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 Yamanaka in Winter by Tsuchiya Koitsu

Lake Yamanaka in Winter

Woodblock print

Miyajima in the Rain by Tsuchiya Koitsu

Miyajima in the Rain

1941

Color woodblock print

Maizuru Harbor at Night by Tsuchiya Koitsu

Maizuru Harbor at Night

Woodblock print

Morigasaki Night Fishing by Tsuchiya Koitsu

Morigasaki Night Fishing

Woodblock print

Morning Fuji from Lake Kawaguchi by Tsuchiya Koitsu

Morning Fuji from Lake Kawaguchi

Woodblock print

Morning Rain at Hakone by Tsuchiya Koitsu

Morning Rain at Hakone

Woodblock print

Mountain Temple (Futara-san, Nikko) - oban by Tsuchiya Koitsu

Mountain Temple (Futara-san, Nikko) - oban

Woodblock print

Nara Kofuku Temple by Tsuchiya Koitsu

Nara Kofuku Temple

Woodblock print

Rain at Asakusa Kannon Temple by Tsuchiya Koitsu

Rain at Asakusa Kannon Temple

1933

Color woodblock print

Rain at Horyuji Temple, Nara by Tsuchiya Koitsu

Rain at Horyuji Temple, Nara

Woodblock print

Rainy Evening at Ginza by Tsuchiya Koitsu

Rainy Evening at Ginza

Woodblock print

Rowboats on River by Tsuchiya Koitsu

Rowboats on River

Woodblock print

Ryuhashi at Night- Yanagibashi- postwar by Tsuchiya Koitsu

Ryuhashi at Night- Yanagibashi- postwar

Woodblock print

Sengakuji Temple at Takanawa in Tokyo by Tsuchiya Koitsu

Sengakuji Temple at Takanawa in Tokyo

Woodblock print

Snow at Miyajima by Tsuchiya Koitsu

Snow at Miyajima

Woodblock print

Snow at Ukimido, Katata by Tsuchiya Koitsu

Snow at Ukimido, Katata

Woodblock print

Snow on Sumida River by Tsuchiya Koitsu

Snow on Sumida River

Woodblock print

Snow over Ukimido Shrine at Katada by Tsuchiya Koitsu

Snow over Ukimido Shrine at Katada

Woodblock print

Spring Rain at Matsushima by Tsuchiya Koitsu

Spring Rain at Matsushima

Woodblock print

Spring Snow at Maruyama, Kyoto by Tsuchiya Koitsu

Spring Snow at Maruyama, Kyoto

Woodblock print

Summer Moon at Miyajima, from the series "Collection of Views of Japan" by Tsuchiya Koitsu

Summer Moon at Miyajima, from the series "Collection of Views of Japan"

1936

Color woodblock print

Two Women Gathering Spring Herbs by Tsuchiya Koitsu

Two Women Gathering Spring Herbs

Woodblock print

YOJIRO THE MONKEY TRAINER by Tsuchiya Koitsu

YOJIRO THE MONKEY TRAINER

Woodblock print

Lantern Maker (Chôchinya), Taishô period, dated 1926 by Hiroshi Yoshida

Lantern Maker (Chôchinya), Taishô period, dated 1926

1926

Woodblock print

Early Summer Rain, Arakawa (Samidare (Arakawa)) by Kawase Hasui

Early Summer Rain, Arakawa (Samidare (Arakawa))

Samidare (Arakawa

June 1932

Color woodblock print

Futago Islands, Matsushima (Matsushima Futagojima), from the series “Collection of Scenic Views of Japan, Eastern Japan Edition (Nihon fukei shu higashi Nihon hen)" by Kawase Hasui

Futago Islands, Matsushima (Matsushima Futagojima), from the series “Collection of Scenic Views of Japan, Eastern Japan Edition (Nihon fukei shu higashi Nihon hen)"

Matsushima Futagojima

December 1933

Color woodblock print

Gion Bridge at Hondo Amakusa, (Amakusa Hondo Gion-bashi), from the series "Selction of Views of Japan (Nihon fukei senshu)" by Kawase Hasui

Gion Bridge at Hondo Amakusa, (Amakusa Hondo Gion-bashi), from the series "Selction of Views of Japan (Nihon fukei senshu)"

