Kawase Hasui

川瀬巴水

Also known as: Hasui Kawase

1883–1957

Japan

Biography

Kawase Hasui (1883–1957) was one of the most important Japanese woodblock print artists of the twentieth century and a central figure in the shin-hanga ("new prints") movement that revitalized traditional ukiyo-e printmaking in modern Japan. Over a career spanning nearly four decades, he created more than six hundred woodblock print designs, earning him the epithets "Artist of Snow" and "Hiroshige of the Showa Era" for his masterful depictions of Japanese landscapes in rain, snow, moonlight, and mist.

Born Kawase Bunjiro on May 18, 1883, in Shiba Ward, Tokyo, Hasui grew up in a family that ran a silk braiding and thread wholesale business. His paternal uncle was the noted Meiji-era author and journalist Kanagaki Robun. As a child, Hasui suffered from meningitis, which left him with a quiet and introspective temperament. He showed an early passion for art but was expected to take over the family business. When the business went bankrupt around 1909, Hasui was finally free to pursue his artistic ambitions at the age of twenty-six.

Hasui's artistic training followed an indirect path. He initially studied painting under Aoyanagi Bokusen beginning in 1897, then with Araki Kan'yu from 1902. Around 1908, he approached the renowned nihonga master Kaburagi Kiyokata for instruction, but Kiyokata turned him away, calling him a late starter and advising him to study Western-style painting first. Hasui spent two years studying oil painting and watercolor under Okada Saburosuke before Kiyokata accepted him as a pupil around 1910. It was Kiyokata who bestowed upon him the art name "Hasui," meaning "spring water." Under Kiyokata's tutelage, Hasui studied ukiyo-e techniques and nihonga painting, and worked as an illustrator for magazines, books, and advertisements.

Hasui's career as a woodblock print designer began in August 1918, when he was inspired by an exhibition of Ito Shinsui's Eight Views of Lake Biwa. He approached Shinsui's publisher, Watanabe Shozaburo, who commissioned three experimental prints based on sketches Hasui had made at Shiobara. The success of these first designs launched a prolific partnership that would last for the rest of Hasui's life. In 1919, he produced the Twelve Scenes of Tokyo, Eight Views of the Southeast, and began the sixteen-print Souvenirs of Travel, First Series. By 1923, he had already created over one hundred landscape designs.

The Great Kanto Earthquake of September 1, 1923, proved catastrophic for Hasui. He lost his home and one hundred eighty-eight accumulated sketchbooks. Watanabe's entire workshop was also destroyed, including all woodblocks, the complete print inventory, and unsold prints from the unfinished Collection of Scenes of Japan series. Pre-earthquake prints by Hasui are consequently among the rarest and most sought-after shin-hanga. Despite this devastating loss, Watanabe financed a one-hundred-and-two-day sketching trip for Hasui through the Hokuriku, San'in, and San'yo regions later that year, the longest journey of his career. The sketches from this trip formed the basis for the twenty-nine prints of the Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series, published between 1924 and 1929.

During the late 1920s and 1930s, Hasui entered his most productive period. He created the Twenty Views of Tokyo between 1925 and 1930, which includes such iconic images as Zojoji Temple in Shiba, as well as the Selection of Views of Japan and the Collection of Scenic Views of Japan in both Eastern Japan and Kansai editions. While Watanabe remained his primary publisher throughout, Hasui also worked with several other publishers during this period, including Kawaguchi, Doi Teikichi, Iida, and Shiota Takezo. In 1939, he was invited by the Government Railways of Korea to visit the Korean Peninsula, resulting in the Eight Views of Korea series published by Watanabe.

The Second World War severely disrupted Hasui's career. The Japanese government controlled art production, and his peaceful landscape subjects were considered unsuitable for the wartime nationalist atmosphere. His Tokyo home was destroyed a second time by Allied firebombing in 1945, and he spent much of the war years in Shiobara, north of Tokyo. Despite these hardships, the few prints he produced during this era depicted remarkably peaceful scenes of traditional Japan.

