Hanga

Bokashi Prints (409)

Bokashi (ぼかし) — the graduated color printing technique that is a hallmark of Japanese woodblock printmaking. Achieved by wiping ink across the block in a gradient before printing, bokashi creates atmospheric skies, misty backgrounds, and luminous color transitions.

Artists Known for Bokashi

Lake Chuzenji, Nikko (Nikko Chuzenjiko) by Kawase Hasui

Lake Chuzenji, Nikko (Nikko Chuzenjiko)

Nikko Chuzenjiko

1930

Color woodblock print; oban

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

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

Miyajima in Snow (Yuki no Miyajima) by Kawase Hasui

Miyajima in Snow (Yuki no Miyajima)

Yuki no Miyajima

1929

Color woodblock print; oban

The Beach at Kaiganji in Sanuki Province (Sanuki Kaiganji no hama), from the series "Collection of Views of Japan II, Kansai Edition (Nihon fukei shu II Kansai hen)" by Kawase Hasui

The Beach at Kaiganji in Sanuki Province (Sanuki Kaiganji no hama), from the series "Collection of Views of Japan II, Kansai Edition (Nihon fukei shu II Kansai hen)"

1934

Color woodblock print; oban

A Section of the Byodo Temple at Uji (Uji Byodoin no ichibu), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)" by Kawase Hasui

A Section of the Byodo Temple at Uji (Uji Byodoin no ichibu), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)"

Uji Byodoin no ichibu

1921

Color woodblock print; oban

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

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

Mizuagehi [Sado shoken]

1921

Color woodblock print; oban

Omiya in Rain (Ame no Omiya) by Kawase Hasui

Omiya in Rain (Ame no Omiya)

Ame no Omiya

1930

Color woodblock print; oban

Rain at Maekawa in Sagami Province (Soshu Maekawa no ame), from the series "Selection of Views of the Tokaido (Tokaido fukei senshu)" by Kawase Hasui

Rain at Maekawa in Sagami Province (Soshu Maekawa no ame), from the series "Selection of Views of the Tokaido (Tokaido fukei senshu)"

1932

Color woodblock print; oban

Mount Fuji on a Moonlit Night, Kawai Bridge (Tsukiyo no Fuji [Kawaibashi]), from the series "Selection of Views of the Tokaido (Tokaido fukei senshu)" by Kawase Hasui

Mount Fuji on a Moonlit Night, Kawai Bridge (Tsukiyo no Fuji [Kawaibashi]), from the series "Selection of Views of the Tokaido (Tokaido fukei senshu)"

1947

Color woodblock print; oban

Pine Beach at Miho (Miho no Matsubara), from the series "Selection of Views of the Tokaido (Tokaido fukei senshu)" by Kawase Hasui

Pine Beach at Miho (Miho no Matsubara), from the series "Selection of Views of the Tokaido (Tokaido fukei senshu)"

September 1931

Color woodblock print; oban

A Farmhouse in Autumn, Ayashi, Miyagi Prefecture (Noka no aki (Miyagi ken Ayashi) by Kawase Hasui

A Farmhouse in Autumn, Ayashi, Miyagi Prefecture (Noka no aki (Miyagi ken Ayashi)

Noka no aki (Miyagi ken Ayashi

1946

Color woodblock print

Seto, Bishu, from the series "Selection of Views of the Tokaido" (Tokaido fukei senshu, Bishu Seto) by Kawase Hasui

Seto, Bishu, from the series "Selection of Views of the Tokaido" (Tokaido fukei senshu, Bishu Seto)

March 1934

Color woodblock print

Setting Sun over Pines, Suzukawa Beach (Tokaido fukei senshu, Matsu no sekiyo (Suzukawa kaigan)), from the series "Selection of Views of the Tokaido" by Kawase Hasui

Setting Sun over Pines, Suzukawa Beach (Tokaido fukei senshu, Matsu no sekiyo (Suzukawa kaigan)), from the series "Selection of Views of the Tokaido"

1940

Color woodblock print

Tokaido, Nissaka, from the series "Selection of Views of the Tokaido" (Tokaido fukei senshu, Tokaido Nissaka) by Kawase Hasui

Tokaido, Nissaka, from the series "Selection of Views of the Tokaido" (Tokaido fukei senshu, Tokaido Nissaka)

1942

Color woodblock print

Tokaido, Shimada, from the series "Selection of Views of the Tokaido" (Tokaido fukei senshu, Tokaido Shimada) by Kawase Hasui

Tokaido, Shimada, from the series "Selection of Views of the Tokaido" (Tokaido fukei senshu, Tokaido Shimada)

1942

Color woodblock print

Tokaido, Utsunoya, from the series "Selection of Views of the Tokaido (Tokaido fukei senshu)" by Kawase Hasui

