Kingfisher with Irises and Wild Pinks (Kawasemi, shaga, nadeshiko), from an untitled series known as Small Flowers. Vintage Japanese Woodblock Art Print by Hokusai. Katsushika Hokusai (葛飾 北斎, 1760 – 1849) was a Japanese artist, Ukiyo-e painter and printmaker of the Edo period. In his time, he was Japan's leading expert on Chinese painting. Born in Edo (now Tokyo), Hokusai is best-known as author of the woodblock print series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (富嶽三十六景 Fugaku Sanjūroku-kei, c. 1831) which includes the internationally recognised print, The Great Wave off Kanagawa, created during the 1820s.