 The ukiyo-e artist Hokusai Katsushika (1760-1849), one of the leading figures in modern Japanese art, was born in Honjo Warigesui, Edo (present-day Kamezawa, Sumida City). It is well known that many of Hokusai's works, such as "Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji series" and Hokusai's Sketches, exercised a profound influence on the Impressionists in the 19th-century Europe. His peculiar aesthetic style, which has been built up over seventy years from his painter debut at the age of twenty up to his death, went beyond just the ukiyo-e category and still fascinates people throughout the world. It is told that he had changed his address as many as ninety-three times until he passed away at Asakusa at the age of ninety. According to several written records, Hokusai's residences centered in the Sumida River area, such as Honjo and Mukojima (both in Sumida City). For this reason, it's easy to find out that he has close ties with Sumida City.
Hokusai Open Gallery
 Hokusai Open Gallery exhibits 103 copies of his woodblock prints, owned
by Sumida City, posted on 47 lantern-shaped street lamps and 2 public toilets'
walls over one kilometer between Kamezawa 1- and 4-chome along Hokusai-dori
street stretching from Ryogoku to Kinshichou. The street was named after
Hokusai as he was born in Kamezawa. The gallery was opened in 2005 as a
part of the "City Sightseeing on foot" crafted up in the project
"Sumida City Plans to Promote Tourism", aiming to create a brand
image of Hokusai-dori also as a prologue to the construction of the Sumida
City Hokusaikan Mansion(provisional name). Let's go for a stroll through
the gallery with this map and admire Hokusai's works.
  
Acronyms of Series Name
GRW:Going the Round of the Waterfalls in all Provinces
VBS:Illustrated book "Views from the Banks of the Sumida River, 2nd volume"
36V:Thirty‐six Views of Mt. Fuji IHN:Illustrated Hyakunin‐Isshu(100 poems by 100 poets), told by the Nurse
CNB:Changing Nature at Outstanding Beauty Spots
RVB:Remarkable Views of the Bridges in all Provinces
UPP:Uki-e, Perspective‐Picture, New Edition
1 36V:Mt. Fuji on a Fine Breezy Day(commonly known as Red Fuji)
