Exhibitions

The special Five Ukiyo-e Favorites; UTAMARO, SHARAKU, HOKUSAI, HIROSHIGE, and KUNIYOSHI exhibition finished earlier than scheduled to prevent further expansion of coronavirus infection. We apologize to everyone who was still looking forward to visiting the exhibition and appeal for your kind understanding.

Tōshūsai Sharaku, The Actor Ōtani Oniji III as Edovei, May, 1794, Ōban nishiki-e, The Art Institute of Chicago, Clarence Buckingham Collection
Photography ©︎ The Art Institute of Chicago

Outline

This exhibition focuses on Kitagawa Utamaro, Tōshūsai Sharaku, Katsushika Hokusai, Utagawa Hiroshige, and Utagawa Kuniyoshi, five of the most popular ukiyo-e artists in the history of the genre, which flourished until the late 19th century. Supervised by the International Ukiyo-e Society, the exhibition features a wealth of outstanding works, preserved in practically original condition, from both Japanese and foreign museums, and private collections. The works are especially notable for their brilliant colors and excellent printing. Moreover, some displays will be changed during the exhibition period, providing viewers with a chance to see alternative versions of the same work. This collection of masterpieces highlights each artist's distinctive features, including Utamaro's bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women), Sharaku's portraits of kabuki actors, Hokusai and Hiroshige's landscapes and bird-and-flower pictures, and Kuniyoshi's depictions of heroic warriors and witty caricatures.

Opening Hours, Closed, Admission

10:00-18:00
Open until 20:00 on Fridays
(Last admission; 30 minutes before closing)

Closed on Mondays, May 7
(Open on May 4)

Adults: ¥1,400
University and High-school students: ¥1,100
Groups of 20 people and over: Adults ¥1,200, University and High-school students ¥900
Junior high school students and under: Free

Catalog

Special Exhibition Five Ukiyo-e Favorites
UTAMARO, SHARAKU, HOKUSAI, HIROSHIGE, and KUNIYOSHI
Edited by International Ukiyo-e Society / Tokyo Metropolitan Edo-Tokyo Museum / 　Fukuoka Art Museum / Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art / The Yomiuri Shimbun Text written by Asano Shugo(Chief director, International Ukiyo-e Society/Director, The Museum Yamato Bunkakan/Director, Abeno Harukas Art Museum) / Iwakiri Yuriko (Independent Scholar of Ukiyo-e) / Kamiya Hiroshi (Executive director, International Ukiyo-e Society/Deputy Director, The Tokugawa Art Museum) / Koike Makiko (Director, International Ukiyo-e Society / Curator, "The Hara Yasusaburo Collection" Chugai-Sangyo Co., Ltd.) / Kobayashi Tadashi (President, International Ukiyo-e Society/Director, Okada Museum of Art) / Koyama Shuko (Curator, Tokyo Metropolitan Edo Tokyo Museum) / Koyama Shuko (Curator, Tokyo Metropolitan Edo-Tokyo Museum) / Goto Hisashi (Curator, Fukuoka Art Museum) / Nakazawa Mai (Curator, Hiroshige Museum of Art, Ena) / Yura Arou (Curator, Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art) Translated by Marcha J. McClintock Proofreading and Editorial Assistant: Tanaka Akira Produced by Bijutsu Shuppan-Sha Co., Ltd., Design Center Printed by Mitsusmura Printing Co., Ltd. Published by The Yomiuri Shimbun