Research NavigationFind information on Ukiyo-e (Japanese Woodblock Printing)

Ukiyo-e arose among middle classes in the Edo period. This gave a great impact on European artists in modern art. Ukiyo-e is regarded as the leading art of Japan now days and it is a subject of pleasure, collection and research. To learn more about Ukiyo-e, the best way is to look at various Ukiyo-e works. You will enjoy prosperous Ukiyo-e world more through learning more about its emergence and history.

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Looking at Ukiyo-e by Database, Art Book, Original Work

By database

There are a number of databases available to view Ukiyo-e throughout the world. Many organizations holding Ukiyo-e release their collections to the public on their website. *The number of Ukiyo-e works described below is the data taken on March 2011.

• Ukiyo-e viewing system, The Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum, Waseda University （University Website）（in Japanese only）
  Image database for about 47,000 Ukiyo-e works, mainly large collection of portrayals of actors （yakusha-e） collected from Shoyo Tsubouchi, is available. Collection data was partly taken by the Yakusha-e Kenkyukai （Research Group for Portrayals of Actors of Waseda University）.
• Image Database for Treasure Materials, Tokyo Metropolitan Library （public Website）（in Japanese only）
  About 13,600 Ukiyo-e works, mostly Yakusha-e （portrayals of actors） held at Special Collections Room of the Tokyo Metropolitan Library are available to view online.
• Rare Books of the National Diet Library （public Website）（in Japanese only）
  Almost all Nishiki-e （color woodblock prints） produced in Edo period these belong to the National Diet Library, are available to view online.
• Digital Culture Library: Nishiki-e search ［Japan Arts Council］（public Website）（in Japanese only）
  About 4,000 Ukiyo-e works, mainly Yakusha-e （portrayals of actors） owned by the National Theatre, can be viewed online.
• Ukiyo-e Database, Art Research Center, Ritsumeikan University （public Website）（in Japanese only）
  About 23,700 digital data of Ukiyo-e works and art materials held at the Art Research Center of Ritsumeikan University is available to view online. The data includes collections entrusted to release to the public from individual owners.
• Collection Search System of Hagi Uragami Museum, Yamaguchi Prefecture （Ukiyo-e search） （public Website）（in Japanese only）
  About 5,200 Ukiyo-e work collections mainly donated by an entrepreneur Toshiro Uragami who is originally from Hagi, Yamaguchi are available to view online.
• Database of Ukiyo-e held at the Library of Congress, International Research Center for Japanese Studies （public Website）
  About 2,700 Ukiyo-e collections owned by P&P （Prints and Photograph Division） of the Library of Congress is available to view online.
• Museum of Fine Arts, Boston （public Website）
  From the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston known as the treasure trove of oriental art, the largest collection of Ukiyo-e work can be viewed online.
• A Guide to the Ukiyo-e Sites of the Internet （public Website）
  The most global and useful website with links of Ukiyo-e related website. There introduces various website such as institutes holding Ukiyo-e works, Ukiyo-e collectors, online-exhibition, Ukiyo-e related academic society, Ukiyo-e dealer, auction, etc. Each database on the links is available to view Ukiyo-e works as well as obtain related information.

By Art Book/ Exhibition Catalog

Some prominent Ukiyo-e works in the world are viewable in various art books. Exhibition catalogs are also useful material to view Ukiyo-e as collections in bulk. In subject search on WINE, over 400 materials are listed with keyword "Ukiyo-e Gashuu （Art book）". Keyword search with artist name, subject name or collection name is also available.

• Ukiyo-e Shuka  (Ukiyo-e collection)  ［Shogakukan］（book）
  The finest Ukiyo-e works held by world prominent museums such as Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the Art Institute of Chicago and British Museum are available to view. 18 volumes in total.
• Nikuhitsu Ukiyo-e Taikan （General survey of original Ukiyo-e works） ［Kodansha］（book）
  The book introduces original Ukiyo-e work including the ones never-exhibited before and these are held at nationally leading museums such as Tokyo National Museum, Idemitsu Museum of Art, MOA Museum of Art, etc. 10 volumes in total.

By viewing actual Ukiyo-e

There are many opportunities to view original Ukiyo-e works. There are museums specializing Ukiyo-e art. Ukiyo-e work exhibitions are held across the nation. Or, able to participate in open bidding to view original work from Ukiyo-e dealers and antiquarian book sellers.

• DNP museum information, artscape Japan  ［Dai Nippon Printing］（public Website）
  Web magazine of information on exhibitions held at galleries, museums in Japan. （Updated on 1 and 15 every month）
• Website of Ukiyo-e Dealers Association of Japan （public Website）
  List of contact addresses of Ukiyo-e dealers, website information and bidding information.

