36 Views of Mount Fuji, Kajikazawa in Kai Province, Katsushika Hokusai, Japanese Print

Katsushika Hokusai – Kajikazawa in Kai Province Prints

Discover one of the most sophisticated compositions in Hokusai's Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji with a Kajikazawa in Kai Province print. Created around 1830–32, this Japanese colour woodblock design shows a fisherman balancing on a rocky ledge beside the fast-flowing Fuji River while Mount Fuji emerges above clouds in the distance.

Human figure, fishing lines, rock, river and mountain are brought together through a remarkable network of repeating diagonals and triangular shapes, making Kajikazawa in Kai Province one of the clearest demonstrations of Hokusai's compositional ingenuity.

A Fisherman Beside the Fuji River

The foreground fisherman works close to turbulent water at Kajikazawa, near the north-western base of Mount Fuji.

Beside him sits a small boy with a basket.

The fisherman leans towards the water while long lines extend from his hands, creating a precarious sense of balance against the moving river below.

Fuji appears much farther away, its summit emerging above a layer of cloud.

Painting Style and Composition

The Triangle Within the Triangle

The brilliance of the composition lies in the way foreground and background echo one another.

The fisherman, rock and fishing lines create an angular structure that visually recalls the triangular slopes of Mount Fuji.

The mountain is therefore repeated symbolically in the human activity occupying the foreground.

This geometric correspondence joins two very different scales – a working fisherman close to the viewer and an enormous mountain in the distance – within a single coherent design.

Water and Human Vulnerability

The water at Kajikazawa is fast and turbulent.

Hokusai's curling river forms can initially resemble the waves of the sea, but the British Museum identifies the setting as the Fuji River.

The fisherman works immediately above this restless water, emphasising the difficult relationship between human livelihood and the natural environment.

Unlike The Great Wave, however, the scene is not an instant of catastrophe. The fisherman is working within these conditions rather than merely attempting to escape them.

An Early Blue Impression

Kajikazawa in Kai Province is closely associated with Hokusai's innovative use of blue.

Early impressions of several Thirty-Six Views designs were printed predominantly in blue, exploiting the newly available Prussian-blue pigment.

In Kajikazawa, varying blues can distinguish water, outlines, sky and the distant mountain while reinforcing the visual unity of the entire image.

Fuji as a Distant Anchor

Fuji occupies comparatively little space within the composition, yet its presence is essential.

The mountain's calm triangular shape provides visual stability against the rough movement of the foreground river.

Its slopes also echo the fisherman's equipment, demonstrating how repeatedly Hokusai used Mount Fuji not merely as scenery but as the organising geometry of his designs.

Kajikazawa Wall Art for Modern Interiors

A Hokusai Kajikazawa print is particularly suitable for interiors where sophisticated Japanese art is wanted without relying solely on the most familiar Hokusai images.

The blue-dominated palette suits white, pale grey, navy and natural timber particularly well.

Its intricate geometry and strong horizontal format work beautifully above a console table, sideboard, desk or sofa and complement minimalist, Scandinavian and Japanese-inspired interiors.

About Katsushika Hokusai

Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) revolutionised Japanese landscape printmaking through an extraordinary combination of close observation and formal experimentation.

He worked across paintings, woodblock prints and illustrated books and remained intensely productive throughout his long life.

Hokusai's landscapes frequently place ordinary workers and travellers within enormous natural settings. Fishermen, farmers and craftsmen are not incidental decoration; their actions often become essential parts of the composition.

Kajikazawa in Kai Province is one of the finest examples of this approach.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Kajikazawa in Kai Province created?

The design dates from the early 1830s, generally around 1830–32.

What does Kajikazawa depict?

It shows a fisherman and a small boy beside the fast-flowing Fuji River, with Mount Fuji visible beyond the clouds.

Is the water in Kajikazawa the sea?

No. Although its energetic forms can resemble ocean waves, the scene is identified with the Fuji River at Kajikazawa.

Why are the fishing lines important?

The fishing lines create diagonal and triangular forms that visually echo the slopes of distant Mount Fuji.

Is Kajikazawa part of Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji?

Yes. It is one of the series' most admired compositions.

Is the original a painting?

No. The original is a colour woodblock print.

What interiors suit Kajikazawa?

Its strong blues and elegant geometry are particularly effective in contemporary, Scandinavian, minimalist and Japanese-inspired interiors.

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SIZING - EUROPEAN A7 - A0:

A7 2-15/16 x 4-1/8 in 74 x 105 mm
A6 4-1/8 x 5-7/8 in 105 x 148 mm
A5 5-7/8 x 8-1/4 in 148 x 210 mm
A4 8-1/4 x 11-3/4 in 210 x 297 mm
A3 11-3/4 x 16-1/2 in 297 x 420 mm
A2 16-1/2 x 23-3/8 in 420 x 594 mm
A1 23-3/8 x 33-1/8 in 594 x 841 mm
A0 33-1/8 x 46-13/16 in 841 x 1188 mm