Part 3 – Inside the Process
Inside the Process of Woodblock Printing

We are pleased to introduce the world of woodblock prints by Tatsuya Nitta, an artist based in Hokkaido.

Nitta spends his days among the mountains of Hokkaido—climbing, descending, and carving woodblock prints inspired by the landscapes around him.

In this third installment, we take a closer look at how he creates his woodblock prints.
Here, we follow him into the mountains, where he begins with sketching in the field.

Sketch

May 2, 2024

Drawn by the clear weather, I went out to sketch in the foothills near my home.

Nirinso (Anemone flaccida)
Enreisou (Trillium)

Pencil (6B), transparent watercolor

Skunk Cabbage

April 16, 2024

Spring flowers — a sketch

All drawn near my home

Pencil, oil-based conte, transparent watercolor, paper (Avalon)

Butterbur Sprouts

April 11, 2024

Today’s featured work

Another butterbur piece—this time, a sketch.

Woodblock Print: Butterbur Sprouts　 (23 × 14 cm)

April 5, 2024

Spring has arrived ?
It’s my favorite season.

The vitality of plants seems to shine even more.

Today’s featured work

About the Artist

Tatsuya Nitta was born on December 4, 1957, in Date City, Hokkaido, Japan.

After graduating from high school, he encountered an exhibition of Shiko Munakata in Sapporo. Deeply moved by the power of Munakata’s work, he immediately purchased carving tools and began creating woodblock prints.

In his early twenties, Nitta moved to Tokyo, where he spent about a decade. During this time, he also began mountaineering—an experience that would later become central to his artistic vision.

In 1990, after a period of profound personal difficulty, he returned to his hometown in Hokkaido. This marked a turning point in his life, leading him to reconsider both his creative path and his relationship with nature.

He later resumed his career in Sapporo, working in the field of architecture while continuing his artistic practice.

Around 1995, he held his first solo exhibition at Shūgakuso, a well-known outdoor specialty store in Hokkaido. Since then, he has continued to exhibit his work, holding a total of thirteen solo exhibitions by 2025.

His work reflects a deeply personal dialogue with mountains, shaped by both lived experience and inner transformation.

Works from the Snow-Free Season

We are pleased to introduce the world of woodblock prints by Tatsuya Nitta, an artist based in Hokkaido.

Nitta spends his days among the mountains of Hokkaido—climbing, descending, and carving woodblock prints inspired by the landscapes around him.Following the winter works presented in Part 1, this second installment features scenes from the snow-free season.

Ezoyamazakura (Hokkaido wild cherry)

A symbol of spring in Hokkaido

Brown Bear and Cubs — Close Together (24 × 17 cm)

Today’s featured work — August 20, 2024

I tried carving a mother brown bear and her cubs.

The way a parent looks after its young feels the same—whether human or bear.

Numanohara

August 1, 2024

This isn’t about a recent visit, but I have been to Numanohara three times.

I still have my reference materials, so I find myself drawing it almost every year.It has the wide, open, and expansive views that are so characteristic of the Daisetsuzan mountains.

Sky over Mount Kurodake 　(60 × 45 cm)

Today’s featured work — August 31, 2024

I tried carving Mount Kurodake as seen from the Hokai-dake side.It somehow feels a bit like an abstract painting.

Wild Grapes

Mount Oakan – one of the Akan volcanic peaks in eastern Hokkaido

Ice Axe and Mountaineering Boots

Mountains in Japan are more than landscapes. They are places of memory, belief, and quiet dialogue between humans and nature.

In this context, the woodblock prints of Tatsuya Nitta offer a unique way of seeing mountains—not as objects to be observed, but as presences to be felt.

Drawing from a deeply personal journey shaped by artistic discovery, mountaineering experience, and periods of inner transformation, Nitta’s work reflects an intimate relationship with the natural world. His mountains are not grand spectacles, but quiet, enduring forms that exist alongside human life.

Through the traditional medium of woodblock printing, he captures something that photography often cannot: the emotional and spiritual resonance of mountains in Japan.

This article presents a selection of his works, inviting viewers to experience mountains through the artist’s eyes.

Mount Fuppushi　(45 × 30 cm)

Woodblock print with hand-applied color on the reverse side

Today’s featured work — March 3

For various reasons, I had been working mainly on summer scenes.
I plan to share those in the summer.

This is a winter piece, created after some time.

