Kuniyoshi: Cats, Skeletons, and Satire — Meet Ukiyo-e's Great Outsider

Kuniyoshi: Cats, Skeletons, and Satire — Meet Ukiyo-e's Great Outsider

Fierce warrior prints, a colossal skeleton, political cartoons slipped past the censors, and an overwhelming love of cats — Kuniyoshi was unlike any other ukiyo-e artist. Here's why his work still feels completely alive.

Kuniyoshi's Cats: Ukiyo-e's Greatest Cat Lover

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

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.

Sharaku: The Artist Who Appeared for Ten Months and Vanished

Sharaku: The Artist Who Appeared for Ten Months and Vanished

Who was Sharaku? The mysterious ukiyo-e master appeared in 1794, produced around 140 stunning actor portraits, and disappeared ten months later — leaving one of art history's most captivating unsolved mysteries.

Ukiyo-e and Anime: Japan's 400-Year Visual DNA

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)

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

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.