Hasui's style is defined by his extraordinary ability to capture atmosphere and mood in landscape scenes. Working within the shin-hanga collaborative system, he designed the prints while professional carvers and printers at the Watanabe workshop executed the woodblocks and printing under his supervision. His subjects were almost exclusively landscapes—temples, shrines, coastlines, village streets, and famous scenic views throughout Japan. Of his more than six hundred designs, over four hundred were landscapes. Hasui traveled extensively throughout Japan, sketching on location with detailed color notations that he later refined into finished designs at his studio. Human figures in his compositions are typically absent or minimal, allowing the natural environment to dominate. His palette featured rich, dense colors and solid forms, blending the traditional Japanese aesthetic of the ukiyo-e landscape tradition with the Western realism he had learned from Okada Saburosuke.

After the war, the Japanese government used Hasui's work to represent a gentler side of Japan in tourist publications. In 1953, the Committee for Preservation of Intangible Cultural Treasures commissioned him to create Snow at Zojoji Temple, with the entire printmaking process documented by woodblock historian Narazaki Muneshige. The resulting print was designated an Intangible Cultural Asset. In 1956, Hasui was designated a Living National Treasure by the Japanese government, becoming the first woodblock print artist to receive this distinction.

Hasui completed his final design, Hall of the Golden Hue, Hiraizumi, while hospitalized with cancer in 1957. He did not live to see the finished print. He died on November 7, 1957, at the age of seventy-four. The first edition of his last print was distributed by his widow at a memorial service held one hundred days after his death. Today, his works are held in major museum collections worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the British Museum, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. His prints continue to be among the most recognized and collected examples of Japanese woodblock printmaking.

Key Facts

Active Period: 1883–1957
Nationality: 🇯🇵Japan
Movement: Shin-hanga
Subjects: Landscapes Temples & Shrines Rivers & Lakes Night Scenes Urban Scenes Snow Scenes
Works Indexed: 498

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Kawase Hasui known for?

When was Kawase Hasui active?

Kawase Hasui was active from 1883 to 1957. They were associated with the Shin-hanga movement.

What artistic movements influenced Kawase Hasui?

Kawase Hasui's work was shaped by the Shin-hanga tradition in Japanese woodblock printmaking. Shin-hanga: The "new prints" movement (c.

What subjects did Kawase Hasui depict?

Kawase Hasui's prints frequently feature landscapes, temples & shrines, rivers & lakes, night scenes, urban scenes, snow scenes.

Where can I see Kawase Hasui's original prints?

Original prints by Kawase Hasui can be found in collections including Art Institute of Chicago.

How much do Kawase Hasui prints cost?

Kawase Hasui is one of the most popular and widely collected shin-hanga artists, and his market spans a vast price range. Common posthumous editions can be found for as little as $300, while his rarest pre-earthquake prints in fine condition have sold for over $30,000. The edition hierarchy is the single most important pricing factor. Pre-earthquake editions (printed before September 1923, when the Great Kanto Earthquake destroyed Watanabe's blocks and stock): $5,000–$30,000+ for major subjects. Post-earthquake recut editions (from re-carved blocks, 1923–1957): $1,500–$8,000. Posthumous editions (printed after Hasui's death in 1957): $300–$1,500. The Watanabe publisher seal is the key identifier — look for the small circular 6mm seal on pre-earthquake prints. Later editions carry progressively larger rectangular seals, and the most recent posthumous editions often show visible woodblock wear with softer lines and flatter colors. Hasui's most iconic subjects command the highest prices regardless of edition: "Snow at Zojoji Temple," "Rain at Maekawa," "Shiba Zojoji Temple," and prints from his "Twenty Views of Tokyo" and "Souvenirs of Travel" series. Night scenes and snow scenes are especially popular with collectors. For new collectors, later Watanabe lifetime editions ($1,500–$4,000) offer excellent quality at moderate prices. Pre-earthquake prints are increasingly scarce on the market and represent the strongest long-term investment. Condition, color vibrancy, and margin quality are the primary factors beyond edition type.

