Winter Moon over Toyama Plain (Fuyu no tsuki (Toyamagahara))
Fuyu no tsuki (Toyamagahara
by Kawase Hasui
Fuyu no tsuki (Toyamagahara
by Kawase Hasui
Snow scenes represent Hasui's most valuable and technically innovative subject category — he developed specialized carving techniques specifically for depicting falling snow. These subjects carry a consistent 30–50% premium over comparable non-snow designs. Evening Snow at Kambara (a landmark design) achieved $7,200 at Tokyo auction (2024) for a Taisho-era impression. Pine Trees After Snow (first/limited edition) sold for $4,300 at Artelino (2021). Winter Moon over Toyama Moor, combining snow and night effects, reached $3,600 (2022). Pre-war lifetime editions bearing the Watanabe copyright seal (A through G types, 1926–1944) are the most desirable.
Winter Moon over Toyama Plain (December 1931) depicts the wide agricultural flatlands of the Toyama basin — one of the broadest plains in central Japan, bordered by the high peaks of the Hida and Tateyama mountain ranges — under the cold clear moonlight of a winter night. The plain's unobstructed expanse gave Hasui an unusually open horizontal composition: snow-covered rice fields or flat farmland extending to the dark mountain wall, with the moon's light reflected on the pale surface and bokashi gradations capturing the depth of winter sky. This December 1931 print complements the oban format Winter Moon at Toyamagahara from the same year, suggesting sustained engagement with the same subject.
Woodblock print
c. 1832/38
Color woodblock print; oban
Yuki no Miyajima
1929
Color woodblock print; oban
1932
Woodblock print
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Winter Moon over Toyama Plain (Fuyu no tsuki (Toyamagahara)) (Fuyu no tsuki (Toyamagahara) was created by Kawase Hasui (川瀬巴水) in December 1931.
Winter Moon over Toyama Plain (Fuyu no tsuki (Toyamagahara)) uses Bokashi, Karazuri, and Nishiki-e, on color woodblock print.
Winter Moon over Toyama Plain (Fuyu no tsuki (Toyamagahara)) was published by Watanabe Shozaburo (December 1931).
Winter Moon over Toyama Plain (Fuyu no tsuki (Toyamagahara)) depicts snow scenes, moonlight, and winter.
Winter Moon over Toyama Plain (Fuyu no tsuki (Toyamagahara)) measures 24.1 × 36.3 cm (Oban format).
