Katsushika Hokusai’s Iconic Artwork Bound for Japanese Currency

CNN ^ | 4/9/2019 | Staff

[simpson96]

An instantly recognizable artwork—Katsushika Hokusai’s woodblock print The Great Wave off Kanagawa—is set to appear on Japan’s 1,000-yen banknote. Just one of several new designs announced—others including images of industrialist, Eiichi Shibusawa; educational reformist, Tsuda Umeko; and more—the Hokusai note will depict Nobel Prize-nominated bacteriologist Shibasaburo Kitasato on the other side. The new designs will be circulating by 2024.

[C19fan]

Might buy one on ebay when it comes out; the note is worth $9.

[BBQToadRibs]

That is an iconic woodblock print. Beautifully stylized, great choice. And a 1000 yen note is about $10, heavy circulation.

[MrEdd]

This announcement may betide a wave of currency exchanges.

[BenLurkin]

Nice looking note

[null and void]

Nice!

Except for the back of our $2 note, our current currency is rather bland.

I wish we revived something along the lines of the 19^th century 'Educational Series' of bank notes.

[BenLurkin]

They’ll be flooded with orders.

[RitchieAprile]

did someone mention woodblock prints?

[C19fan]

Only the Euros have more boring currency. The US used to produce a variety of designs until Federal Reserve bank notes became standardized.

[Red Badger]

Collectors will be pleased...................

[Ezekiel]

The famous great wave.

What timing for this announcement.

The 1000 yen note is the most common bill out there.

To sail on a dream on a crystal clear ocean
To ride on the crest of a wild raging storm
To work in the service of life and living
In search of the answers to the questions unknown
To be part of the movement and part of the growing
Part of beginning to understand...

Aye Calypso..

[null and void]

Currency that doesn’t offend anybody doesn’t inspire anybody.

[MarchonDC09122009]

Interesting to note possible significance of currency featuring a Mega-Tsunami on the face side, and Bacteriologist on the other side...
TPTB Predictive programming Twelve Monkeys-The Stand-Georgia Guidestones in our future? ;n)

RE: “Hokusai note will depict Nobel Prize-nominated bacteriologist Shibasaburo Kitasato on the other side.”

[struggle]

Also, they’re putting Eichi Shibusawa (who’s like the Japanese Trump in some ways) on the 10,000 yen note, so hopefully this will signify a much more capitalist-friendly Japan.

[MarchonDC09122009]

Baron Kitasato Shibasaburō (北里 柴三郎, January 29, 1853 – June 13, 1931) was a Japanese physician and bacteriologist. He is remembered as the co-discoverer of the infectious agent of bubonic plague in Hong Kong in 1894, almost simultaneously with Alexandre Yersin.

[csvset]

Some of the other notes.

[knarf]

My Filipina wife and I were in the bank the other day and somehow the imagery of money came up and I mentioned the two dollar bill to the clerk .... We took part of our withdrawal as five dollars, two twos and a one.

I explained to her that, imo, the artwork of the two is the best in the world.

[null and void]

Obviously you are a man of impeccable taste...

[Oldexpat]

There was a beautiful mosaic of the wave at the old Haneda airport terminal in Tokyo. I wonder if it is still there.

[Lurker51]

I managed to get an actual woodblock print of the great wave a couple months ago for $50. From what I can tell, they usually sell for more than 10 times that amount, which probably means it’s a reprint from the original woodblocks long after the artist died. I don’t speak Japanese so I don’t know the details. That fine with me, all I care about is that the print as absolutely stunning. Months later and I’m still incredibly excited to have come by that print.