External Resources

Woodblock print, ink and color on paper

Katsura Island, Matsushima (Matsushima Katsurashima), from the series “Souvenirs of Travel, First Series (Tabi miyage dai isshu)”

Matsushima Katsurashima

summer 1919

Color woodblock print; oban

Katsura Island, Matsushima (Matsushima Katsurashima), from the series “Souvenirs of Travel, First Series (Tabi miyage dai isshu)”

1919

Color woodblock print; oban

Appoaching Dusk on Furukawa Embankment (Kure iku Furukawazutsumi)

Kure iku Furukawazutsumi

1919

Color woodblock print; nagaban

Mishima River, Mutsu

Summer 1919

Woodblock print, ink and color on paper

Tsuta Hot Springs in Mutsu Province (Mutsu Tsuta onsen), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, First Series (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"

Mutsu Tsuta onsen

1920

Color woodblock print

Autumn at the Arayu Hot Spring, Shiobara

Autumn 1920

Woodblock print, ink and color on paper

Evening Snow at Sanjugen Canal (Sanjugenbori no bosetsu), from the series "Twelve Months of Tokyo (Tokyo junikagetsu)"

Sanjugenbori no bosetsu

1920

Color woodblock print

A Boat Laden with Masonry, Awa Province (Ishizumu fune [Boshu]), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, First Series (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"

1920

Color woodblock print; oban

Nagare Pleasure Quarter, Kanazawa (Kanazawa Nagare no kuruwa), from the series Souvenirs of Travel, First Series (Tabi miyage dai isshū)

1920

Color woodblock print

The Shinagawa Offing (Shinagawa oki), from the series "Twelve Scenes of Tokyo (Tokyo junidai)"

Shinagawa oki

1920

Color woodblock print; oban

The Hori River at Obama (Obama Horikawa), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, First Series (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"

Obama Horikawa

Snow at a Guest House Overlooking a Pond, from an untitled series of views of the Mitsubishi villa in Fukagawa

1920

Color woodblock print; oban

Lake Kugushi in Wakasa Province (Wakasa Kugushiko), from the series Souvenirs of Travel I (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"

Wakasa Kugushiko

1920

Color woodblock print; oban

A Boat Laden with Masonry, Awa Province (Ishizumu fune [Boshu]), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, First Series (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"

Ishizumu fune [Boshu]

1921

Color woodblock print; oban

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Kawase Hasui

Biography

Key Facts

Frequently Asked Questions

External Resources

Series by Kawase Hasui

Twelve Scenes of Tokyo

Souvenirs of Travel, First Series

Twelve Months of Tokyo

Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series

Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series

Twenty Views of Tokyo

Selection of Views of Japan

Eight Views of Korea

Collection of Scenic Views of Japan II, Kansai Edition

Collection of Scenic Views of Japan, Eastern Japan Edition

Korean Views Supplement

Woodblock Prints by Kawase Hasui (498)

Kiso River, Inuyama (Kisogawa (Inuyama))

Early Autumn in Itako (Itako no hatsuaki)

Kegon Falls, Nikko (Nikko Kegon-no-taki)

Senso Temple (Sensoji)

Kuri Ferry, Funabori (Kuriwatashi, Funabori)

Ushiku Marsh (Ushikunuma)

Kiso River Glowing Light at Fuji (Kisogawa yugure no Fuji)

Lake Kawaguchi Oishi (Kawaguchiko Oishi)

Mt. Fuji in Rain (Ame no Fuji)

Mount Fuji at Daybreak (Fuji no akebono)

Shiogama, Shiobara

Komagata Embankment (Komagatagashi), from the series "Twelve Scenes of Tokyo (Tokyo junidai)"

Tsuta Hot Springs in Mutsu Province (Mutsu Tsuta onsen), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, First Series (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"

Tsuta Hot Springs in Mutsu Province (Mutsu Tsuta onsen), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, First Series (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"

Shinkawa at Night (Yoru no Shinkawa), from the series "Twelve Scenes of Tokyo (Tokyo junidai)"

Matsushima in Moonlight (Tsuki no Matsushima)

Shinkawa at Night (Yoru no Shinkawa), from the series "Twelve Scenes of Tokyo (Tokyo junidai)"

Komagata Embankment (Komagatagashi), from the series "Twelve Scenes of Tokyo (Tokyo junidai)"

Misty Moonlight at Matsue in Izumo Province (Izumo Matsue [oborozuki]), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series (Tabi miyage dai sanshu)"

Komagata Embankment (Komagatagashi), from the series "Twelve Scenes of Tokyo (Tokyo junidai)"

