Ukiyo-e: glossary and useful addresses 浮世絵 語彙と有用な住所

Find our selection of terms to know.

General and technical

• Aratame : censor stamp meaning “examined”.

• E : image, painting, print.

• Fude (or hitsu) : means "due to the brush", added to the artist's signature.

• Ga : “designed by”, is placed after the artist's signature.

• Go: painter's pseudonym.

• Hanmoto : editor.

• Karazuri : paper embossing technique.

• Kirazuri : addition of mica powder on the prints for a shiny effect.

• Kiwame : censor's stamp used from 1790 to 1842 meaning "approved".

• Nikishi-e : polychrome print called “debrocade print”.

• Sumizuri-e : print in black ink obtained in a single pass.

• Ukiyo-e : artistic movement of the Edo period, symbolized by the representation of the ephemeral, of "floating world".

• Urushi-e : Lacquered image.

Types of prints

• Bijin-ga : print representing "beautiful people", more precisely beautiful young women.

• E-goyomi : calendar in the form of a print.

• Fūkei-ga : landscape print.

• Kacho-e or kacho-ga : print of flowers and birds.

• Meisho-e : print illustrating a famous place.

• Mitate-e : print parodying a famous legend or a historical episode in a contemporary scene.

• Musha-e : print representing warriors, images of war.

• Okubi-e : bust portrait, close-up.

• Shini-e : print commemorating a deceased actor or artist.

• Shunga : literally "spring scenes". This term refers to an erotic print.

• Surimono : very refined print, reserved for commemorations or any other exceptional event and produced on the initiative of clubs or private orders.

• Uchiwa-eban : print on which the contours of a fan form a frame in the image.

• Yakusha-e : portraits of kabuki actors.

Sizes

• Ehon : book, illustrated album.

• Hashira-e : very narrow vertical print intended to be hung on the pillar of a house.

• Kakemono : scroll clinging to the wall.

• Oban : the most used vertical format measuring 37 to 38 x 25.5 cm.

Useful addresses: museums, galleries, bookstores

Ota Museum (Tokyo)

1-10-10, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Telephone: +81 (0)33 403 0880

http://www.ukiyoe-ota-muse.jp/

Sumida Hokusai Museum (Tokyo)

2-7-2 Kamezawa, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130-0014

Telephone: +81 (0)366 588 931

http://hokusai-museum.jp/

Japan Ukiyo-e Museum (Matsumoto)

2206-1 Koshiba, Shimadach, Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture

Telephone: +81 (0)263 474 440

http://www.japan-ukiyoe-museum.com

Fujisawa Ukiyo-e Museum (Fujisawa) 2 Chome-2-2 Tsujidōkandai, Fujisawa-shi, Kanagawa-ken 251-0041

Telephone: +81 (0)466 330 111

http://fujisawa-ukiyoekan.net/en/index.html

Nakagawa-machi Bato Hiroshige Museum (Nakagawa)

116-9 Bato, Nakagawa-machi, Nasu-gun, Tochigi 324-0613

Telephone: +81 (0)287 921 199

http://www.hiroshige.bato.tochigi.jp/

Hiroshige Museum (Tendo)

1 Chome−2−1, Kamatahoncho, Tendo, Yamagata 994-0025

Telephone: +81 (0)236 546 555

http://www.hiroshige-tendo.jp/index.html

Hiroshige Museum of Art (Ena)

176-1 Oichō, Ena-shi, Gifu-ken 509-7201

Telephone: +81 (0)573 200 522

https://hiroshige-ena.jp/

Tokaido Hiroshige Museum (Shizuoka)

297-1 Yui, Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka 421-3103, Shizuoka

Telephone: +81 (0)543 754 454

http://tokaido-hiroshige.jp/

Daishodo Bookstore (Kyoto)

604-8045 Enpukujimae-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto.

Telephone: +81 (0)752 210 685

https://www.vivrelejapon.com/ville-kyoto/daishodo

Bookstore - Mokuhankan Gallery (Tokyo)

Asakusa 1-41-8, Taito-ku, Tokyo.

Telephone: +81 (0)705 0111 418

https://mokuhankan.com/index.html

Ohya-shobo Bookstore (Tokyo)

1-1 Kanda, Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo.

Telephone: +81 (0)332 910 062

http://www.ohya-shobo.com/