The Great Wave: an Artwork that Connects Japan and the World

日本語で読む
Ukiyo-e is a Japanese style of art, specifically woodblock prints and paintings, which is known throughout the world. The renowned ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) was the only Japanese person given a place in the 1998 book "The Life Millennium: The 100 Most Important Events and People of the Past 1,000 Years." His famous piece, "Under the Wave off Kanagawa, from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji," often shortened to "Under the Wave off Kanagawa" or simply "The Great Wave" overseas, is featured on the new 1,000-yen banknotes. We asked Okuda Atsuko, curator of The Sumida Hokusai Museum in Sumida City, Tokyo, about the appeal of Hokusai and his work.
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"Under the Wave off Kanagawa" (a full-scale high-definition replica) on display at The Sumida Hokusai Museum. It was chosen for the design of the new bill thanks to its international fame, Okuda says.

Hokusai Lived Most of His Life in Sumida

The Sumida Hokusai Museum opened in Tokyo's shitamachi (old town) eight years ago. Despite being a new museum, it has already welcomed more than one million visitors, including many from overseas. Hokusai had a deep connection to the area.

"Hokusai lived a long life at a time when life expectancy was shorter than today. He lived until the age of 90 by kazoedoshi (traditional age reckoning based on calendar years) and is said to have moved 93 times in his life. However, it seems that most of his residences were in what is now Sumida City," says Okuda. "At that time, Sumida City was seen from central Edo, now known as Tokyo, as a developing area across the Sumida River. On the other hand, the cherry blossoms along the river and the fireworks in the Ryogoku neighborhood were already famous at that time, and the city was also a place that people in Edo enjoyed visiting for outings."

Here, Hokusai continued to create art using everything from people to nature as his motifs. "Under the Wave off Kanagawa," his masterpiece that is featured on the new 1,000-yen banknotes issued in July 2024, was created around 1831 when Hokusai was in his early 70s. This piece was from the later years of his life, but shortly after, Hokusai wrote that what he had drawn until the age of 70 was nothing but a trivial matter. His creative energy never faded while his passion for art only grew.

The Great Wave on the New 1,000 Yen Bill

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Okuda speaks of Hokusai's never-ending appeal.

The museum holds four special exhibitions a year. This year's biggest exhibition was "The Impact of Hokusai's Great Wave: Under the Wave off Kanagawa —Tracing Its Origins and Trajectory," held from June to August 2024 to commemorate the adoption of "Under the Wave off Kanagawa" on the new 1,000-yen banknotes.

The exhibition consisted of four sections. "Under the Wave off Kanagawa" was showcased in the prologue, followed by a section that introduced the print's use of foreign materials and techniques, including Western linear perspective. The next section illustrated that Hokusai drew various great waves in numerous works before this masterpiece, showing that the Great Wave did not just rise one day, but came after years of exploration by the gifted artist.

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The Sumida Hokusai Museum has a full-scale model of Hokusai's art studio, with a mannequin of him at work. At the back is his daughter, Oei, an ukiyo-e artist herself.

The final section showed that the Great Wave continues to be reproduced in modern times, including cartoonist and artist SHIRIAGARI Kotobuki's artwork that transformed the Great Wave into solar flares, a LEGO® work by LEGO Certified Professional builder Mitsui Jumpei, and examples of the motif used in commercial designs such as beer cans and potato chip bags.

To Better Appreciate the Great Wave

"Under the Wave off Kanagawa" has also influenced Western artists like Debussy, who is said to have used it as an inspiration for his orchestral composition La mer (The Sea). What makes "Under the Wave off Kanagawa" such a timeless piece of art that appeals to people from all over the world? According to Okuda, it is the beautiful blue colors, the novel composition, the powerful expression, and the exquisite contrast.

"It has very simple colors, but multiple blues are used excellently in a powerful and unified way. Prussian blue pigment in particular has fine particles and beautiful coloring. It makes prints tremendously vibrant when used in large areas such as the sky and the sea to create gradation. This is why the blues of the series 'Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji,' especially the Great Wave, leave such a strong impression. In 'Under the Wave off Kanagawa,' Mount Fuji is drawn small in the distance. The big wave catches your eyes, but in fact, Mount Fuji in the back acts as a focal point, so the contrast between the static Mount Fuji and the large dynamic waves is beautifully expressed."

Looking closely, the print also shows ships at the mercy of huge waves. These ships, called oshiokuribune, used to sail from the surrounding fishing villages to Edo to transport fish. "This contrast between people and nature is one of the elements that makes the print dramatic, highlighting the powerful waves. In addition, the crest of the big wave has the shape of sharp claws, approaching like a monster, leaving an unforgettable impression on the spectator," says Okuda.

Many Attractions in the Permanent Exhibition

The Sumida Hokusai Museum also has a room called AURORA (Permanent Exhibition Room), which is extensive and a must-see when one visits. There, visitors can learn about Hokusai's life via interactive touch panels.

The museum has a large collection of original ukiyo-e prints, but they are very delicate and not always on display. However, when no special exhibitions are held, Permanent Exhibition Plus next to AURORA has a section called "The Masterpiece of the Month" that displays a selected original artwork.

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A touch panel for learning about the changes in Hokusai's art style

The permanent exhibition also has "Sketches by Hokusai," a fascinating collection of Hokusai's vibrant sketches of people and animals, which had a great impact on Western art in the 19th century. Okuda attributes this to the power of his sketching. "Hokusai observed people's casual positions and everyday scenes, drawing them with free composition and his superb drawing skills. I think it was refreshing for Western artists who were used to fixed compositions at the time."

After Japonisme, a Japanese art boom in the West, bloomed at the 1867 Paris Exposition, Hokusai's name rapidly became known. His works influenced Van Gogh, as well as Degas, who drew figures in the same style as "Sketches by Hokusai." Galle, one of the leading glass artists of art nouveau, incorporated a sketch of carp from "Sketches by Hokusai" into the design of his vase.

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The full-scale high-definition replica of "Sketches by Hokusai" is one of the main attractions of AURORA.

"Hokusai kept drawing for 70 years and had many faces," says Okuda. "I would also like people to know the appeal of his ever-changing art style. We will continue to spread his legacy through special exhibitions and events, and hope to welcome many people."

Okuda Atsuko

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Graduated from Tokyo Gakugei University Graduate School of Education. majoring in Japanese art history. Before her current position, she was chief curator of Ōta Memorial Museum of Art. She helped establish The Sumida Hokusai Museum and has curated numerous exhibitions, including its inaugural exhibitions. She has written books as well as numerous research papers and commentaries on ukiyo-e.

The Sumida Hokusai Museum

Interview and writing by Kawai Ran
Photos by Fujishima Ryo
Photo of the museum exterior: courtesy of The Sumida Hokusai Museum
Translation by Endo Toshio