If you’ve been paying attention to pop culture news (or you’re an avid gamer), you might have seen that this past week marked the launch of Ghost of Yōtei, the long-awaited follow-up to Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Tsushima samurai action game.
Fun fact: the game takes place during Japan’s Edo period. That happens to be the same era from which one of the country’s most famous artists ever, Katsushika Hokusai, hails.
Interestingly, in what may or may not be coincidental timing, G-Shock has just launched a pair of Hokusai-inspired 5600 Series watches, the DW5600KHK25-1 and DW5600KHG25-1.
Shock wave
Hokusai’s art style of choice is called “ukiyo-e,” which roughly translates to “pictures of the floating world.” Particularly popular from the 17th to 19th centuries, they’re intricately designed woodblock prints, typically depicting landscapes (although many also included themes of kabuki and beautiful women).
Arguably, the most recognizable and famous of all these works is one of Hokusai’s own: The Great Wave off Kanagawa. While not quite as ubiquitous as, say, the Mona Lisa, it’s not terribly far off.