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
Evening Rain in Kawarago (Kawarago no yau)
1947
Color woodblock print; oban
Fujiyama-First Light of the Sun, from the series "Ten Views of Fuji"
1926
Color woodblock print
Evening Shower at Imai Bridge
August 1932
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
![Evening Snow at Edo River (Kure no yuki [Edogawa]) by Kawase Hasui](https://www.artic.edu/iiif/2/4d1fe813-5700-5aa1-6d32-3fd3b59a41eb/full/843,/0/default.jpg)
Evening Snow at Edo River (Kure no yuki [Edogawa])
1932
Color woodblock print; oban
Evening Snowfall at Kiyomizu Temple (Kiyomizudera no bosetsu)
1950
Color woodblock print
Fudo Hill, Lake Yamanaka (Yamanakako, Fudozaka)
1936
Color woodblock print; oban
Hama-cho Riverbank (Hamachogashi)
August 1925
Color woodblock print
Heian Shrine, Kyoto (Heian jingu)
1936
Color woodblock print
Heirin Temple, Nobidome (Nobidome Hirinji)
1952
Color woodblock print
Horai Rock, Kiso River, from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series" (Tabi miyage dai sanshu, Kisogawa Horaiiwa)
1928
Color woodblock print
Kami(no) Bridge, Fukagawa, from the series "Twelve Scenes of Tokyo" (Tokyo junidai, Kaminohashi)
Summer 1920
Color woodblock print
Clearing after a Snowfall at the Kannon Temple in Asakusa (Asakusa Kannon no yukibare), from the series "Twenty Views of Tokyo (Tokyo nijukkei)"
1926
Color woodblock print; oban
Kanaya-cho, Nagasaki, from the series "Selection of Scenes of Japan" (Nihon fukei senshu, Nagasaki Kanaya-cho)
1923
Color woodblock print
Kanda Myojin Shrine Precent, from the series "Twenty Views of Tokyo" (Tokyo nijukei, Kanda Myojin keidai)
1926
Color woodblock print
Shinkawabata at Handa, Owari Province (Bishu Handa Shinkawabata), from the series "Selection of Views of the Tokaido (Tokaido fukei senshu)"
1935
Color woodblock print; oban
Kasuga Shrine, Nara (Nara Kasuga jinja), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)"
February 1921
Color woodblock print; oban
Kencho Temple, Kamakura (Kamakura Kenchoji)
1933
Color woodblock print; oban
Kiko Temple, Nara Prefecture (Kikoji (Nara ken))
1950
Color woodblock print; oban
Setakamui Rock, Shiribeshi, from the series "Collection of Scenic Views of Japan, Eastern Japan Edition" (Nihon fukei shu higashi Nihon hen, Shiribeshi Setakamuiiwa)
May 1933
Color woodblock print
Kiso River Glowing Light at Fuji (Kisogawa yugure no Fuji)
1930s
Color woodblock print
Kiso River, Inuyama (Kisogawa (Inuyama))
n.d. [c. 1927]
Color woodblock print
Kiyomizu Hall, Ueno, from the series "Twenty Views of Tokyo" (Tokyo nijukei, Ueno Kiyomizudo)
1928
Color woodblock print
Kosho Temple, Himi, Etchu, from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series" (Tabi miyage dai nishu, Etchu Himi Koshoji)
6 September 1921
Color woodblock print
Kotsuki River, Kagoshima, from the series "Selection of Scenes from Japan" (Nihon fukei senshu, Kagoshima Kotsukigawa)
1922
Color woodblock print
Kyonghoe Hall, Kyongsong (Keijo Keikaro), from the series "Eight Views of Korea (Chosen hakkei)"
November 1939
Color woodblock print; oban
Lake Hachirogata, Akita, from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series" (Tabi miyage dai sanshu, Akita Hachirogata)
1927
Color woodblock print
Lake Haruna (Harunako)
October 1935
Color woodblock print
Lake Kawaguchi (Kawaguchiko)
May 1932
Color woodblock print
Lake Kawaguchi Oishi (Kawaguchiko Oishi)
n.d. [1942}
Color woodblock print
Lake Matsubara, Shinshu (Shinshu Matsubarako)
1941
Color woodblock print
