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Bjorn Brussee

THE TŌKAIDŌ ROAD · LETTER 1 OF 55

THE TŌKAIDŌ ROAD · LETTER 1 OF 55

Nihonbashi: Morning View This first one is on us. Every Friday, Floating World Members get a short letter of their own. Our first series walks the old highway from Edo to Kyoto, one Hiroshige print at a time. That’s 55 prints, 53 stations and roughly 500 kilometres. This letter

The Floating World #1: The Japanese rainstorm Van Gogh copied

Plus: Japanese art to see this month, and a call for your art.

Kawase Hasui shin-hanga woodblock print of a Japanese landscape at sunset

Kawase Hasui: The Man Who Mastered the Sunset

Kawase Hasui spent his life chasing the moment when day turns into evening. Discover the shin-hanga master known as the poet of travel, and how his glowing woodblock sunsets were made.

Yellow polka-dotted pumpkin sculpture by Yayoi Kusama

Yayoi Kusama (1929 to 2026): The Life and Legacy of the Queen of Polka Dots

Yayoi Kusama died on August 14, 2026, at the age of 97. From childhood visions in Matsumoto to New York's avant-garde and global fame, discover the life and legacy of one of Japan's most important artists.

Painting by Uemura Shōen of an elegant Japanese woman in kimono, in the bijin-ga style

Uemura Shōen: The Woman Who Changed Japanese Art

At 15 her painting was bought by a British prince. By the end of her life she was the first woman to receive Japan's Order of Culture. Discover Uemura Shōen, the painter who transformed bijin-ga and opened doors for women artists.

Dark wooden blood ceiling boards from Fushimi Castle inside a Kyoto temple

The Blood Ceilings of Kyoto: The Samurai Story Hidden Above Your Head

In several Kyoto temples, faint handprints and footprints stain the ceiling boards. Discover the story of the blood ceilings, made from the floor of Fushimi Castle where loyal samurai made their last stand in 1600.

Elementary school classroom in Ube, Japan, where Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno taught an animation lesson in 1999

When Hideaki Anno Went Back to School: The Evangelion Creator's 1999 Lesson in Ube

In 1999, Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno returned to his old elementary school in Ube, 26 years after graduating. Terrified of children, he taught a class about animation and revealed a far more vulnerable side of himself.

Kakishibu persimmon dyed fabric in warm rust-brown tones drying in the sun

The Ancient Craft of Kakishibu: Japan's Liquid Gold of Natural Dyeing

Made from the fermented juice of unripe green persimmons, kakishibu is one of Japan's most patient natural dyes. Discover how it is made, why the sun helps create its color and why Japanese denim makers love it.

Gordon Mortensen: The Westerner Who Mastered the Reduction Woodcut

Gordon Mortensen: The Westerner Who Mastered the Reduction Woodcut

Born on the plains of North Dakota in 1938, Gordon Mortensen carved a single block of wood again and again to create luminous landscapes in up to 64 colors. Meet the Westerner who mastered the woodblock.

Best Museums in Tokyo: The Ultimate 2026 Guide for Art and Culture Lovers

Museums & Travel

Best Museums in Tokyo: The Ultimate 2026 Guide for Art and Culture Lovers

The Tokyo National Museum is the best museum in Tokyo for most visitors. Here are 20 museums worth your time, from ukiyo-e and samurai swords to Ghibli and teamLab.