Amakusa Hondo Gion-bashi

1924

Color woodblock print; oban

Hall of the Golden Hue, Chuson Temple, Hiraizumi, from the series “Collection of Scenic Views of Japan, Eastern Japan Edition” (Nihon fukei shu higashi Nihon hen, Hiraizumi Chusonji Konjikido) by Kawase Hasui

Hall of the Golden Hue, Chuson Temple, Hiraizumi, from the series “Collection of Scenic Views of Japan, Eastern Japan Edition” (Nihon fukei shu higashi Nihon hen, Hiraizumi Chusonji Konjikido)

October, 1935

Color woodblock print

Imhae Pavilion, Kyongju, Korea, from the series "Korean Views Supplement" (Zoku Chosen fukei, Chosen Keishu Rinkaitei by Kawase Hasui

Imhae Pavilion, Kyongju, Korea, from the series "Korean Views Supplement" (Zoku Chosen fukei, Chosen Keishu Rinkaitei

1940

Color woodblock print

In the Snow, Nakayama-shichiri Road, Hida, from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series" (Tabi miyage dai sanshu, Hida Nakayama-shichiri) by Kawase Hasui

In the Snow, Nakayama-shichiri Road, Hida, from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series" (Tabi miyage dai sanshu, Hida Nakayama-shichiri)

1924

Color woodblock print

Kannon Temple at Abuto (Abuto no Kannon), from the series "Selection of Views of Japan (Nihon fukei senshu)" by Kawase Hasui

Kannon Temple at Abuto (Abuto no Kannon), from the series "Selection of Views of Japan (Nihon fukei senshu)"

Abuto no Kannon

1922

Color woodblock print; oban

Kansanomiya Shrine at Tazawa Lake (Tazawako Kansanomiyagu), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series (Tabi miyage dai sanshu)" by Kawase Hasui

Kansanomiya Shrine at Tazawa Lake (Tazawako Kansanomiyagu), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series (Tabi miyage dai sanshu)"

Tazawako Kansanomiyagu

1927

Color woodblock print; oban

Kintai Bridge in Suo Province (Suo Kintaikyo), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series (Tabi miyage dai sanshu)" by Kawase Hasui

Kintai Bridge in Suo Province (Suo Kintaikyo), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series (Tabi miyage dai sanshu)"

Suo Kintaikyo

1924

Color woodblock print; oban

Misty Moonlight at Matsue in Izumo Province (Izumo Matsue [oborozuki]), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series (Tabi miyage dai sanshu)" by Kawase Hasui

Misty Moonlight at Matsue in Izumo Province (Izumo Matsue [oborozuki]), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series (Tabi miyage dai sanshu)"

Izumo Matsue [oborozuki]

1924

Color woodblock print; oban

Modan Viewpoint, Pyongyang, Korea, from the series "Korean Views Supplement" (Zoku Chosen fukei, Chosen Heijo Botandai) by Kawase Hasui

Modan Viewpoint, Pyongyang, Korea, from the series "Korean Views Supplement" (Zoku Chosen fukei, Chosen Heijo Botandai)

1940

Color woodblock print

Moon over the Ara River, Akabane, from the series "Twenty Views of Tokyo" (Tokyo nijukei, Arakawa no tsuki (Akabane)) by Kawase Hasui

Moon over the Ara River, Akabane, from the series "Twenty Views of Tokyo" (Tokyo nijukei, Arakawa no tsuki (Akabane))

Tokyo nijukei, Arakawa no tsuki (Akabane

1929

Color woodblock print

Moonlight over Lake Kamo in Sado Island (Getsumei no Kamoko [Sado]), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)" by Kawase Hasui

Moonlight over Lake Kamo in Sado Island (Getsumei no Kamoko [Sado]), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)"

Getsumei no Kamoko [Sado]

1921

Color woodblock print; oban

Pagoda at Honmon Temple, Ikegami (Ikegami Honmonji no to) by Kawase Hasui

Pagoda at Honmon Temple, Ikegami (Ikegami Honmonji no to)

Ikegami Honmonji no to

1954

Color woodblock print

Pulguk Temple, Kyongiu, from the series "Eight Views of Korea" (Chosen hakkei, Keishu Bukkokuji) by Kawase Hasui

