Heritage to the next generation
Ukiyo-e condenses and reflects all of Japanese traditional cultural matters from daily life to high-class arts. They are heritages to the future society. As the largest museum for Ukiyo-e, Japan Ukiyo-e Museum is featured with collection of prints by Moronobu, Masanobu, Harunobu, Shunsho, Buncho, Kiyonaga, Sharaku, Utamaro, and so on. In particular collections of prints issued in the 19th century are the largest one in the world; the museum houses lots of high-quality prints by Hokusai, Eizan, Eisen, Kunisada, Hiroshige, Kuniyoshi, and Yoshitoshi. Although the museum owns lots of original painting, they are not usually exhibited; they are highly appreciated. The museum exhibits prints either in monograph-style or depending on motives; for the latter case visitors can understand time evolution of one single motif. Furthermore, the museum can exhibit variation of prints with the same motif from the early version to the late version, because the museum houses multiple prints for the same motif. Visitors can obtain a perspective of Japanese publication history.