日本のよいものを世界へ

Holding period

2022.09.21 〜 2022.11.27

Introducing the fascination of itabon painted by Hokusai and his students.

When we hear the word “Ukiyo-e”, we often think of single-sheet prints such as “Fugaku Sanjurokkei (Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji)”, but in fact, it is said that only the pictures gradually became independent from “itabon”. Ukiyoe artist Katsushika Hokusai also published many itabon, including illustrations for stories and his own picture handbooks.
This exhibition focuses on itabon, and displays approximately 110 itabon painted by Katsushika Hokusai and his students, including those from the periods before and after his death. Chapter 1, “Basic Knowledge of Itabon,” introduces basic knowledge of itabon, including its form, wood, wrapping paper, and classification by content (genre), which will be helpful in understanding the itabon of Katsushika Hokusai’s lifetime. Chapter 2, “Topics Related to Itabon,” presents unknown knowledge about itabon, such as the difference between first and second printing, as well as a picture scroll-like itabon produced by Katsushika Hokusai, “Emoto Sumida River: List of Both Banks” and others. Chapter 3, “Traces of Owners and Readers,” introduces the traces left on the itabon by the time it came into the museum’s possession, including the joy of acquisition written by the owner and doodles by the readers. Chapter 4, “Superior Itabon” exhibits a number of superior itabon works, including a multicolor Nishikie-like book and a rare book on display for the first time in the museum’s collection.

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