2 RVB:The Hanging-cloud Bridge at Mt. Gyodo in Ashikaga
3 36V:In the Hollow of Great Wave off Kanagawa
4 RVB:Kintai-bashi Bridge in Suo
5 36V:Shower below the Summit
6 RVB:Mt.Tempo at the Mouth of the Aji River in Settsu
7 36V:Nihombashi Bridge in Edo
8 RVB:Temmabashi Bridge in Settsu
9 36V:Surugadai in Edo
10 RVB:Pontoon Bridge at Sano in Kozuke
11 36V:Honganji Temple at Asakusa
12 RVB:Yahagi Bridge at Okazaki on the Tokaido
13 36V:Through under Mannenbashi Bridge at Fukagawa
14 RVB:Yatsu-hashi in Mikawa
15 36V:Sazaido of Gohyaku Rakanji Temple
16 GRW:Aoigaoka Waterfall in Edo
17 36V:Mt. Fuji with a Waterwheel at Onden
18 GRW:Ono Waterfall on the Kiso Highway
19 36V:Shimo Meguro
20 IHN:Empress Jito
21 36V:Morning after Snowfall at Koishikawa
22 IHN:Harumichi no Tsuraki
23 36V:Sunset View across Ryogokubashi Bridge from Onmayagashi
24 IHN:Retired Emperor Sanjo
25 36V:Sekiya by the Sumida River
26 IHN:Sugawara no Michizame
27 36V:From Senju in Musashi
28 IHN:Dainagon Tsunenobu
29 36V:Mt. Fuji viewed across the Pleasure Quarter of Senju
30 IHN:Fujiwara no Toshiyuki Ason
31 36V:From Tsukudajima Island in Musashi
32 IHN:Sangi noTakamura
33 36V:Kazusa Seaway
34 IHN:Minamoto no Muneyuki Ason
35 36V:Ushibori in Hitachi
36 UPP:Chushingura Act ?, Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine
37 36V:Gotenyama at Shinagawa on the Tokaido
38 UPP:Chushingura Act ?
39 36V:Tamagawa River in Musashi
40 UPP:Chushingura Act ?
41 36V:Shichirigahama in Sagami
42 UPP:Chushingura Act ?
43 36V:From Enoshima Beach in Sagami
44 UPP:Chushingura Act ?
45 36V:Mt.Fuji and Lake at Hakone in Sagami
46 UPP:Chushingura Act ?
47 36V:Mishima Pass in Kai
48 UPP:Chushingura Act ?
49 36V:Tea Garden at Katakura in Suruga
50 UPP:Chushingura Act ?
51 36V:Ono Shinden in Suruga
52 UPP:Chushingura Act ?
53 36V:People Climbing Mt. Fuji
54 UPP:Chushingura Act ?
55 36V:Ejiri in Suruga on a Windy Day
56 UPP:Chushingura Act ??
57 36V:Tagonoura Bay near Ejiri on the Tokaido
58 UPP:Kinryuzan Temple at Asakusa
59 36V:In the Mountains in Totomi
60 UPP:Distant View of Atagoyama at Shiba
61 36V:Teahouse at Yoshida on the Tokaido
62 UPP:Crowds at Yatsuyama in Cherry Blossom Season
63 36V:The Cooper at Fujimigahara in Owari
64 UPP:The Temmangu Shrine at Kameido
65 36V:Inume Pass in Kai
66 UPP:Crowds at the Three Kabuki Theaters for the Kaomise
67 36V:Mt. Fuji reflected on Water at Misaka in Kai
68 UPP:Ochanomizu, with the Kanda Myojin Shrine
69 36V:Izawa at Dawn in Kai
70 UPP:Asukayama, with the Oji Inari Shrine
71 36V:The Fisherman at Kajikazawa in Kai
72 UPP:The Mimeguri and Ushigozen Shrines
73 36V:Mt. Fuji Viewed from behind by the Minobu River
74 UPP:The Tomigaoka Hachiman Shrine
75 Butterfly and Peonies
76 UPP:The Main Gateway to the New Yoshiwara
77 Poppies
78 UPP:The Flourishing Fish Market at Nihombashi
79 VBS:Summer Breezy Evening at Ryogoku 1
80 UPP:The Cherry Blossom at the Toeizan Kaneiji Temple
81 VBS:Summer Breezy Evening at Ryogoku 2
82 CNB:Moonlight Over the Sumida River in Edo
83 Summer Evening by the Sumida River at Ryogoku
84 CNB:Cherry Blossom at Asuka in Edo
85 Hokusai's Sketches "Sumo Wrestling"
86 CNB:Snow at Saga in Yamashiro
87 Pilgrims at the Hosenji Temple in Terajima
88 CNB:Cherry Blossom at Arashiyama in Yamashiro
89 Night Raid of Chushingura(Right sheet of the triplet)
90 CNB:Snow at Nose in Settsu
91 Night Raid of Chushingura(Center sheet of the triplet)
92 CNB:The New Moon at the Yodogawa River in Settsu
93 Night Raid of Chushingura(Left sheet of the triplet)
94 CNB:Cherry Blossom at Sakuranomiya Shrine in Settsu
95 Cherry Blossom and Hawk
96 UPP:Watching Fireworks on a Summer Evening at Ryogoku Bridge
97 Sparrow and Cotton Roses
98 Snow, Moon and Cherry Blossoms :Sumida
99 Bird's-eye View of the Famous Places on Kiso Highway
100 Unveiling the Sacred Statue at the Kameido Shrine
101 Paddy Bird and Magnolia Flowers
102 Onikojima Yataro Nishihoin Akabozu
103 Mount Fuji
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Hokusai's brief chronology
Horeki 10 (1760)
Born in Honjo Warigesui（present-day Kamezawa, Sumida City）on September 23, and called Tokitaro.
An-ei 7 (1778)
Enters the studio of Katsukawa Shunsho, one of the leading designers of actor prints.
An-ei 8 (1779)
Calls himself Shunro after his mentor and issue his first prints.
Kansei 7(1795)
Adopts the name Sori. Over the next decade, designs numerous surimono and plates for poetry albums.
Kansei 11(1799)
Announces his change of name to Hokusai.
Kansei,Bunka,Tempo Era (1800s)
Illustrates many popular albums of views of Edo in perspective.
Settles in Kamezawa-cho.
Publishes the sketchbook 1st volume.
Tempo 2-5 (1831-4)
Publishes the series “Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji”.
