Hokusai’s Great Wave is one of the most iconic images in art history, as instantly recognizable as Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa or Van Gogh’s Sunflowers. Many audiences today, however, don’t know much about the man who made it: a visionary artist of ukiyo-e woodblock prints, but also an innovative educator and a pioneering influence on the development of manga and animation whose vast body of work still resonates more than two centuries later. This April, join us for a special deep dive into the life and legacy of Katsushika Hokusai (1760 – 1850), and the extraordinary chain of inspiration his vision set in motion.
Co-hosted by The Art Academy of Japan’s International Hokusai Academy and led by guest experts visiting directly from Japan, this program brings Hokusai’s story vividly to life. Guided by Hokusai experts and multi-hyphenate creatives Yoshihisa Endo (Fuji Hisashi), a filmmaker and art producer, and Hiromi Yasui, a stage director and cultural producer, the morning opens with a keynote lecture—“Hokusai and the Art that Moved the World”—tracing how one artist’s bold vision traveled from Edo-period Japan to reshape global art.
Through colorful presentations, audiences will discover a lesser-known side of Hokusai: his pioneering role as an educator and a forefather of manga. His celebrated Hokusai Manga is a sprawling 15-volume visual encyclopedia of sketches covering everything from human movement and martial arts to animals, plants, and daily life. It was designed as a teaching tool to help aspiring artists learn to see and draw the world around them, and is widely regarded as a foundational source of modern manga and animation. When these volumes traveled to Europe, they ignited the cultural phenomenon known as Japonisme, inspiring artists from Monet to Van Gogh.
The presentations will be followed by an open Q&A, and every guest will take home a complimentary copy of KATSUSHIKA HOKUSAI – 36 Views of Mt. Fuji as Seen in the Passport (The Art Academy of Japan; $15 value) as a keepsake to continue exploring Hokusai’s world. Whether you’re a manga fan, design enthusiast, or looking to inspire the young artists in your family, join us to discover the man behind the wave.