The Complete Hokusai

A special exhibition featuring Katsushika Hokusai is being held at Tokyo Midtown Hall in Roppongi. The exhibition shows all the different aspects of Hokusai’s achievements, life, and personality.

The exhibition consolidates all the pieces of masterpieces, namely Hokusai Manga(883 pages), Thirty-six views of Mt. Fuji(46 pieces), and One hundred Views of Mt. Fuji(102pieces).

His masterpiece. I realized he was active across a wide range of genres, including Hokusai Manga, Drawing Manuals, and Yomihon Illustrations.

Yomihon are novels that adapt Ming- or Qing-dynasty Chinese novels, incorporating Japanese legends and history. I was overwhelmed by his vigorous energy and vibrant imagination in his illustrations. The movement of human figures is nothing short of brilliant, given that I am always struggling to depict human movement.

Hokusai started his career as an ukiyo-e artist at the age of 20 and constantly challenged himself to depict every object on earth until he died at the age of 90.

I believe his enthusiasm and passion for drawing pictures supported his health. Despite being over 80 years old, Hokusai is said to have sighed that he could not draw even a single cat properly. Even at that age, Hokusai devoted himself to developing his techniques. Just before passing away, he said, “If only I could have lived for five more years, I would have become a true artist.”

Takeshi Tane, an architect, and Shin Sofue, an art director, designed the exhibition hall, which is filled with Hokusai paintings. In the room titled “Digital Hokusai,” his drawings of everyday life in the Edo period and of ghosts are displayed on the large screen. You will get involved in the Hokusai World.

This is an opportunity to encounter Hokusai’s fascination.

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Date:  July 22, 2021 – Sept. 17, 2021 (Closed on August 10, Aug.24, September 7)

Price:  Yen1,800 for adults

Yen1,200 for college and vocational students

Yen900 for high school students and younger

Tokyo Midtown 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo