Kumamoto Castle

Kumamoto Castle — one of Japan's three great castles alongside Himeji and Matsumoto — rises on its stone ishigaki base in this woodblock print by Tomikichiro Tokuriki, its white plastered walls and distinctive curved "nanban" architecture making it immediately recognizable. Tokuriki's castle prints are characterized by his ability to capture the imposing scale and structural complexity of these fortified complexes while retaining the warmth and clarity that distinguish his best work. Kumamoto Castle, severely damaged in the 2016 earthquake and now undergoing restoration, has particular resonance as an image of monumental architecture in its intact splendor.