Katsushika Hokusai’s (1760-1849) Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji is a collection of woodblock prints that depict Japan’s iconic mountain from various angles and perspectives. In one of the more recognizable prints from the series, Fuji commands the entire piece and its steep profile is portrayed using an intense reddish color. This print, known more commonly […]
Situating Abroad: The Parallels of Mount Fuji and Mauna Kea
A week before I left to begin my journey in Japan, I visited the summit of Mauna Kea to watch the sunset and stargaze. Little did I know that I would soon draw intriguing parallels between the mountain of my home and the mountain I would climb on my trip. Now that I have experienced […]
Structure and Manipulation: A Japanese Approach to Environments
When you think of Tokyo, what may often come to mind are the bustling stations and jam-packed train cars that comprise the daily transportation of thousands of Japanese. We experienced the craziness of Tokyo travel firsthand during our first week in the country. At nearly all the stations, people rush to get to their platforms […]
Observations of Gender Dynamics in Fuji Consumer Products
As I reflect on the depictions of Fuji we discovered in our adventures around Tokyo, a picturesque view of the illustrious mountain itself lies before me. We are currently staying at a farmhouse nestled in the tiny village of Nemba. The scenery here is breathtaking and vastly different from the busy streets and tall buildings […]