Tempo 3 (1832)
Publishes the series "Going the Round of the Waterfalls in All Provinces"
Tempo 4 (1833)
Publishes the series "Changing Nature at Outstanding Beauty Spots"
Tempo 5 (1834)
Publishes the series "Remarkable Views of the Bridges in all Provinces"
Tempo 6 (1835)
Publishes the series "Illustrated Hyakunin-Isshu(100 poems by 100 poets), told by the Nurse"
Publishes 2 pictures, “Dragon flying over Mt. Fuji” and “Tiger in the rain”.
Dies on April 18 and is buried at Seikyoji Temple in Asakusa, Edo.
A commentary on Hokusai's works
 Thirty-six
Views of Mt. Fuji
“Sunset View across Ryogokubashi Bridge from Onmayagashi”
“Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji” is one of his representative woodblock print series which was produced with Mount Fuji as its motif during the Tempo 2-5 (1831-4) . As the title suggests, this series would originally be completed with thirty-six pictures. However, it became so popular that 10 pictures were additionally produced with the outlines of Mt.Fuji printed in black not blue ink. Therefore, it actually consists of 46 pictures in all.
 Remarkable
Views of the Bridges
in all Provinces
“The Hanging-cloud Bridge at Mt. Gyodo in Ashikaga”
This series “Remarkable Views of the Bridges in all Provinces” is composed of eleven pictures with bridges as its theme. It was released at Tempo 5 (1834). The landscapes drawn in this series are not actual but imaginary, which might be inspired by his peculiar style matured through learning Western perspective and Chinese touch.
Illustrated
*Hyakunin‐Isshu
(100 poems by 100 poets), told by the Nurse
“Harumichi no Tsuraki”
Illustrated Hyakunin-Isshu series was produced at Tempo 6 (1835) with the intention of helping kids understand easily "100 Poems by 100 Poets" as if a nurse narrated the story to them. In fact, the series did not sell so much as expected, and the publication was halted after twenty pictures was printed. In any case, there is no guestion that Hokusai showed so great zeal for the series from an educated point that himself and his apprentices seemed to work on it.
As a result, seventy-one rough sketches are found separately from pictures actually published.
*Hyakunin-Isshu
It is an anthology of 100 poems written by 100 different noted poets (seventy-nine men and twenty-one women )during the 7th -13th centuries, which was edited by Fujiwara no Teika at the beginning of the 13th century. It has been gradually spread through the card game based on the collection, called karuta.
 Keshizu (Poppies)
This is one of the birds and flowers series in large format (called Onishiki for its size of 39.3cm×26.3cm) , which consists of ten pictures in all. It's thought to have been published around the first year of the Tempo era. In this picture, the widely arced stems on the left hand and the blotted background in a light indigo evoke the windblown scene and the vast expanse of the sky vividly. The poppy, therefore looks as if it were swaying in a cool breeze. In addition, the composition and coloring enhance its magnificence. As a whole, this picture makes so modern impression that we might probably take it for the work by a current artist.
 Changing Nature at Outstanding
Beauty Spots
“Moonlight Over the Sumida River in Edo”
This series is made up of triplet landscapes of 3 provinces; Toto, Settsu and Yamashiro. It is considered to have been published between the end of the Bunsei era (1818-1830) and the beginning of the Tempo era (1830-1844). Although it isn't so characteristic in composition and scale, it has deep color tones never seen in other series and makes a very favorable impression. It is contemporary with "Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji" .
 Hokusai's Sketches
"Sumo"
"Hokusai's Sketches" is a masterpiece of sketchbook and consists of 15 volumes that contain more than three thousand drawings in total. The 1st volume was published in Bunka 11 (1814) and was completed in the Meiji era. It is also known to have immensely influenced the Impressionists in France and other European countries.
 Uki-e,
Perspective‐Picture,
New Edition
“Chushingura”
Act XI"
Adopting the perspective of Western European pictures, Hokusai started to depict the scenery with people in Edo for poetry albums in the Kansei era. This new-type pictures were called uki-e (literally "floating picture") because the foreground looks raised or floating.
“Chushingura”
It's the most favorite tales of loyalty and revenge with Japanese people. The forty-seven faithful retainers of Lord Asano plotted revenge in secret and made night raid upon Lord Kira's house in Genroku 15(1703). The tale has been retold many times in the play and movies.
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