Japanese Woodblock Print Search

abetusk | 18 hours ago

This is pretty amazing.

Surprisingly [0]:

> Ukiyo-e.org was created by John Resig ...

[0] https://ukiyo-e.org/about

jonah | 16 hours ago

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47107964

zactato | 18 hours ago

Pretty sure this was made by John Resig, the creator of jQuery.

I used to be friends with him back in the day and he described wanting to do something like this. He was/is a passionate dude.

jeresig | 18 hours ago

Thank you for sharing my site! I built this a number of years ago as I was starting to learn about Japanese prints. I wanted a single place where I could find them across all of the various museums and universities that hold them. I use computer vision analysis to cluster prints together (using TinEye). A bunch more technical details from the last time this was posted: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18344979

I’m working on a new site now that’s focused on prints that are for sale from dealers and auctions. Much more technically complex as it needs to be continuously updated. Hope to have a public beta soon!

masswerk | 17 hours ago

Thank you for your work, it's an invaluable resource!

iddan | 15 hours ago

That is so cool!!! Thank you for putting in the effort

chickensong | 11 hours ago

Thank you for creating such a wonderful site! Woodblock printing is one of my favorite art forms.

My grandparents visited Japan long ago and gifted me two wooden boxes, one with this print on the lid: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/aic/99027_512658 and the other with https://ukiyo-e.org/image/honolulu/8277. They're secret boxes with no hinges or hardware, but if you press on certain locations in the correct order, sections will slide and the lid unlocks and can be opened.

Is there a way to stay informed of when your new print site launches?

jeresig | 10 hours ago

Oh that's very cool! I have a mailing list signup on the ukiyo-e.org home page, I'll send out a message there once it's ready for testing! I've posted some screenshots on Reddit that show some of the price comparison features: https://www.reddit.com/r/ukiyoe/comments/1p6c4lb/comment/nqp... https://www.reddit.com/r/ukiyoe/comments/1pjw8br/comment/nti...

PacificSpecific | 17 hours ago

Wow 2 ukiyo-e threads in 24 hours. This is really cool.

I posted that there was a museum in kurashiki in the other thread but neglected to post a link. For anyone interested here it is https://ukiyo-e-kurashiki.jp/?lang=en

dang | 17 hours ago

I was going to ask what the other thread was but you made it easy!

The Rediscovery of 103 Hokusai Lost Sketches (2021) - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47030387 - Feb 2026 (8 comments)

PacificSpecific | 16 hours ago

Ah I should have posted the link. Glad you were able to find it and thanks for digging it up!

dang | 17 hours ago

One past thread:

Japanese Woodblock Print Search - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18344979 - Oct 2018 (29 comments)

(Reposts are fine after a year or so; links to past threads are just to satisfy extra-curious readers)

andeee23 | 14 hours ago

kawase hasui is hands down the best to ever do it

he does trees and foliage in s very special way

keiferski | 13 hours ago

Agreed, he is my favorite as well. There is something so cinematic about every one of his images.

chickensong | 11 hours ago

No argument there.

For fans of California and the Bay Area, Tom Killion is a local hero as well.

gyomu | 9 hours ago

Check out Chiura Obata. His Yosemite prints are stunning.

kehvyn | 10 hours ago

A fellow Shin Hanga-era fan! There are dozens of us!

Hasui is excellent, but Shiro Kasamatsu is my undisputed favorite. Something about the way he does buildings, and the dramatic colors, is exactly aimed at me.

Duanemclemore | 14 hours ago

Bookmarked for constant reference. As a designer, Japanese printmaking is a constant source of inspiration, and the effort that went into putting this together is pretty astounding. Thank you to the author for the hard work, and to the OP for surfacing it!

miduil | 13 hours ago

Wow, that's wonderful. There is a store that sells original Woodblock prints in Vienna, close to the Opera. Every time I'm passing by I take a few moments to look and reflect on those prints, it's great recognizing some on this website now.

kehvyn | 10 hours ago

I know exactly which store you're talking about, and I couldn't resist going in the one time I was in Vienna. It's a great store.

S0und | 13 hours ago

If you're interested in the topic someone is streaming the whole process: https://www.twitch.tv/japaneseprintmaking

zimpenfish | 11 hours ago

Would highly recommend Dave Bull's YouTube channel as well - https://youtube.com/@seseragistudio

nvalis | 11 hours ago

I took a class at his workshop in Tokyo and highly recommend the experience. So much thought and detail goes into preparing the wood blocks and even into "just" printing them.

thrownaway561 | 12 hours ago

For those that don't know, this site was made by John Resig, yes, the same dude that invented jQuery.

Fricken | 8 hours ago

The experience of trying to use that website was garage, what a shitty way to present art.