Pulguk Temple, Kyongiu, from the series "Eight Views of Korea" (Chosen hakkei, Keishu Bukkokuji)

September 1939

Color woodblock print

Rain at Nara, the Pagoda at Kofuku Temple (Nara no ame Kofukuji no to) by Kawase Hasui

Rain at Nara, the Pagoda at Kofuku Temple (Nara no ame Kofukuji no to)

Nara no ame Kofukuji no to

1951

Color woodblock print

Senzoku Pond (Senzokuike), from the series "Twenty Views of Tokyo (Tokyo nijukkei)" by Kawase Hasui

Senzoku Pond (Senzokuike), from the series "Twenty Views of Tokyo (Tokyo nijukkei)"

Senzokuike

1928

Color woodblock print; oban

Shinobazu Pond at Night by Kawase Hasui

Shinobazu Pond at Night

April 1932

Color woodblock print

Snow at Zojoji Temple (Yuki no Zojoji) by Kawase Hasui

Snow at Zojoji Temple (Yuki no Zojoji)

Yuki no Zojoji

1929

Color woodblock print; oban

Snow at Mukojima (Yuki no Mukojima) by Kawase Hasui

Snow at Mukojima (Yuki no Mukojima)

Yuki no Mukojima

December 1931

Color woodblock print

Some River, Koshu (Koshu Somegawa), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)" by Kawase Hasui

Some River, Koshu (Koshu Somegawa), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)"

Koshu Somegawa

1921

Color woodblock print; oban

Spring Evening at the Kintai Bridge (Kintaikyo no shunsho) by Kawase Hasui

Spring Evening at the Kintai Bridge (Kintaikyo no shunsho)

Kintaikyo no shunsho

1947

Color woodblock print

Spring Moon, Ninomiya Beach (Haru no tsuki (Ninomiya kaigan)) by Kawase Hasui

Spring Moon, Ninomiya Beach (Haru no tsuki (Ninomiya kaigan))

Haru no tsuki (Ninomiya kaigan

March 1932

Color woodblock print

The Inokashira Benten Shrine in Snow (Shato no yuki) by Kawase Hasui

The Inokashira Benten Shrine in Snow (Shato no yuki)

Shato no yuki

1929

Color woodblock print; oban

Winter Moon over Toyama Plain (Fuyu no tsuki (Toyamagahara)) by Kawase Hasui

Winter Moon over Toyama Plain (Fuyu no tsuki (Toyamagahara))

Fuyu no tsuki (Toyamagahara

December 1931

Color woodblock print

Yasugi Kiyomizu Temple, Izumo Province (Izumo, Yasugi Kiyomizu), from the series "Selection of Views of Japan (Nihon fukei senshu)" by Kawase Hasui

Yasugi Kiyomizu Temple, Izumo Province (Izumo, Yasugi Kiyomizu), from the series "Selection of Views of Japan (Nihon fukei senshu)"

Izumo, Yasugi Kiyomizu

1926

Color woodblock print; oban

Spring Rain by Ito Shinsui

Spring Rain

春雨

1917

Color woodblock print

Snow Hood by Ito Shinsui

Snow Hood

1950

Woodblock print, ink and color on paper with mica

Spring Sea by Ito Shinsui

Spring Sea

1937

Woodblock print, ink and color on paper

Crow in Moonlight by Ohara Koson

Crow in Moonlight

月に烏

c. 1927

Color woodblock print

Cryptomeria and Hut in Rain by Takahashi Shotei

Cryptomeria and Hut in Rain

20th century

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

Moon at Sekiguchi by Takahashi Shotei

Moon at Sekiguchi

関口の月

c. 1920

Color woodblock print

Mt Fuji and Lake Yamanaka by Takahashi Shotei

Mt Fuji and Lake Yamanaka

Woodblock print

Great Lantern at Asakusa Kannon Temple by Shiro Kasamatsu

Great Lantern at Asakusa Kannon Temple

浅草観音堂大提灯

1934

Color woodblock print

Night Rain at Maekawa by Shiro Kasamatsu

Night Rain at Maekawa

前川の夜雨

1938

Woodblock print

Rainy Night at Shinobazu Pond by Shiro Kasamatsu

Rainy Night at Shinobazu Pond

不忍池の雨夜

1938

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.