NHK – International Coproduction with the British Museum

NHK will produce a program examining mysteries of the works of the great Edo period ukiyoe (woodblock print) artist, Katsushika Hokusai jointly with the British Museum utilizing 8K camera. 

Hokusai’s extraordinary skill has long been acclaimed around the world and globally he stands out on his own as by far the most popular Edo period ukiyoe artist. His works have wielded influence across the arts from the paintings of Monet and other Impressionists to the music of Debussy. 

The British Museum is keenly interested in the possibilities of 8K, ultra-high definition imaging technology and this coproduction was initiated by an approach from the museum. The 8K camera will film Clear Day with a Southern Breeze (Gaifu Kaisei, also known as the Red Fuji) from the Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji series and the painting Chinzei Hachiro Tametomo Zu (Warrior hero Tametomo and the inhabitants of Onoshima island), both in the British Museum’s own collection, as well as other Hokusai works held in museums and private collections around the world. A team led by British Museum will provide expert commentary based on the images.

8K has the definition to reveal details invisible to the naked eye, including Hokusai’s techniques such as the use of diverse colors and complex over-layering of fine lines, and it is hoped that these images will reveal new aspects to the artist’s methods and intentions.

The program will be aired as from this Autumn.