka, Mutsumi Tamura, Mai Nakahara, Satoshi Tsuruoka, Kafu Ohmine (Biwa Player) 

Danny Rose Studio has helped create a giant video space for the new exhibition, combining the old and the new. The Dreamed Japan – Images of the Floating World exhibition has been experienced by over 2 million people in France, and was brought back to Japan with enhancements in October 2021. Twelve unique works of art are dynamically projected on a massive space, transporting visitors into an entirely new world based on ukiyo-e pieces. 

This performance will be a special one-time event bringing together a selection of famous actors and a traditional biwa player. Hoichi the Earless tells the tale of an extremely skilled blind biwa player and his experiences with the samurai and a terrifying ghostly retainer. 

After the show, guests can enjoy the afterparty in which visitors and the performers can mingle and have a cocktail. More details will be announced on social media soon!

Participants are yet to be determined. There will be no archive of the afterparty. Those purchasing alcohol will be asked for ID. Please note that the schedule is subject to change. 

To celebrate the location’s first anniversary, the Kadokawa Musashino Museum will hold a 360-degree experimental exhibition titled Ukiyo-e Theater from Paris starting October 30. The theater continuously holds showings to help share Japanese culture with both domestic and international visitors. 

Bowie as Kidomaru. Masumi Ishikawa for the Ukiyo-e Project

Momoiro Clover Z and KISS. Megumi Oishi (BALCOLONY) for the Ukiyo-e Project

In the Edo period, the price of one ukiyo-e print was 28 mon, the same as a bowl of soba noodles. The word ukiyo means ‘this world,’ and these paintings captured the familiar and the mundane. In that period of time, these creations were what television, the internet, and Instagram are to us today. In the 19th century, ukiyo-e pieces first appeared in Europe and made a large impact on impressionist artists, which continues to this day. 

Danny Rose Studio has helped create a giant video space for the new exhibition, combining the old and the new. The Dreamed Japan – Images of the Floating World exhibition has been experienced by over 2 million people in France and is now coming to Japan for the first time with some new enhancements. Twelve unique works of art will be dynamically projected on a massive space, transporting visitors into an entirely new world. Clocks will tick, lanterns will dance in the air, cherry blossoms will flutter in the wind, and waves will rush overhead. 

In the back of the Grand Gallery, a large number of ukiyo-e prints used by the Danny Rose Studio will be on display along with works by contemporary Japanese ukiyo-e artists. 

Everyone’s favorite robot cat is making a peculiar appearance inside a piece of famous Japanese art! Using traditional Ukiyo-e crafting techniques, the Hanzou company has successfully inserted Doraemon into the painting Fujimigahara in Owari Province by Hokusai, originally created between 1830 and 1832. The painting will be available to preorder online starting October 8, 2021, with only 300 copies available!

Ukiyo-e Woodblock Print Production Process

Engraving by Craftsman

Rubbing by Craftsman

First, a sketch is made, and a monochrome version of the print is carved. After carving a number of woodblocks for each color and using them to rub the painting tirelessly to bring it to life, one single woodblock print is completed. The extremely delicate and advanced techniques these craftsmen utilize have been passed down from the Edo period. 

The original painting was created after Hokusai turned 70, and took two years to complete. The painting is said to portray the view of Mount Fuji from Fujimi-cho, Naka-ku, Nagoya City. An eccentric piece for the time, looking closely shows that each and every line and dot was meticulously calculated. Note the vivid indigo sky and the abundance of blue shades that Hokusai loved to use. Doraemon and Nobita are shown having fun as they make barrels, a welcome departure from the more stoic figure in the original painting. 

New Prints: The Evolutionary Beauty of UKIYO-E, featuring pieces from the Chiba City Museum of Art, will be held at Takashimaya Osaka from September 15-27, 2021. 

Ukiyo-e, or woodblock prints, were exceptionally popular as a Japanese art style from the 17th to the 19th centuries. Now, a new exhibition coming to Osaka is highlighting the ‘Shin-hanga’ movement, which took place during the early 20th century and focused largely on the creation of pieces to sell to foreign markets. The man behind this movement was Shozaburo Watanabe, who commissioned artists to design prints blending traditional Japanese techniques with unique elements of Western paintings at the time, such as shadowing and different perspectives. 

The exhibition will contain 120 works selected from the Chiba City Museum of Art’s Shin-hanga collection, ranging from early masterpieces such as Goyo Hashiguchi’s ‘Woman at her Bath,’ Ito Shinsui’s ‘Before the Mirror,’ as well as rich depictions of Japanese landscapes by Hasui Kawase and international landscapes by Hiroshi Yoshida. 