Mount Eniwa (Upper Section) 　(30 × 24 cm)

Woodblock print with hand-applied color on the reverse side

Tracks in the snow

Mount Yotei

often called “Ezo Fuji” for its resemblance to Mount Fuji

The mountains of Biei

Mount Eniwa

Fox and Forest 　(30 × 24 cm)

Today’s featured work — December

I tried carving a winter woodland.

Toshiyuki Ishikawa, a resident of Obihiro City in Hokkaido, shares a breathtaking evening scene from Mt. Asahidake （2,291ｍ）— the highest peak of Hokkaido

March 25, 2026

On a day blessed with clear, stable weather, I fulfilled a long-held wish – to take photograph mountains in the evening light from the snow-covered summit of Mt. Asahidake 

Before reaching the summit, my goal was to see Mt. Tomuraushi at sunset but Mt. Hokuchindake was the best as the way the light hit the mountain.

It was magnificent that Mt Hokuchindake changed colors minute by minute from white to yellow, orange, red, pink, and blue. In addition, I was impressed by the view that we can only see in the snowy mountains such as skavla,After sunset, I began my descent via the well-maintained ski slope near Sugatami Ropeway Station. 

Where Spring Begins Early

– Kawazu Sakura and Hot Springs in Minami-izu –

Report by Masahiko Kaji

Spring in Japan is widely associated with cherry blossoms that bloom in late March.
But in the warm valleys of the Izu Peninsula, spring arrives much earlier.I recently visited Minami-izu, located at the southern tip of the peninsula, to see the famous Kawazu Sakura, an early-blooming variety of cherry blossom.

The Izu Peninsula is recognized as part of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network, a region shaped by volcanic activity that created dramatic coastlines, abundant hot springs, and fertile river valleys.

Along the Aono River in Minami-izu, about 800 Kawazu Sakura trees line both sides of the river for nearly two kilometers, forming a continuous corridor of soft pink blossoms.

The trees here are large and full-shaped, creating an especially impressive landscape.One of the most memorable sights is the contrast between the blossoms and the steam rising from the nearby Shimogamo Onsen hot springs.
White steam drifts through the riverside air, while the pink blossoms spread across the sky above the river.

A Cherry Blossom That Blooms Ahead of Spring

Kawazu-zakura (Cerasus × kanzakura ‘Kawazu-zakura’) is a cherry tree variety native to Japan.

While Japan’s most famous cherry blossom, Somei Yoshino, typically blooms in late March in Tokyo, Kawazu Sakura begins flowering in mid-February.

Another distinctive feature is its long blooming season.
Unlike many cherry blossoms that fall within a week or two, Kawazu Sakura can remain in bloom for nearly a month.

Japan is said to have around 600 varieties of cherry trees, each with its own seasonal rhythm.

Kawazu Sakura is cherished because it signals the very beginning of spring in Japan.

A Moment of Life Beneath the Blossoms

While walking along the river, I noticed a newly married couple taking commemorative photographs beneath the blossoms.

Scenes like this are common during Japan’s cherry blossom season.

For many people in Japan, cherry blossoms are not only a natural spectacle, but also a moment to celebrate life—gathering with family and friends, welcoming the arrival of spring, and marking milestones.

In Minami-izu, where the blossoms appear earlier than anywhere else, that celebration begins quietly in February.

Tokyo International Hiking is a Facebook-based hiking group that enjoys nature in Tokyo and the surrounding areas.On February 15, 17 members from nine countries celebrated the opening of Japan’s flower season together.

＃Japan Mountain Day Foundation
#Tokyo International Hiking Club
# Mt Fuji 

On this day I explored the Akita side of Mt. Chōkai, walking from the mid-slopes down toward the foothills, including the Ryūgahara Marsh at Harai River and the Nikaho Highlands. At these lower elevations the autumn foliage is only just beginning. To my delight, I also came across a gentian-like flower, Swertia japonica (commonly known as Senburi), blooming late in the season.

Mount Chokai :Rising above the Sea of Japan coast, Mount Chōkai (2,236 m), lying on the border of Akita and Yamagata Prefectures, is a sacred volcano admired for its graceful, Fuji-like shape. The mountain is home to a rich ecosystem, from alpine flowers to colorful forests in autumn, and offers seasonal landscapes along with a cultural heritage that continues to inspire visitors.

＃Mount Chokai

＃Akita Prefecture

＃Yuri Honjyo Municipality