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To search and learn about Ukiyo-e

There are various research tools to learn about Ukiyo-e. By enlarging scope from a material to reference and specialized materials, it helps to know more about Ukiyo-e in depth. Subject search with a word Ukiyo-e will give you more result to help.

To find and lean about Ukiyo-e

• Genshoku Ukiyo-e Daihyakka Jiten （Grand encyclopedia of Ukiyo-e work with original color） ［Taishukan Publishing Co.,Ltd］book）
  The largest encyclopedia of Ukiyo-e works. This contains the most important research result from "Nishikie no kaiin no koushou", "Nishikie no hori to suri" written by Kendo Ishii. This consists of 11 volumes with topics of history, artist, style, publishers, genre, title, Ukiyo-e works （1-4）, Kabuki, pleasure quarters. This is also rich collection of prominent Ukiyo-e works of various styles.
• Ukiyo-e Daijiten （Encyclopedia of Ukiyo-e） ［Tokyodo Shuppan］（book）
  Widely contains about 1,600 Ukiyo-e topics such as artists, works, title, customs, manners, entertainment, etc. This encyclopedia contains the latest research results. Able to search items from artists' family name, first name, pen name. List of seal of approval （kai-in） from 1790 to 1875 is available.
• Ukiyo-e no Kanshou Kiso Chishiki  （Basic knowledge to view Ukiyo-e） ［Shibundo］（book）
  A book compiled necessary basic knowledge to view Ukiyo-e works. This book contains good information including articles on interesting Ukiyo-e theme to grasp Ukiyo-e works by casual reading.
• Ukiyoeshi Retsuden （A series of biographies of Ukiyo-e artists） ［Bessatsu Taiyo/ Heibonsha］（book）
  Lists 57 Ukiyo-e artists who were active from early Edo to the end of Meiji era. The series introduces their visual Ukiyo-e arts including major lineage trees with chronology line of 276 artists.
• Kabuki Nenpyou （Kabuki Chronology） ［Ihara Toshiro, Iwanami Shoten］（book）
  Record of Kabuki play performed in Kamigata （Edo） from the beginning of Edo to 40th of Meiji era （1907）. This material is essential in considering Yakusha-e （Kabuki- actor pictures）.
• Zouho Kokon Haiyu Nigao Taizen （Enlarged Portrait Book of Kabuki Actors of All time） ［The Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum, Waseda University］（book）
  Based on Kokon Haiyu Nigao Taizen （Portrait Book of Kabuki Actors of All times）, this book compiles the greatest works of 320 actors' portraitures from Genroku to the end of Edo era created by the Third Toyokuni Utagawa. This can be used as samples to compare real face with portrait on Ukiyo-e works. This is very useful material to figure who is the actor.
• Ukiyo-e Geijutsu （The Journal of the Japan Ukiyo-e Society） ［International Ukiyo-e Society］（periodical）
  Journal of International Ukiyo-e society which is the only academic society on Ukiyo-e in Japan. This is published biannually. Contains special topics, the latest research result, technology introduction, museum guide in addition to articles, description of Ukiyo-e materials, etc. Contents of journal are available on the official website.
• Ukiyo-e Refarensu Jiten （Index to compete series of Ukiyo-e） ［Nichigai Associate］（book）
  Indexical search for 25,612 Ukiyo-e works listed in 353 books of major 73 art book titles. This also contains bibliographic data from 1,030 private art collection books.

To find interpretation of Ukiyo-e works

• Edo no Shibai-e wo yomu （To view Shiai-e in Tokyo） ［Yukio Hattori, Kodansha］（book）
  In addition to visual information from works, these are scientifically analyzed and examined with related publications such as playbills. This book verifies that Shibai-e （Yakusha-e: Kabuki actor pictures） was closely connected to actual Kabuki plays.
• Hiroshige to Ukiyo-e fukeiga  (Hiroshige and Ukiyo-e landscape work) ［Okubo Junichi, Tokyo University Press］（book）
  Hiroshige described image of popular places for people in Edo and became very popular. The book questions how his original landscape works, mixture of unreality and reality was produced. The author analyzes Hiroshige's techniques of space molding by means of perspective drawing.
• Ukiyo-e ha kataru （Ukiyo-e talks）[ Asano　Shugou/　Kodansha Gendai Shinsho」(book)
  With the example of Bijin-e （Beautiful-woman picture）, Yakusha-e （Portrayals of actors） and Meisho-e （Landscape work） by Utamaro, Sharaku, Hokusai, etc, Ukiyo-e works are interpreted by referring related Ukiyo-e materials. Their techniques can be learned by tracing printing process of their works.