Komagata Embankment

Katsura Island, Matsushima (Matsushima Katsurashima), from the series “Souvenirs of Travel, First Series (Tabi miyage dai isshu)”

Katsura Island, Matsushima (Matsushima Katsurashima), from the series “Souvenirs of Travel, First Series (Tabi miyage dai isshu)”

Appoaching Dusk on Furukawa Embankment (Kure iku Furukawazutsumi)

Mishima River, Mutsu

Tsuta Hot Springs in Mutsu Province (Mutsu Tsuta onsen), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, First Series (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"

Evening Snow at Sanjugen Canal (Sanjugenbori no bosetsu), from the series "Twelve Months of Tokyo (Tokyo junikagetsu)"

The Hori River at Obama (Obama Horikawa), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, First Series (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"

Dusk at the Kiba Lumber Yards (Kiba no yugure), from the series "Twelve Scenes of Tokyo (Tokyo junidai)"

Evening Snow at Sanjūgen Canal (Sanjūgenbori no bosetsu), from the unfinished series Twelve Months of Tokyo (Tōkyō jūnikagetsu)

Snow at a Guest House on Pond's Edge (Chihan kyakushitshu no yuki)

A Boat Laden with Masonry, Awa Province (Ishizumu fune [Boshu]), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, First Series (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"

Yuhi Waterfall at Shiobara (Shiobara Yuhi no taki), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, First Series (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"

The Asano River in Kanazawa (Kanazawa Asanogawa), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)"

Kami(no) Bridge, Fukagawa, from the series "Twelve Scenes of Tokyo" (Tokyo junidai, Kaminohashi)

Evening Snow at Terajima Village (Yuki ni fururu Terajima mura), from the series "Twelve Scenes of Tokyo (Tokyo junidai)"

Autumn at the Arayu Hot Spring, Shiobara

Evening Snow at Sanjugen Canal (Sanjugenbori no bosetsu), from the series "Twelve Months of Tokyo (Tokyo junikagetsu)"

A Boat Laden with Masonry, Awa Province (Ishizumu fune [Boshu]), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, First Series (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"

Nagare Pleasure Quarter, Kanazawa (Kanazawa Nagare no kuruwa), from the series Souvenirs of Travel, First Series (Tabi miyage dai isshū)

The Shinagawa Offing (Shinagawa oki), from the series "Twelve Scenes of Tokyo (Tokyo junidai)"

The Hori River at Obama (Obama Horikawa), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, First Series (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"

Lake Kugushi in Wakasa Province (Wakasa Kugushiko), from the series Souvenirs of Travel I (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"

Hori River, Obama

Snow at a Guest House Overlooking a Pond, from an untitled series of views of the Mitsubishi villa in Fukagawa

The Shinagawa Offing (Shinagawa oki), from the series "Twelve Scenes of Tokyo (Tokyo junidai)"

Toyama Plain (Toyama no hara), from the series "Twelve Scenes of Tokyo (Tokyo junidai)"

Snow at a Guest House Overlooking a Pond, from an untitled series of views of the Mitsubishi villa in Fukagawa

Lake Kugushi in Wakasa Province (Wakasa Kugushiko), from the series Souvenirs of Travel I (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"

A Boat Laden with Masonry, Awa Province (Ishizumu fune [Boshu]), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, First Series (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"

Kude Beach in Wakasa Province (Wakasa Kude no hama), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, First Series (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"

The Garden Viewed from a Western-Style Building (Yokan yori teien o nozomu)

A Water Conduit, A Scene in Sado (Mizuagehi [Sado shoken]), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)"

Moonlight over Lake Kamo in Sado Island (Getsumei no Kamoko [Sado]), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)"

Afternoon at Nino Bridge, Azabu (Azabu Ninohashi no gogo), from the series "Twelve Months of Tokyo (Tokyo junikagetsu)"

Nigatsu Hall, Nara (Nara Nigatsudo), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)"

Nigatsu Hall, Nara (Nara Nigatsudo), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)"

Some River, Koshu (Koshu Somegawa), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)"

Shimohonda-machi, Kanazawa, from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)"

Gosai Canal in Niigata (Niigata Gosaibori), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)"

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