Sudden Shower at Ohashi and Atake, from the series [One Hundred Famous Views of Edo]

Utagawa Hiroshige

The “Ohashi” (big bridge) depicted in this painting is one of the four bridges over the Sumida River, and was approximately 196 meters long when it was built in 1693. In addition to depicting the unique composition of the bridge intersecting with the opposite bank of the river, the artist used intersecting raindrops to beautifully express the intensity of an evening shower in summer. This work is a masterpiece by Hiroshige, who excelled at depicting rain. It is also known that Vincent van Gogh, a Post-Impressionist painter, copied this painting. it is said that Hiroshige was the first artist in the world to depict “rain” with lines, and this work showing the shape of rain must have shocked Western painters.

Thoughful Love, from the series of [Anthology of Poems : The Love Section]

Kitagawa Utamaro

The figure depicted in this painting is thought to be a merchant’s wife. The women are depicted with their cheeks on their hoofs and their narrowed eyes gazing into the void, as if their hearts are not in the right place because of their love. The faces of the women are depicted with subtle nuance, and the composition, which makes use of diagonal lines, is seamless. This work is considered to be one of Utamaro’s greatest masterpieces.

Young Woman Blowing on a “Poppin”, from the series [Ten Classes of Women’s Physiognomy]

Kitagawa Utamaro

This painting is an ambitious work by Utamaro that skillfully combines detailed gestures and facial expressions. It depicts a young girl playing with a glasswork toy called “Poppin”. The youthfulness emanating from the young girl in her prime dazzles the viewer, and the flowing curves created by the right sleeve held in the left hand are also beautifully expressed.

The Actor Icikawa Ebizo as Takemura Sadanoshin

Toshusai Sharaku

This painting, designated as a Japanese Important Cultural Property, depicts Takemura Sadanoshin, played by Ichikawa Ebizo. The heavy, weighty composition is overlaid with lines for the collar, kamishimo (a ceremonial dress), and cuffs, all of which give the impression of being tightly wrapped together by hand. Ichikawa Ebizo was an important figure in the Kabuki world who led the Edo Kabuki theater, and his incomparable style is beautifully expressed in this work. This masterpiece is one of Sharaku's most powerful works, and the unique exaggeration characteristic of Sharaku's Ukiyo-e works gives the impression of Ichikawa Ebizo's unusualness as a famous actor.

The Actor Otani Oniji Ⅲ as Edobei

Toshusai Sharaku

This painting depicts Edo-be, who appears as a villain in "Koi Nyobo Somewake Tazuna". The figure's fearless expression is depicted in the eyes glaring at his opponent, and the mouth drawn back in a tight line. The Aquiline nose face and calculated hands are beautifully depicted against a background of black mica prints. The artist used both black and light charcol ink for the lines, a technique that is particularly effective for the mouth.

The Ruined Palace at Soma

Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Kuniyoshi is often associated with this work, and for good reason. It is highly regarded as an unforgettable masterpiece that leaves a powerful impression on all who see it. This print depicts a scene from Santo Kyoden's Uto Yasukata Chugi-den, featuring Princess Takiyasha, daughter of Taira no Masakado, and a massive skeleton rendered in dramatic, symbolic form.
The most captivating element is the overwhelming presence of the gigantic skeleton, depicted across a triptych composition cleverly devised by Kuniyoshi. It is said that people of the time enjoyed ghost stories as a form of entertainment, and reflecting this culture, the painting stands out for its eerie atmosphere and emotional depth. Its dynamic composition makes it a true masterpiece of ukiyo-e.

He Looks Fierce but He's Really Great Man

Utagawa Kuniyoshi

This is one of the most famous works by Kuniyoshi Utagawa, who is known as a "master of the bizarre". This work is classified as a "Yose-e" (a type of caricature), and is a truly "bizarre" work in that it combines various human figures in various body parts and even in the physical appearance of the kimono and topknot. This work may have been inspired by the "Yose-e" works of Giuseppe Arcimboldo, an Italian painter in the late Edo period (1603-1868), when Western culture was spreading in Japan.

"White Jumping in the Waves" Zhang Shun, from the series One of the 108 heroes of the popular water margin

Utagawa Kuniyoshi

This painting depicts the fierce end of Zhang Shun, a master of the water skill, who challenged the enemy castle single-handedly and broke through the water gate, only to be attacked intensively by the enemy soldiers. It was a hit work by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, and was one of the first pieces that came to be known as Kuniyoshi the Samurai Painter. Kuniyoshi’s detailed rendering of the serpent entangled in his arm, the lion decorating the sluice gate, and the attack of arrows flying in from all directions succeed in expressing a sense of urgency throughout the painting. It is also said that tattooing became popular in the Edo period, taking advantage of Kuniyoshi’s works.

Miyamoto Musashi Kill an Enormous Whale

Utagawa Kuniyoshi

The depicted artwork portrays the heroic tale of Musashi’s warrior training, featuring a scene where he confronts and subdues a gigantic whale. The juxtaposition of Musashi’s figure, bravely challenging the immense power of the whale and the surging waves, enhances both the scale of Musashi’s valor and the overall impact of the artwork. Another captivating aspect is the contrasting portrayal of Musashi standing up against the whale, juxtaposed with the serene swimming of the whale through the sea. Furthermore, the artwork stands out with its beautiful decorative elements amidst the mighty strength of the whale.​

Shower below the Summit, from the series [Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji]

Katsushika Hokusai

The “Haku-u” (white rain) refers to an evening shower, and depicts a bright world above the clouds while lightning bolts rush through with the evening shower below the black clouds. The two contrasting worlds of shining white clouds and heavy black clouds, delicately shaped clouds and sharp lightning thunderclouds, give a strong impression. Compare this work with “Fine Wind, Clear Morning”. The “stillness” of the morning glow and the “movement” of the thunderclap, the angles of the ridges and the shapes of the clouds are exquisitely contrasted, giving us a glimpse of Hokusai’s first-rate technique.

Fine Wind, Clear Morning, from the series [Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji]

Katsushika Hokusai

“Gaifu”, a wind that is blown from the south in the early summer, is described in this painting as the moment the black surface of the mountain is gradually illuminated by the morning sun and turns red. Mt. Fuji stands motionless against the seemingly moving cirrocumulus clouds. This painting is one of Hokusai’s most outstanding works in terms of both color and form.

The Great Wave off Kanagawa, from the series [Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji]

Katsushika Hokusai

This work is world-renowned as “The Great Wave”. It is a powerful wave that captures a momentary splash of water, rising steeply from the bottom of the sea and crashing toward the wave’s crest. The “Kanagawa” in the title refers to Kanagawa-shuku post station on the Tokaido Road, which is now the city of Yokohama in Kanagawa Prefecture. The centripetal force that engulfs the viewer is the greatest characteristic of this painting. It is a historical work that has influenced many Western artists because of its strong, unforgettable form and composition using the golden ratio.