Hasui Kawase's Woodblock Prints Echoed in Anime Scenes

Hasui Kawase (1883–1957), a prolific Japanese printmaker of the shin-hanga movement, created around 620 prints over his 40-year career, depicting tranquil landscapes that contrast with early 20th-century urbanization. His work, influenced by both traditional Japanese art and Western techniques, is now being recognized for its visual and thematic parallels with modern anime. The article draws specific comparisons: his print 'Onsengadake Seen from Amakusa' (1922) from the 'Selected Views of Japan' series (1922–1926) mirrors a countryside scene in Hayao Miyazaki's 'My Neighbor Totoro' (1988), while 'Nikko Kaido' (1930) resembles a forest scene from 'Attack on Titan' (Season 2, Episode 9). Kawase's early training included copying masters under Aoyagi Bokusen and studying Western-style painting with Kiyokata Kaburagi. His maternal uncle, Kanagaki Robun, produced the first manga magazine. Kawase's prints are held in major collections, including the Art Institute of Chicago and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. The article suggests that anime creators have reinterpreted Kawase's themes of nature and spirituality for contemporary audiences.