Late Autumn at Lake Yamanaka (Yamanakako no banshu)
1947
Color woodblock print
Late Autumn Rain, Nanzen Temple, Kyoto (Shigure no ato (Kyoto Nanzenji))
1951
Color woodblock print
Lingering Snow at Senzoku Pond (Senzokuike no zanesetsu)
1951
Color woodblock print
Matsubara Lake in Shinano Province (Shinshu Matsubarako)
1941
Color woodblock print; oban
Minuma River at Omiya (Omiya Minumagawa)
1930
Color woodblock print; oban
Moon at Ayashi (Ayashi no tsuki (Miyagi ken))
1946
Color woodblock print
Moon at Enoshima Beach (Tsukiyo no Enoshima)
1933
Color woodblock print
Moon at Enoura Beach (Tsuki no Enoura)
January 1939
Color woodblock print
Moon at Umagome, from the series "Twenty Views of Tokyo" (Tokyo nijukei, Uragome no tsuki)
1930
Color woodblock print
Moon over Akebi Bridge (Akebibashi no tsuki)
1935
Color woodblock print
Aoba Castle, Sendai (Sendai Aobajō), from the series Collection of Scenic Views of Japan, Eastern Japan Edition (Nihon fūkei shu higashi Nihon hen)
1933
Color woodblock print
Moon over Itako (Itako no tsuki)
1936
Color woodblock print
Moon over Izura (Izura no tsuki)
1952
Color woodblock print
Moon over Lakeside (Kohan no tsuki)
December 1935
Color woodblock print
Moonlit Night at Miyajima (Miyajima no tsukiyo)
1947
Color woodblock print
Morning at Mihogaseki in Izumo Province (Izumo Mihogaseki no asa), from the series "Selection of Views of Japan (Nihon fukei senshu)"
1925
Color woodblock print; oban
Morning at Nijū Bridge
December 1930
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
Morning in Onomichi, from the series "Collection of Scenic Views of Japan II, Kansai Edition" (Nihon fukeishu II Kansia hen, Onomichi no asa)
1940
Color woodblock print
Morning on the Daikon Wharf (Daikongashi no asa), from the series "Twenty Views of Tokyo (Tokyo nijukkei)"
1927
Color woodblock print; oban
Mt. Fuji, Clearing after a Snowfall in Oshiono (Fuji no yukibare (Oshiono fukin))
1952
Color woodblock print
Nezame on the Kiso River (Kiso no Nezame), from the series "Selection of Views of Japan (Nihon fukei senshu)"
1925
Color woodblock print; oban
Night at Minano, Chichibu (Chichibu Minano no yu)
c. 1946
Color woodblock print
Evening Rain at a Lakeside Tearoom, from the series "Collection of Views of the Moto-Hakone Minami Mountain Villa (Moto-Hakone Minami sanso fukei shu)"
1935
Color woodblock print; oban
Ochanomizu, from the series "Twenty Views of Tokyo (Tokyo nijukkei)"
1926
Color woodblock print; oban
Evening Snow at Ishinomaki (Ishinomaki no bosetsu), from the series "Collection of Views of Japan, Eastern Japan Edition (Nihon fukei shu higashi Nihon hen)"
1935
Color woodblock print; oban
Rain at Hataori, Shiobara (Shiobara Hataori no ume)
March 1955
Color woodblock print
Spring at Pubyong Pavilion, Modan Viewpoint, Pyongyang, from the series "Eight Views of Korea" (Chosen hakkei, Heijo no haru (Botandai Fusekiro))
1939
Color woodblock print
Morning in Dotonbori, Osaka (Osaka Dotonbori no asa), from the series "Collection of Views of Japan II, Kansai Edition (Nihon fukei shu II Kansai hen)"
1933
Color woodblock print; oban
![Rain at Yasuniwa, Nagano Prefecture (Yasuniwa no ame [Nagano ken]) by Kawase Hasui](https://www.artic.edu/iiif/2/daf1f3e4-e6c9-3ee0-2143-0f3ae5fdd500/full/843,/0/default.jpg)
Rain at Yasuniwa, Nagano Prefecture (Yasuniwa no ame [Nagano ken])
1946
Color woodblock print; oban
Sakurada Gate, from the series "Twenty Views of Tokyo" (Tokyo nijukei, Sakuradamon)
1928
Color woodblock print
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.