The town associated with Katsushika Hokusai where the International Hokusai Festival is held
Katsushika Hokusai was a genius ukiyo-e painter in the Yedo period (1603 - 1867). His works are world renowned, and as a result, the International Hokusai Festival, where worldwide Hokusai researchers gather, has been held in Venice Italy in 1990 and 1994. The third International Hokusai Festival is scheduled to be held in the town of Obuse in Nagano prefecture. Obuse is a small town where 11,800 people live in a 2 kilometer radius area. The classic atmosphere is maintained in the row of old warehouses. The walking path is made from chestnut tree bricks, and the Japanese style of architecture in a row of shops selling chestnuts sweets, creates a feeling of serenity. In this town, the late Hokusai stayed for some time to paint. A number of his original paintings, which are quite valuable, such as the giant ceiling painting in Gansho-in and the floats' ceiling paintings in Hokusai Museum (photo) are kept here. This prefectural big event, following the public opening of Zenko-ji Temple, the Nagano Olympics, and the Nagano Para-Olympics, The Third International Hokusai Conference in Obuse, will be held between April 19th and 22nd. Various pre-events will be presented as well.
