The Hokusai Sketch-Books

James A. Michener • Charles E. Tuttle Company • Hardcover Third Printing (1959)

This 1959 third printing of The Hokusai Sketchbooks presents James A. Michener’s curated selection from Katsushika Hokusai’s iconic Manga, the 15-volume series of Edo-period woodblock-printed sketchbooks first published in the early 1800s.

The book features hundreds of reproductions that capture Hokusai’s extraordinary brushwork—studies of people, landscapes, animals, everyday life, and playful imaginative scenes. Though reproduced via high-quality mid-century offset printing, the images retain the character and texture of the original ukiyo-e woodblock prints, making this edition both visually rich and historically grounded.

A timeless reference for lovers of Japanese art, ukiyo-e, illustration, and design history, and an inspiring resource for artists and collectors alike.