Hokusai’s Mt. Fuji Picture Book: The Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji and Fugaku Hyakkei

日本語版はこちら： 『対訳 北斎の富士』｜富嶽三十六景と富嶽百景で見る江戸の暮らし

Hokusai and Mount Fuji

Katsushika Hokusai, the brilliant ukiyo-e artist of the Edo period, once wrote the following at the age of seventy-five:

“Everything I produced before the age of seventy is hardly worth taking into account.
Only after seventy did I begin to understand the true form of things and the life of nature.”

True to these words, it was after the age of seventy that Hokusai created his famous series Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji, depicting the mountain from many different perspectives.

Later he also published an illustrated book titled Fugaku Hyakkei (One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji).
In this work, Hokusai often focused not only on Mount Fuji itself but also on the people who look toward the mountain. Through these images, we can glimpse the daily life and culture of people in Edo-period Japan.

The Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji and Fugaku Hyakkei

Throughout his life, Katsushika Hokusai created many works featuring Mount Fuji. These works are among the most famous masterpieces of Japanese art.
Among them, the most famous are the woodblock print series Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji and the illustrated book Fugaku Hyakkei (One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji).

Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji, published in the 1830s, is one of Hokusai’s most celebrated works.
The series depicts Mount Fuji from many different locations and seasons, capturing the relationship between the mountain and the people who lived around it.
Famous prints such as The Great Wave off Kanagawa and Fine Wind, Clear Morning (“Red Fuji”) are known throughout the world.

In contrast, Fugaku Hyakkei, created in Hokusai’s later years, is an illustrated book consisting mainly of expressive line drawings.
Rather than focusing only on the mountain itself, many of the images show people observing Mount Fuji in everyday situations.

Through these works, Hokusai not only portrayed the majestic beauty of Mount Fuji but also offered vivid glimpses of daily life and culture in Edo-period Japan.

A Glimpse Inside the Book “Hokusai’s Mt.Fuji”

In this book, you can admire Hokusai’s world-famous masterpiece “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” from the series Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji at its original size.

You can also enjoy the unique aspects of Japanese culture and Hokusai’s playful sense of humor.

If you are interested in Mount Fuji and Japanese culture, this book is the perfect companion for you!

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I also recommend Choju-giga, a scroll featuring frolicking animals, often regarded as the origin of manga, produced about 900 years ago.

Learn More About Japanese Art

• What Is Choju-giga? Japan’s Famous Animal Scroll Often Called the World’s Oldest Manga
• What Are the Rabbit and Monkey Doing in Choju-giga?
• The Mysteries of Choju-giga: Hidden Meanings in Japan’s Famous Animal Scroll
• Katsushika Hokusai’s Life in 3 Minutes | Japanese Ukiyo-e Master
• Mount Fuji Worship: Why Japan’s Sacred Mountain Is Revered