WHAT IS UKIYO-E PROJECT

With offices in LA and in Tokyo, UKIYO-E PROJECT is a contemporary ukiyo-e publisher founded by Yuka Mitsui in 2014 to keep the ukiyo-e craftsmanship thriving by creating a new market for their traditional skills. As the words “ukiyo” and “e” mean “present” and “image” respectively, ukiyo-e naturally depicted popular trends and cultures of their times. Staying true to this philosophy, UKIYO-E PROJECT immortalizes iconic stars and landscapes of today through traditional woodblock prints, which continue to receive extensive press and have been acquired by international institutions such as the British Museum, the Museum of Applied Arts in Vienna (MAK), and the Miami University Libraries.

UKIYO-E PROJECT FOUNDER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR

A mirror of its ages, ukiyo-e possesses many stories within. Their bold compositions let our imaginations roam free, but once we understand the references, the mysteries start to unfold.

As a metal-carver myself, the creation process of ukiyo-e fascinates me: talking to the artisans, not only do I relate to their craftsmanship, but am also incredibly impressed by the rich expressions and vast possibilities of their skills.

There are many Japanese qualities condensed into ukiyo-e: meticulous craftsmanship, stone-set drive, commitment, harmonious teamwork. Through this project, I would be happy to see people from around the world witness and experience these Japanese qualities through ukiyo-e. I hope to keep producing contemporary ukiyo-e that depict our current times, and that will continue to be appreciated centuries from now.

Yuka Mitsui
Mitsui Agency International

UKIYO-E PROJECT ADVISORY BOARD

ADVISORY BOARD

EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS

・March 2024
Registration begins for woodblock printing demonstration & workshop event at UCLA Clark Library

・March 2024
Announces collaboration with JACOBI 1880 producing original ukiyo-e print for their new brandy bottle label

・October 2023
Resale of COEDO Beer “Vestiges of Edo at Bell Tower”

・October 2023
Exhibitor at FINE ART ASIA, Hong Kong, China

・September 2023
Announces collaboration with THE PENINSULA TOKYO producing three types of original ukiyo-e prints

・July 2023
Collaborates on the visual for the Japanese release of "Mission: Impossible- Dead Reckoning Part One”, Tokyo, Japan

・June 2023
Exhibitor at ART FAIR DAEGU, Daegu, South Korea

・January 2023
EDO TO MIYAKO, Ace Hotel Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan

・October 2022
始端 (SHITAN) -UKIYO-E TODAY FROM NIHONBASHI AT CITAN-, CITAN, Tokyo, Japan

・March 2022
UKIYO-E PROJECT in (marunouchi) HOUSE, Marunouchi House Library Space, Tokyo, Japan

・October 2021
Ukiyo-e Theater from Paris, Kadokawa Culture Museum, Saitama, Japan

・September 2021
UKIYO-E PROJECT Presents: Vestiges of Edo at Bell Tower, TRUNK (HOTEL), Tokyo, Japan

・April 2021
JAPANORAMA. Ukiyo-e Today, ESH Gallery, Milan, Italy

・April 2021
Announces second original landscape ukiyo-e Vestiges of Edo at Bell Tower

・March 2021
New Japanese Aesthetics: Manga Creation, Hankyu Umeda, Osaka, Japan

・July 2020
Announces first original landscape ukiyo-e Vestiges of Edo in Tsukuda

・February 2020
Exhibitor at LA ART SHOW, Los Angeles, USA

・January 2020
Today at Apple: Digital Representation of Ukiyo-e with Sekioka Senrei, Tokyo, Japan

・December 2019
Exhibitor at SCOPE ART SHOW, Miami Beach, USA

・October 2019
KUNIYOSHI+ l UKIYOENOW, MAK Museum, Vienna, Austria

・October 2019
Exhibitor at ASIA NOW, Paris, France

・September 2019
POP-UP & CAPSULE COLLECTION at NOUS during Paris Fashion Week SS20, Paris, France

・July 2019
UKIYO-E PROJECT’s entire artist collaboration series officially enter MAK’s collection, Vienna, Austria

・July 2019
UKIYO-E PROJECT Exhibition, ENZO SHOP, Kaga, Japan

・June 2019
POP-UP at Daikanyama Tsutaya T-SITE, Tokyo, Japan

・July 2018
David Bowie Shapeshifting Comparison “Kidomaru” (Aladdin Sane) and David Bowie Shapeshifting Comparison “Takezawa Toji” (Diamond Dogs) officially enter the British Museum’s collection, London, UK

・June 2018
Announces third Ukiyo-e collaboration with David Bowie
UKIYO-E PROJECT presents DAVID BOWIE UKIYO-E Exhibition, BOOKMARC, Tokyo, Japan

・December 2016
Announces second ukiyo-e collaboration with Iron Maiden

・July 2016
UKIYO-E PROJECT Exhibition, French Paper Gallery, Paris, France

・April 2016
Portraying Today Ukiyo-e Exhibition, Grand Front Osaka, Osaka, Japan

・February 2016
KISS x Ukiyo-e Exhibition, Morrison Hotel Gallery (Sunset Marquis Hotel), Los Angeles, USA

・February 2015
Announces first ukiyo-e collaboration with KISS

・June 2014
Yuka Mitsui launches UKIYO-E PROJECT