Kawase Hasui: The Master of Light in Japanese Woodblock Prints

Kawase Hasui (1883–1957) is celebrated as one of the greatest artists of the Shin-Hanga movement, a revival of Japanese woodblock printing in the early 20th century. Often called “the master of light”, Hasui captured fleeting atmospheres—twilight reflections, silent snowfall, and glowing lanterns—that transformed simple landscapes into poetic visions.

A Gallery of Timeless Masterpieces

Snow at Zojoji Temple (1925) – Perhaps Hasui’s most iconic print, this scene of Tokyo blanketed in snow conveys a quiet stillness, with subtle shades of blue and white illuminated by the temple’s architecture.

Fuji from the Village of Narusawa (Narusawa no Fuji) Woodblock print in color, November 1936 by Kawase Hasui, published by Watanabe Shōzaburō, Tokyo.
A wooden house on the edge of a field, with Mount Fuji in the background.

Frosty Morning in Nagaoka, Izu (Izu Nagaoka shimo no asa), Woodblock print 27.5 x 40.3 cm Published in 1939

Kiyomizu-dō Temple in Ueno (Ueno Kiyomizu-dō), from the series Twenty Views of Tōkyō (Tōkyō nijūkei). Published in 1928

The Language of Light and Silence

Unlike many ukiyo-e masters of the Edo period, Hasui focused less on figures and more on landscapes. His prints evoke solitude and contemplation, inviting viewers to step into moments suspended in time. Light—whether moonlit, sunlit, or glowing from a lantern—becomes the true protagonist of his art.

Lasting Influence

Kawase Hasui was designated a Living National Treasure of Japan in 1956, honoring his contribution to the preservation of woodblock printing. Today, his works are treasured in museums and private collections worldwide, and continue to inspire modern artists, photographers, and admirers of Japanese aesthetics.

Kawase Hasui remains, above all, the master of light—a poet of seasons, silence, and luminous beauty.