Beautiful Hokusai Gifts Inspired by The Famous Japanese Artist

Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) was not only one of the most famous Japanese artists, but one of the most famous and influential artists of all time.

Perhaps best known for his ukiyo-e print, “The Great Wave off Kanagawa,” his unmistakably Japanese art is immediately recognizable, and in the former case, has been replicated time and time again, featured in posters, prints, and even anime.

Hokusai’s legacy cannot be understated. His influence was noticeable even among contemporaries, including his daughter (Katsushika Ōi), as well as Utagawa Hiroshige and Utagawa Kuniyoshi.

His influence and legacy have also left their marks across both time and international boundaries, impacting the works of artists such as Loïs Mailou Jones and even Andy Warhol.

Currently (March 26th to July 16th, 2023) Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, is hosting a Hokusai Exhibit that brings together over 100 prints and paintings of Hokusai’s along with more than 200 works by students, teachers, and other artists influenced by Hokusai that show his effects across media, time, and place.

About Katsushika Hokusai

Often referred to simply as “Hokusai,” Katsushika Hokusai was a painter, printmaker, and one of the most influential ukiyo-e artists of the Edo Period.

Hokusai’s love of art was a lifelong passion and it is believed he started painting at an early age, as young as age 6. At the age of 18, he became a student of Katsukawa Shunshō, an ukiyo-e artist.

Artists like Katuskawa, and other members of the Katsukawa School, as it has come to be called, focused on producing ukiyo-e prints that captured stills from civil life, in particular focusing on courtesans and actors.

Some of Hokusai’s work followed in the same vein, such as “Courtesan Asleep” and “Lives of the Courtesans at Itako.” However, as Hokusai began to develop his own style, he began to take a focus on more natural subjects.

Many of his most famous works, including selections from “Thirty-Six Views of Mt. Fuji,” are ukiyo-e woodblock prints that focus on the beauty of the natural world, in particular landscapes and plant and animal life.

After Hokusai’s early years, his artistic focus shifted predominantly to cover natural subjects. After 1800, he began to publish collections of prints that were also largely inspired by nature, such as “Famous Sights of the Eastern Capital,” and “A Tour of the Waterfalls of the Provinces.”

Later in life, Hokusai produced his famous “One Hundred Views of Mt. Fuji,” a series of three illustrated books which became famous in Japan and abroad, and is respected as one of the most influential sets of Japanese illustrated books (e-hon) ever produced.

The collection captures over 100 views of Mt. Fuji in different seasons and conditions, immortalizing scenes of the landscape, animal and plant life, weather, and people at work.

Hokusai and his themes, which reflected the natural world, significantly influenced Japanese and Western art, including, specifically, the schools of Impressionism and Art Nouveau.

Even when taken individually and not collectively, his influence, such as in the form of “The Great Wave off Kanagawa,” has been replicated, reproduced, and parodied seemingly endlessly, a true testament to its aesthetic allure and artistic intrigue.

Few if any other artists have had such an influence on art history. Shortly before his death, Hokusai composed the following haiku:

Though as a ghost

I shall lightly tread

The summer fields.

It’s almost as if he foresaw the portentousness that would be his influence on art in both the East and the West.

This influence is apparent not only in our ongoing Hokusai Exhibit, but also in our collection of Hokusai gifts, featured in our museum store.

Unique Hokusai Gifts

Hokusai’s most famous creations don’t need to be reserved for the art galleries. Thanks to our museum gift store’s unique curation of Hokusai gifts (some of which are fairly new) you can bring home a piece of Hokusai for yourself.

The Great Wave D-Ring Belt

Our museum store carries D-ring belts, featuring a novel “Great Wave” motif, which are both unique and practical.

The D-ring belt is durable and easy to adjust very precisely, and at 47” long, it’s a one-size-fits most design.

This Great Wave D-Ring Belt is great for putting an artistic slant on almost any outfit!

Hokusai Wrestler/Warrior Magnet Set

Looking for a simple, affordable way to bring the spirit of Hokusai into your home?

This Hokusai magnet set (which sports two pieces from an untitled collection of warriors in combat) is great for fridges and other appliances.

For just a few dollars you can get this Hokusai gift or give it to a friend that loves art.

Hokusai Phoenix Silk Scarf

Are you looking for a Hokusai gift to pair with an outfit that’s a little more bright and eye-catching than our Hokusai belt?

Don’t miss a chance to take a look at this Hokusai Phoenix Silk Scarf. A picture says a thousand words.

The Care-of-the-Aged Falls in Mino Province: Tumbler

This 8” high, 20 ounce stainless steel tumbler will let you take a little bit of Hokusai’s spirit with you anywhere.

It also captures Hokusai’s print, “The Care-of-the-Aged Falls in Mino Province,” in stunning, vivid color.

The Care of Aged Falls in Mino Province: Throw

Showcase your appreciation for Hokusai’s influence and love of the natural world with this 4’x5’ silk-touch fleece that also captures the spirit of Hokusai’s “The Care-of-the-Aged Falls in Mino Province.”

It’s great for your home or makes a lovely gift.

Edna Boies Hopkins Fuchsia Woodblock Tote

Last but not least, our collection of Hokusai gifts includes this Fuchsia Woodblock Tote, inspired by the work of Edna Boies Hopkins, who was in turn influenced by Hokusai’s style.

It’s made in America, has a metal clasp closure and even features a small inside pocket, making it not only beautiful but functional.

Visit Our Online Museum Store

You can peruse these and other unique Hokusai gifts in our online museum store. Check them out here first and if any of them strikes your fancy, bring it home.

Also, if you’re in our area anytime between now and July, make plans to see our Hokusai Exhibit and visit our museum store to discover new Hokusai gifts like these - and a wide variety of others, including Hokusai prints, posters, and stationery.

If a picture says a thousand words, an experience says a million.