Sumida Hokusai Museum

Just a short walk from MERI’s flagship store, you’ll find the Sumida Hokusai Museum, dedicated to the world-famous artist Katsushika Hokusai—best known for “The Great Wave off Kanagawa.”
So after shopping at MERI, we highly recommend stopping by the museum to discover the art and life of this legendary master.

Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) was a ukiyo-e artist of the Edo period and is one of the most famous Japanese artists in the world. Throughout his life, he produced countless works. Among them, the series “Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji” is especially renowned, featuring masterpieces such as “Red Fuji” and “Thunderstorm Beneath the Summit.”

His humorous sketch collection “Hokusai Manga” is also beloved, and is even said to have inspired the Japanese word “manga.”

In honor of Katsushika Hokusai, we incorporate elements from his Hokusai Manga into our fabric shopping bags.

Hokusai’s bold compositions and vivid colors spread to Europe in the 19th century, inspiring great Impressionist painters such as Van Gogh and Monet.
Even today, “The Great Wave” is recognized as one of the most iconic images of Japanese art worldwide.

Hokusai spent most of his life in what is now Sumida City, Tokyo.
Because of this deep connection, the Sumida Hokusai Museum was established right in the neighborhood.
For visitors, it’s a unique chance to enjoy shopping at MERI and then walk just a few minutes to immerse yourself in world-famous Japanese art.