The Great Wave and More: Ukiyo-e Master Hokusai Will Figure Large in Japan's New Passports
- February 05, 2020 12:43
Art will be the backdrop for new passports issued after February 4 in Japan.
Works by 19th century ukiyo-e master Katsushika Hokusai from his "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji" series, including his most well-known print "The Great Wave off Kanagawa," will grace the backdrop of visa pages used for entry and exit stamps. In all, the 10-year, 54-page passport will show the 24 works from the Hokusai series in full spreads across 48 pages.
"Ukiyo-e," the mass-produced Japanese woodblock prints, were prevalent during the Edo period between the 17th and 19th centuries.
Japan's Foreign Ministry re-issued the passport with Hokusai designs to showcase Japanese culture ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. The intricate and colorful designs are also a counterfeit-prevention measure.
