Tsutaya Jūzaburō and the Chronicles of Publishers

During the Edo period (1603–1868), Hanmoto (publishers) oversaw ukiyo-e production by managing ukiyo-e artists and craftsmen, and directed the planning, creation, and sales of the prints. Among them, Tsutaya Jūzaburō(Tsutajū) played a major role in the history of ukiyo-e, such as producing Kitagawa Utamaro and Tōshūsai Sharaku with outstanding talent, garnering a golden age for ukiyo-e.

Publishing culture flourished during the Edo period; not only Tsutaya Jūzaburō, several other publishers played active roles. Therefore, this exhibition will feature twelve publishers who were prominent over approximately 230 years, from the dawn to the decline of ukiyo-e, spanning from the Edo period through the Meiji era (1868–1912). Through a selection of works, we invite you to enjoy this glimpse into the publishers’ dedication hidden in the shadow of the masterpieces and human drama with the artists.

Tsutaya Jūzaburō is famous for producing works by Kitagawa Utamaro and Tōshūsai Sharaku, but he also worked with other leading artists of the time, such as Kitao Shigemasa, Katsukawa Shunshō, and Torii Kiyonaga. A highlight of this exhibition is the collection of masterpieces created by Jūzaburō and these top artists. Among them, Utamaro’s works include beautiful kyōka (humorous poems) picture books and masterpieces of the ” Head shot portraits of beautiful women” (bijin ōkubi-e) that became huge hit with their close-up portrayals of women’s faces. In addition, you can see all 15 works of Sharaku in the first and second periods, including the ” Kabuki Actor Kataoka Nizaemon Ⅶ as Kino Natora”, which is only held by the Ota Memorial Museum of Art in the world.

Tsutaya Jūzaburō wasn’t the only brilliant publisher who nurtured top artists whose names would be remembered by later generations. There was also Tsuruya Kiemon and Urokogataya, who teamed up with Hishikawa Moronobu, the first ukiyo-e artist. Nishimuraya Yohachi recognized the talent of Katsushika Hokusai and produced the renowned “Thirty-Six Views of Mt. Fuji” series, while the up-and-coming publisher Takeuchi Magohachi succeeded with Utagawa Hiroshige’s “Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road” series. In the Meiji era, seeking new forms of expression, Matsuki Heikichi collaborated with Kobayashi Kiyochika to release “Kōsen-ga” (light-ray paintings), and Akiyama Buemon produced masterpieces by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi one after another, such as the “One Hundred Views of the Moon” series. This exhibition will introduce the achievements of these publishers who released masterpieces that have been passed down through history.

Tsutaya Jūzaburō was not just one person, but actually continued until the fifth generations. In this exhibition, we will introduce the works published by the second generation in collaboration with Katsushika Hokusai.

Admission

Adult	1200 yen
University and High school students	800 yen
Junior High School Students and below (under 15 years old)	Free

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Katsushika Hokusai Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji

Masterpieces by Katsushika Hokusai on Full Display for the First Time in Approximately Eight Years

“Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji” is a series consisting of 46 prints created by Katsushika Hokusai when he was in his seventies. This masterpiece depicts various views of Mt. Fuji seen from a wide area extending from Edo (Tokyo) to the Tokai region. This series is not only Hokusai’s most famous work, but also a symbol of ukiyo-e, which continues to captivate audiences worldwide.

In this exhibition, we will display the entire series together for the first time in approximately eight years. Rare proof prints and later impressions will also be shown, along with works that inspired this series such as “Hokusai Manga,” Hokusai’s early prints, and related pieces by Utagawa Hiroshige and Utagawa Kuniyoshi. While recent research has focused on Hiroshige’s works from geographical and topographical perspectives, this exhibition highlights the relationship between Hokusai’s depictions of Mt. Fuji and the actual geography. Using photos and maps, we explore the geographical elements that influenced his compositions to better understand his creative intent.

①Hokusai’s Diverse Views of Mt. Fuji: Presenting All 46 Prints

Hokusai captured Mt. Fuji from various perspectives across a wide region, from Edo (Tokyo) to Tokai. The exhibition features 46 prints, allowing visitors to appreciate Hokusai’s innovative ideas and diverse compositions. Highlights include the so-called “Three Masterpieces”: the dynamic waves of “The Great Wave off Kanagawa,” “South Wind, Clear Sky,” and “Rainstorm beneath the Summit.” Other notable works are “Fujimigahara in Owari Province,” which captures Mt. Fuji from the unusual perspective of inside a barrel, and “Ejiri in Suruga Province,” which skillfully depicts a sudden gust of wind. In addition, valuable materials, such as early and later impressions, are displayed.

