Kuniyoshi's Cats: Ukiyo-e's Greatest Cat Lover
Cats performing kabuki, cats running fish stalls, cats standing in for political satire — Kuniyoshi's love of cats produced some of the most charming and surprisingly sharp prints in all of ukiyo-e. A guide for cat lovers everywhere.
Ghosts, Monsters, and Ukiyo-e: The Art That Became J-Horror and Anime
The ghost in The Ring, the spirits in Studio Ghibli, the demons in Demon Slayer — their visual language traces directly back to Edo-period woodblock prints. A guide to Japan's long, rich tradition of beautiful, unsettling art.
- 27 May, 2026
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Aiiro
Sharaku: The Artist Who Appeared for Ten Months and Vanished
In 1794, an unknown artist created 140 striking kabuki actor portraits — then vanished ten months later. Who was Sharaku? Ukiyo-e's greatest unsolved mystery.
Ukiyo-e and Anime: Japan's 400-Year Visual DNA
From Hokusai's bold outlines to Miyazaki's compositions — ukiyo-e and anime share 400 years of visual DNA. Discover the connections you never knew were there.
Best Museums to See Ukiyo-e in Tokyo (2026 Visitor Guide)
Where to see real ukiyo-e prints in Tokyo — a practical guide to the Ōta Memorial Museum, Sumida Hokusai Museum, and Tokyo National Museum.
Hiroshige and the 53 Stations of the Tōkaidō: A Visual Journey
Rain, snow, mountain passes at dusk — Hiroshige's Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō is one of the greatest journey narratives in art history. Here's why.
Utamaro's Women: Understanding Bijin-ga (Beautiful Women Prints)
Kitagawa Utamaro transformed how women were depicted in ukiyo-e. Here's what makes bijin-ga — and Utamaro's gaze in particular — so enduring.
How Ukiyo-e Changed Western Art: The Story of Japonisme
In 1856, a single ukiyo-e print arrived in Paris as packing material — and changed Western art forever. The story of Japonisme and its lasting legacy.