Yuhi Waterfall in Shiobara

Kawase Hasui returned more than once to Yuhi Waterfall at Shiobara, the well-known cascade in Tochigi Prefecture's Shiobara hot-spring valley. This print captures the falls descending through forested mountain terrain, employing the precise carving techniques and atmospheric bokashi gradations characteristic of shin-hanga production under the Watanabe workshop. The surrounding vegetation—rendered in deep greens and earth tones built up from multiple impressions of separately carved blocks—frames the white motion of the water, creating a tonal interplay that demonstrates the collaborative craft between Hasui's designs and the workshop's skilled carvers and printers. The vertical oban format reinforces the downward thrust of the cascade, establishing a clear visual hierarchy from the dark canopy above to the turbulent pool below. Shiobara's combination of scenic mountain landscape and accessible resort location made it an appealing and commercially viable subject for the shin-hanga market's urban audience.