New passport sample which will feature Hokusai’s printing | Image courtesy to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Japan The works of Katsushika Hokusai, the all-time master of ukiyo-e or Japanese woodblock printing, have been the inspirations for many products such as souvenirs, clothing, or stationery. However, this is the first time that Hokusai’s ukiyo-e will appear in the new Japanese passport for those who apply for a visa from February 2019. The printing series of “36 Views of Mount Fuji”, created in the early 19th century, is the most famous oeuvre of Hokusai. The new passport will include 24 images of this collection, each shown as background on the visa stamping page. This design project began four years ago. The main objectives are to enhance protection against forgery and prepare for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which is scheduled to be held in Tokyo in mid-year 2019. The new design also…