②Deciphering the “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji” through Topography

When Hokusai created the “Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji,” the actual topography of the depicted locations significantly influenced his compositions. The key elements to note are elevational differences and waterscapes. Many works capture Mt. Fuji seen from the edges of plateaus or mountains or across the waterfronts of rivers or the sea, skillfully incorporating terrain into the viewpoint and composition. In this exhibition, we examine his works using local photographs and topographical maps to reveal his ingenious techniques and details, which are not apparent at first glance.

③From Hokusai Manga to Hiroshige and Kuniyoshi: A Wealth of Related Works

Hokusai began creating landscape prints from his youth, when he went by the name Katsukawa Shunrō. Even in his famous “Hokusai Manga,” he drew several images that would later serve as the basis for the “Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji.” That series, completed in his seventies, is considered the culmination of his artistic career. This exhibition presents not only these masterpieces and Hokusai’s earlier works, but also related materials, including works by Utagawa Hiroshige and Utagawa Kuniyoshi that depict the same famous sites as the “Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji.”

Admission

Adult	1200 yen
University and High school students	800 yen
Junior High School Students and below (under 15 years old)	Free

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Hirezaki Eiho

Hirezaki Eihō, the “last ukiyo-e artist” who disappeared between eras.

Hirezaki Eihō (1880-1968) was an artist who flourished from the late Meiji to the Shōwa era. He studied under Migita Toshihide, a pupil of the ukiyo-e artist Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, and created kuchi-e (frontispieces: multicolored woodblock prints inserted at the beginning of books), covers, and illustrations for novels and literary magazines, capturing the hearts of the general public. However, his achievements are rarely mentioned. This exhibition shines a light on the little-known “last ukiyo-e artist,” exploring how Eihō was flourished during the final era when ukiyo-e prints were a part of everyday life.

 The last ukiyo-e beauty painting: Approaching Eihō’s bewitching beauty.

Hirezaki Eihō painted many women with bewitching beauty in the kuchi-e of novels and literary magazines. His popularity rivaled that of Kaburaki Kiyokata, a renowned modern painter of beautiful women. During the Taisho era, when ukiyo-e prints were nearing the end of their role as mass media, Eihō was the last artist to depict beautiful women through woodblock prints. We will explore the charm of his fascinating beauties, which marks the end of the history of ukiyo-e prints.

The unknown charm of lithographs that took the place of ukiyo-e prints.

Hirezaki Eihō has created many lithograph frontispieces as well as woodblock prints. However, his lithograph frontispieces have rarely been introduced until now. Therefore, in this exhibition, to reveal the full scope of his works, we will introduce not only his woodblock prints but also his lithographs in great volume. Please enjoy the unknown appeal of lithographs, which took the place of entertainment for the masses from ukiyo-e prints.

A large retrospective exhibition showcasing 187 pieces, including woodblock prints, lithographs, and original paintings.

In addition to published woodblock and lithograph prints, this exhibition will also feature works that reveal the production process, such as original drawings and paintings with coloring instructions (presentations). This large-scale retrospective will also feature rare hanging scrolls and sketches that reflect Eihō’s spirit. (All works will be rotated between the 1st and 2nd terms of the exhibition).

Admission

Adult	1200 yen
University and High school students	800 yen
Junior High School Students and below (under 15 years old)	Free

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Ohara Koson

Ohara Koson (1877-1945) was a master of kachō-ga (bird-and-flower pictures) and flourished from the late Meiji to early Shōwa era. Koson’s work has recently gained recognition in Japan after being overlooked for a long time. “Ohara Koson” was an exhibition held in 2019 at the Ota Memorial Museum of Art that was unexpectedly successful. This year marks the 80th anniversary of Koson’s death, so the museum will host the first exhibition on his work in six years.

Using ukiyo-e woodblock printing techniques inherited from the Edo period, he created numerous works of birds, flowers, and animals. His works are characterized by their delicate, subtle colors, which belie their origins as woodblock prints. In this exhibition, works bearing Koson’s seal will be shown that were published by publishers such as Matsuki Heikichi and Akiyama Buemon. These works were published between the late Meiji and Taisho periods. The exhibition will showcase about 130 works, with a complete change in the exhibits between the first and second halves. About a quarter will not have been shown in the previous Koson exhibition.

The exhibition will also feature kachō-ga by artists active from the Edo period to the Meiji era, such as Katsushika Hokusai, Utagawa Hiroshige, Kawanabe Kyosai, and Watanabe Seitei. Visitors are invited to enjoy the birds’ paradise depicted by Ohara Koson and the others.

Admission

Adult	1000 yen
University and High school students	700 yen
Junior High School Students and below (under 15 years old)	Free

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