Tokaido, Utsunoya, from the series "Selection of Views of the Tokaido (Tokaido fukei senshu)"

1947

Color woodblock print; oban

Evening Moon at Nakanoshima, Sapporo (Sapporo Nakanoshima no yuzuki), from the series "Collection of Views of Japan, Eastern Japan Edition (Nihon fukei shu higashi Nihon hen)" by Kawase Hasui

Evening Moon at Nakanoshima, Sapporo (Sapporo Nakanoshima no yuzuki), from the series "Collection of Views of Japan, Eastern Japan Edition (Nihon fukei shu higashi Nihon hen)"

March 1933

Color woodblock print; oban

Hachinohe-Same, from the series "Collection of Views of Japan, Eastern Japan Edition (Nihon fukei shu higashi Nihon hen)" by Kawase Hasui

Hachinohe-Same, from the series "Collection of Views of Japan, Eastern Japan Edition (Nihon fukei shu higashi Nihon hen)"

1933

Color woodblock print; oban

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

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

Obama Horikawa

1920

Color woodblock print; oban

Shin Ohashi Bridge (Shin Ohashi), from the series "Twenty View of Tokyo (Tokyu nijukkei)" by Kawase Hasui

Shin Ohashi Bridge (Shin Ohashi), from the series "Twenty View of Tokyo (Tokyu nijukkei)"

1926

Color woodblock print; oban

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

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

Toyama no hara

1920

Color woodblock print

Mt. Fuji in Rain (Ame no Fuji) by Kawase Hasui

Mt. Fuji in Rain (Ame no Fuji)

n.d.

Color woodblock print

Matsushima in Moonlight (Tsuki no Matsushima) by Kawase Hasui

Matsushima in Moonlight (Tsuki no Matsushima)

1919

Color woodblock print

Mishima River, Mutsu by Kawase Hasui

Mishima River, Mutsu

Summer 1919

Woodblock print, ink and color on paper

Kaesong, Korea (Chosen Kaijo), from the series "Korean Views Supplement (Zoku Chosen fukei)" by Kawase Hasui

Kaesong, Korea (Chosen Kaijo), from the series "Korean Views Supplement (Zoku Chosen fukei)"

1940

Color woodblock print; oban

Egret Standing in Rain by Ohara Koson

Egret Standing in Rain

1928

Color woodblock print; oban

Dawn over Lake Shoji by Kawase Hasui

Dawn over Lake Shoji

c. 1935

Color woodblock print; shikishiban

Evening Snow at Shiha Park, Tokyo by Kawase Hasui

Evening Snow at Shiha Park, Tokyo

1932

Woodblock print

Fuji River by Kawase Hasui

Fuji River

February 1933

Woodblock print, ink and color on paper

Kiyozumi Garden in Moonlight by Kawase Hasui

Kiyozumi Garden in Moonlight

January 1938

Woodblock print, ink and color on paper

Late Snow Along Edo River by Kawase Hasui

Late Snow Along Edo River

1932

Woodblock print

Pine Tree in Clear Weather after Snow by Kawase Hasui

Pine Tree in Clear Weather after Snow

August 1929

Woodblock print, ink and color on paper

Saishoin Temple in Snow, Hirosaki by Kawase Hasui

Saishoin Temple in Snow, Hirosaki

description

Woodblock print

Spring Dusk at the Tōshō Shrine in Ueno by Kawase Hasui

Spring Dusk at the Tōshō Shrine in Ueno

1948

Woodblock print, ink and color on paper

The Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku) by Hiroshi Yoshida

The Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku)

Kinkaku

1933

Color woodblock print

Clearing after a Snow in the Pines (Matsu no yukibare) by Kawase Hasui

Clearing after a Snow in the Pines (Matsu no yukibare)

August 1929

Color woodblock print

The Sumida River in Mist (Sumidagawa, kiri), from the series "Twelve Scenes of Tokyo (Tokyo junidai)" by Hiroshi Yoshida

The Sumida River in Mist (Sumidagawa, kiri), from the series "Twelve Scenes of Tokyo (Tokyo junidai)"

Sumidagawa, kiri

1926

Color woodblock print; oban

The Taj Mahal Gardens at Night, from the series "India and Southeast Asia" by Hiroshi Yoshida

The Taj Mahal Gardens at Night, from the series "India and Southeast Asia"

1931

Color woodblock print

Eastern Hamlet, Horyu Temple (Horyuji higashi sato) by Kawase Hasui

Eastern Hamlet, Horyu Temple (Horyuji higashi sato)

1956

Color woodblock print

Evening Snow at the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji no bosetsu) by Kawase Hasui

Evening Snow at the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji no bosetsu)

circa 1935

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

Moon over Kiyosumi Garden (Tsuki no Kiyosumien) by Kawase Hasui

Moon over Kiyosumi Garden (Tsuki no Kiyosumien)