Selection of Featured Works

Twelve Months of Tokyo: Evening Glow at Yanaka – Hasui Kawase. 1921. 

The Twelve Months in Tokyo series consists of twelve paintings based on sketches made by Kawase between December 1920 and October 1921. While twelve pieces were planned, only four circular pieces and one square piece were completed. Evening Glow at Yanaka depicts a five-story pagoda glowing faintly in the light of the setting sun. Kawase has stated that as he finished sketching the piece, he heard the sound of a bell, and for some reason, he had the uncanny feeling that he needed to straighten his collar. 

Sailing Boats in the Morning: Inland Sea – Hiroshi Yoshida. 1926.

Yoshida began work on the Sailing Ship trilogy in 1921 under Shozaburo Watanabe, but all of his woodblocks and most of his works were lost in the Great Kanto Earthquake. Five years later, Yoshida decided to tackle the project again, this time deciding on six pieces. In contrast to the originals under Watanabe, these pieces tackled more nuanced periods of time and give a stronger sense of tranquility. Pay attention to the slight variations in color and light. 

Before the Mirror. Ito Shinsui. 1916. 

This is the first Shin-hanga work by Ito Shinsui. The piece only uses three colors: red, black, and white, and utilizes serrated carving to give the impression of shadows. Using layers of rare high-quality red paint, this work has been deemed a masterpiece by fans of the movement, conveying Shinsui’s subtlety when depicting the feminine figure. 

Fashions of the Modern World: Tipsy – Kiyoshi Kobayakawa. 1930.

This portrait of a modern lady is one of six in the Fashions of the Modern World series by Kobayakawa, and is regarded by many as the best in the bunch. Produced between 1930 and 1931, the artist portrayed the unique personalities of women, rather than sticking to tradition. The woman in this portrait isn’t demure or quiet, but instead shows off her short hair, a cigarette, rings, and a cocktail in her hand, showing a different side to the Japanese women of the period. 

Combing the Hair. Goyo Hashiguchi. 1920. 

With her overflowing black hair and elegant appearance, the subject of Combing the Hair makes it clear why this is Hashiguchi’s most representative work. The woman’s name is Tomi Kodaira, and she modeled for many of the artist’s works, being discovered by him as she was modeling at a nearby art school. The pose is said to be inspired by Rossetti’s Lady Lilith, but her expression is unique to Hashiguchi and the typical style of ukiyo-e. 

Sneaker brand atmos is teaming up with Dr. Martens for a new anime-inspired pair of boots. These sleek kicks will be available at atmos stores and online on August 21. 

TARIK ZIP ATMOS　: ¥24,200 (Tax Included)  

The two brands first collaborated in April 2021, and their creation was an instant best-seller. This second collaboration captures the streetwear look both brands are known for, while being inspired by Japanese pop culture and anime. The boots are striking to the eye, featuring shiny velvet and leather with an oversized logo on the tongue and red and black detailing. 

These boots are unisex, so anyone can rock a pair on the Tokyo streets. If you’re looking to show your individuality, why not snag a pair while you can? 

Yohji Yamamoto teamed up with Dr. Martens to release the ‘TARIAN BOOTS’ Autumn/Winter 21-22 collection on July 14.

The boots are a restyling of Dr. Martens’ iconic 8-EYE BOOT. The uppers feature triangular eyelets and are made from smooth and soft leather. The shafts are embossed with Yohji Yamamoto’s signature logo, and the all-new lightweight and durable TARIAN outer soles are used. These boots are the first to use these new soles, so don’t miss out.

The Adachi Foundation for the Preservation of Woodcut Printing is currently holding an exhibition centred on the Japanese ukiyo-e artists Hokusai and Hiroshige at their permanent exhibition in Shinjuku.

Shibusawa Eiichi (1840-1931) was a Japanese industrialist who is often known as the ‘father of Japanese capitalism.’ In Japan, people have a strong image of him as being a great man of modern history, but in actual fact one third of his life was lived during the same era as when esteemed ukiyo-e artists Hokusai and Hiroshige were alive. The Adachi Foundation’s exhibition focuses on the colour blue, one which has roots during that era and has gone on to become a prominent colour in present day Japanese companies.

The immense popularity of bright blue ukiyo-e

Aizuri-e is a type of woodblock print that is printed predominanetly in blue. They were extremely popular in Edo and used Prussian blue, also nicknamed ‘Japan blue.’ Hokusai used this same colour when creating his famous Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, as did Hiroshige, bringing life to the backgrounds and environment.

