The First Of Three Woodblock Print Exhibitions Has Kicked Off Near Niseko

A series of traditional woodblock print exhibitions have kicked off in the port town of Otaru.

The location is Otaru Art Base, a collection of four historic buildings nestled around the historic Otaru Canal which now serve as museums and galleries.

The special exhibitions show the evolution of the traditional woodblock aesthetic from the ukiyo-e era through the subsequent sosaku-hanga movement and shin-hanga style.

The first exhibit, “Love”, which began on 8 June and will run through 17 July, features ukiyo-e era works around the themes of romance and family bonds.

Famous woodblock prints by Kitagawa Utamaro and Utagawa Hisohige are included.

Subsequent Otaru Art Base woodblock exhibits this summer and fall are post ukiyo-e works by Kiyoshi Saito from the 20 through 28 July and Hasui Kawase and Hiroshi Yoshida from 31 August through 9 October.

The events are sponsored by The Nitori Cultural Foundation and entry to all the special exhibitions is JPY1000.

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