1938

Color woodblock print; oban

Sacred Bridge in Nikko (Nikko Shinkyo) by Kawase Hasui

Sacred Bridge in Nikko (Nikko Shinkyo)

1930

Color woodblock print; oban

Spring at Pyongyang (Pubyok Pavilion from Moran Hill) by Kawase Hasui

Spring at Pyongyang (Pubyok Pavilion from Moran Hill)

1939

Woodblock print, ink and color on paper

Tengui Rock, Autumn in Shiobara (Shiobara no aki (Tenguiwa)) by Kawase Hasui

Tengui Rock, Autumn in Shiobara (Shiobara no aki (Tenguiwa))

1950

Color woodblock print

Tsubosaka Temple, Yamato (Yamato Tsubosakadera) by Kawase Hasui

Tsubosaka Temple, Yamato (Yamato Tsubosakadera)

1950

Color woodblock print

Tsushima Shrine, Aichi Prefecture (Tsushima jinja (Aichi ken)) by Kawase Hasui

Tsushima Shrine, Aichi Prefecture (Tsushima jinja (Aichi ken))

1948

Color woodblock print

Yakuo Temple, Mito (Mito Yakuoin) by Kawase Hasui

Yakuo Temple, Mito (Mito Yakuoin)

1945

Color woodblock print

Autumn at the Arayu Hot Spring, Shiobara by Kawase Hasui

Autumn at the Arayu Hot Spring, Shiobara

Autumn 1920

Woodblock print, ink and color on paper

Kiyomizu Temple in Rain (Ame no Kiyomizudo), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)" by Kawase Hasui

Kiyomizu Temple in Rain (Ame no Kiyomizudo), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)"

1921

Color woodblock print; oban

Fujiyama from Okitsu by Hiroshi Yoshida

Fujiyama from Okitsu

1928

Color woodblock print

Akashi-cho after Rain (Akashi-cho no ugo), from the series "Twenty Views of Tokyo (Tokyo nijukkei)" by Kawase Hasui

Akashi-cho after Rain (Akashi-cho no ugo), from the series "Twenty Views of Tokyo (Tokyo nijukkei)"

1928

Color woodblock print; oban

Clearing after a Snowfall at the Sekiyado (Sekiyado no yukibare) by Kawase Hasui

Clearing after a Snowfall at the Sekiyado (Sekiyado no yukibare)

1946

Color woodblock print

Clearing after a Snowfall on Mount Fuji (Tagonoura Beach) (Fuji no yukibare (Tagonoura)) by Kawase Hasui

Clearing after a Snowfall on Mount Fuji (Tagonoura Beach) (Fuji no yukibare (Tagonoura))

January 1932

Color woodblock print

Clearing after a Snowfall, Yoshida (Yoshida no yukibare) by Kawase Hasui

Clearing after a Snowfall, Yoshida (Yoshida no yukibare)

1944

Color woodblock print

Daybreak over Lake Yamanaka (Yamanakako no akatsuki) by Kawase Hasui

Daybreak over Lake Yamanaka (Yamanakako no akatsuki)

1931

Color woodblock print

Departing Spring by Kawase Hasui

Departing Spring

Spring 1925

Woodblock print, ink and color on paper with mica

Sailing Boats: Morning (Hansen, asa), from the series "Seto Inland Sea (Seto Naikai shu)" by Hiroshi Yoshida

Sailing Boats: Morning (Hansen, asa), from the series "Seto Inland Sea (Seto Naikai shu)"

Hansen, asa

1926

Color woodblock print

Dusk at Byodo Temple (Byodoin no yu) by Kawase Hasui

Dusk at Byodo Temple (Byodoin no yu)

1950

Color woodblock print

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

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

1920

Color woodblock print; oban

Evening at Tago Bay (Tago no ura no yube), from the series "Selection of Views of the Tokaido (Tokaido fukei senshu)" by Kawase Hasui

Evening at Tago Bay (Tago no ura no yube), from the series "Selection of Views of the Tokaido (Tokaido fukei senshu)"

1940

Color woodblock print; oban

Related Subjects

Frequently Asked Questions

Bokashi (ぼかし) — the graduated color printing technique that is a hallmark of Japanese woodblock printmaking. Achieved by wiping ink across the block in a gradient before printing, bokashi creates atmospheric skies, misty backgrounds, and luminous color transitions.

Kawase Hasui, Takahashi Shotei, and Tsuchiya Koitsu are among the artists most associated with bokashi in our collection. Browse the full list of artists who explored this subject above.

Hanga currently catalogues 409 prints tagged with bokashi, spanning ukiyo-e, shin-hanga, and sōsaku-hanga traditions where applicable.