The Hokusai-kan Museum in Obuse Town, Nagano Prefecture, is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026 with a special exhibition running through March 29. The museum presents "The Dancing Auspicious Beasts That Captivated Hokusai: Dragons and Phoenixes," which explores Hokusai's depictions of mythical creatures. Auspicious beasts are special animals believed to appear as signs of good fortune in Japanese culture.
Alongside the main exhibition, the museum is hosting a special collaborative project titled "Hokusai × Traditional Crafts: Contemporary Craft Artists Challenge Hokusai." This unique presentation brings together three renowned traditional craft artists who have created new interpretations of Hokusai's masterpieces.
Contemporary Craft Artists Meet Hokusai
The collaborative project marks the second iteration of the museum's initiative to create new works through the dialogue between Hokusai and contemporary artists. The first collaboration, held from January to March 2024, featured four contemporary artists responding to Hokusai's depictions of various "battles" and received widespread acclaim.
For this second collaboration, three traditional craft masters have created original works inspired by the dragon and phoenix ceiling paintings from the Higashimachi and Kamimachi festival floats, which are permanently displayed at the museum.
Featured Artists and Works
Shiro Nakano: Sarasa Textile Art
Shiro Nakano, a master of Japanese sarasa (printed cotton) textiles, has created works featuring dragons and phoenixes on washi paper mixed with diatomaceous earth from Noto. Using gold and mica, he has expressed the majestic creatures through intricate sarasa patterns.
Mie Nohara: Kyo-yaki Ceramics
Kyo-yaki (Kyoto pottery) artist Mie Nohara has created bold sculptural forms that incorporate the vivid colors Hokusai excelled at using. Her works express the divine majesty of the auspicious beasts through three-dimensional forms.
Emi Shimamoto: Lacquerwork with Mother-of-Pearl
Lacquer artist Emi Shimamoto drew inspiration from Hokusai's "Dragon" to create a unique raden (mother-of-pearl inlay) work imagining a dragon's egg. Using delicate techniques and original ideas, she has crafted a piece that transcends traditional craft boundaries.
Artist Talk Show
The three craft artists will discuss their creative processes and thoughts about Hokusai's works in a special talk show on January 31, 2026, at 2:00 PM. Attendees of the talk show can enter the museum free of charge (special reception desk procedures required).
About The Hokusai-kan Museum's 50th Anniversary
From Waves to Spirals: A Museum Where New Things Are Born
Katsushika Hokusai visited Takai Kozan in Obuse, Shinshu, in his later years, and with Kozan's support, left numerous masterpieces. Among these, the four ceiling paintings on the Higashimachi and Kamimachi festival floats are particularly significant works that strongly convey Hokusai's artistic vision. The museum was initially built to preserve and display these precious festival floats. Now celebrating its 50th anniversary amid the global Hokusai boom following the worldwide recognition of "The Great Wave off Kanagawa," the museum is evolving to create new artistic experiences.
Exhibition Information
The Dancing Auspicious Beasts That Captivated Hokusai: Dragons and Phoenixes
Simultaneous Exhibition: Hokusai × Traditional Crafts to Contemporary Craft Artists Challenge Hokusai
- Dates: January 24 to March 29, 2026
- Hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Last admission 30 minutes before closing)
- Venue: The Hokusai-kan Museum (485 Obuse, Obuse-machi, Kamitakai-gun, Nagano Prefecture)
- Admission: Adults ¥1,200, High School/University Students ¥500, Elementary/Junior High Students ¥300
- Closed: Open daily during the exhibition period
The admission fee includes access to both exhibitions and the permanent festival float display.
For more information, visit the museum's official website at https://hokusai-kan.com/ or the 50th anniversary special site at https://50th.hokusai-kan.com/.