Japan Blue: Ukiyo-e From Japan to Paris

Hiroshige showcased his work at the second Exposition Universelle in 1867, making it the first time for ukiyo-e to be properly shown to the world, allowing for the spread of Japonisme. Taken aback by how he used the Prussian blue, the people of Europe praised Hiroshige’s work and named the colour ‘Hiroshige Blue.’ It was a turning point for Japan as the country began opening up to the world, enabling them to witness the skills of Japanese craft.

The Adachi Foundation is also hosting the exhibition online in VR for free which is available in both English and Japanese. Visitors can enjoy Hokusai and Hiroshige’s work up close.

The second collaboration boot models by Dr. Martens and X-GIRL released in Japan on Saturday, serving impactful, stereotype-breaking silhouettes.

Dr. Martens X-GIRL Jadon Max | ¥37,400 (Tax Included)

Dr. Martens X-GIRL Strap Sandals | ¥24,200 (Tax Included)

Freedom to move. Freedom from stereotypes. X-girl has always been interested in creating “real clothing” that allows girls to dress on their own terms. Kim Gordon and Daisy von Furthbrand’s iconic brand made its debut in 1994 on a fashion runway and has since seen support not only from the industry but art and music too. Similarly, Dr. Martens has also enjoyed overwhelming love from artists and activists for over 60 years.

The JADON MAX X-GIRL is built with a Black canvas upper with a leopard-print canvas lining — a flexible material that will move as much as you do. The boots are customisable with black or white laces. Dual branding throughout is finished with a DIY-inspired brushed silver Dr. Martens x X-girl dog tag. The Jadon Max X-girl stands tall on our sky-high Smoke Quad Max sole — for unflinching, unmissable impact. ​

The STRAP SANDAL X-GIRL’s black velvet upper is contrasted with a Purple X-girl footbed and a leopard-print-lined vamp strap. The sandal’s dual branding is also finished with a brushed silver dog tag. The Strap Sandal X-Girl features our tallest sandal sole yet — the towering Zebrilus Quad, featuring a padded comfort collar around the ankle.

ISHIYA CO.,LTD. released a new batch of its Koisuru Chocolates on Wednesday (December 2) with packaging that features artworks by legendary Japanese painter Hokusai including nine from his Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji and three from his Hokusai Manga.

ISHIYA’s Koisuru Chocolate is a twist on Hokkaido’s famous Shiroi Koibito chocolate biscuits, combining white and milk chocolate into a chocolate sandwich coupled with salt from Lake Saroma in Hokkaido to elevate the sweetness.

Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (9 Designs) | ¥1,080 (Tax Included)

Hokusai Manga (3 Designs) | ¥1,080 (Tax Included)

Katsushika Hokusai, most often known just as Hokusai, was a Japanese ukiyo-e painter and woodblock printmaker who is perhaps best known for his woodblock print The Great Wave off Kanagawa, an image recognisable to those even outside of Japan. This year would have marked his 260th birthday, and so various events have been held throughout Japan.

The packaging designs include some of his most famous works including The Great Wave off Kanagawa and Fine Wind, Clear Morning from his Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji series and Suzume Odori from Hokusai Manga. Hokusai Manga is often considered the first example of Japanese manga, and his work is said to have influenced many famous painters including Édouard Manet and Claude Monet.

Smartphone case brand ARTiFY showcased its Klimt and ukiyo-e glitter cases at art museums in Japan last year, which was a huge hit. They were so popular that the company has decided to make them available to consumers online.

The brand’s name, ARTiFY, means to “make something into art.” But for them, that doesn’t simply mean a piece of art to look at: it’s things you can wear, things you use in your everyday life and beyondーbringing life and art together and making it more fun and integrated.

 
ARTiFY’s products are on the rise. You can find their products at the Ukiyo-e exhibition at the Fukuoka Art Museum’s museum shops, and in the run up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the number of souvenir shops aimed at foreign tourists they are stocked in are set to go up.

A brand of Ukiyo-e themed soap by Hinata Hina is currently on sale at the SOLEIL TOKYO pop-up store in Shinjuku NEWoMan, a huge shopping mall packed with fashion boutiques, food shops, cafes, bakeries and restaurants, and more. The soap is available until August 16.

The soap was created with the Edo period in mind. There are two different gift packages being sold in addition to three new designs available in early limited stock before they go on general sale.

The soap is a fusion of original lactic acid bacteria which enables a luxurious marshmallow-like foam when lathered that’s gentle to the skin, opening your path to looking beautiful like those in the ukiyo-e illustrations.

The soaps are made in Japan and are made using only the necessary ingredients. They are made simply, use no synthetic surfactant and are odour-free. This is all replaced with natural ingredients like plant lactobacillus, yeast, honey, and olive oil.

They make for a perfect souvenir for Japanese, so be sure to check them out if you’re in Shinjuku.