FAQ

A. The Adachi Institute of Woodcut Prints was established at the beginning of the Showa Period as a woodcut print production company. Since then, the company has created woodcut prints using traditional woodcut printing techniques that were cultivated in the Edo Period through the creation of Ukiyo-e. At present, the Adachi Institute of Woodcut Prints is the only workshop where carvers, printers and publishers work in the same studio. In the aim of preserving and developing traditional woodcut printing techniques that Japan boasts to the world, the Adachi Institute continues to release a large number of works including reproductions of Ukiyo-e prints, woodcut prints of works by masters of Japanese painting and works by contemporary artists.

A. The Adachi Institute makes faithful reproductions of Ukiyo-e prints by employing the same methods that were used by the original woodcut print makers of the Edo Period. Master carvers create the woodblocks, which printers use to print the Ukiyo-e one color at a time on washi, handmade Japanese paper.

Up to now, the Adachi Institute of Woodcut Prints has reproduced approximately 1,200 works of Ukiyo-e. About 300 of these are introduced at the Online Store.

A. Many Ukiyo-e were produced in a size called “O-ban” (large format), which is slightly larger than the present-day A4 size paper. The Adachi Institute of Woodcut Prints faithfully reproduces Ukiyo-e from the Edo Period, and the exact size of the print differs depending on the work. Moreover, many Ukiyo-e are not perfect rectangles, and the size inscribed on the webpage for each work may differ somewhat from the actual size.

A. Unfortunately, our production studio is closed to the public. However, in response to the many requests to see the production process of Ukiyo-e, the Adachi Foundation schedules demonstrations about six times a year, where visitors can see mainly the printing process. As space is limited, the demonstrations can be viewed by advance reservation only. Please send us an inquiry by email for information on scheduled demonstrations and how to make reservations.

Mail adachi@adachi-hanga.com

A. User's Guide

A. If you do not find the Ukiyo-e you are looking for at the Online Store, please feel free to send an inquiry to adachi@adachi-hanga.com.

A. At the Adachi Institute of Woodcut Prints Showroom in Mejiro, Tokyo, visitors can actually see or purchase the products. Please feel free to visit the showroom, which is about a 10-minute walk from Mejiro Station on the JR Yamanote Line.

Adachi Showroom (TOKYO) →

Q. The Adachi Institute of Woodcut Prints provides frames made especially for Ukiyo-e. The special frames are custom made to fit Ukiyo-e, which are different in size from modern day paintings. The frames create the perfect balance so that the Ukiyo-e can be beautifully displayed.

A. It is easy to replace the print in an Ukiyo-e frame from the Adachi Institute of Woodcut Prints with another print. We will provide a mat that matches the newly purchased print (for an additional fee of 1,000 yen excluding tax). Please request the mat when you make your order.

A. These are the pictures from our actual customers who are enjoying our prints at their home as well as sample pictures which we show how to set or display the prints in your room.

Photo Collection of "Adachi Ukiyo-e @ Your House"

A. Just like Japanese clothes, please store it in a well-ventilated place with low humidity. We also recommend storing your collection of Ukiyo-e works in storage tattoos.

Also, if you frame it and display it, avoid places exposed to direct sunlight or high temperatures and humidity. (For the frame, we use an acrylic board that has over 70% UV protection.)

A. The Adachi Foundation is the copyright owner of all image files of Ukiyo-e by the Adachi Institute. Unauthorized use including personal use of images of Ukiyo-e uploaded on the Internet or photographed/scanned even after purchase is strictly forbidden.

The Adachi Foundation lends positive films or image data of Ukiyoe images for commercial use at a fee. Please send an inquiry to adachi@adachi-hanga.com for more information.