Amin Abbas
DUBAI: Japanese UAE-based bookstore Kinokuniya collaborated with international Hokusai Society to open a Hokusai pop-up store at the Dubai Mall branch, which will be available until the end of November.
It features booklets explaining the thirty-six views of Mount Fuji featured on each page of Japanese passports, in both Japanese and English, as well as Hokusai-themed keychains, card cases, and decorative tiles.
Hisashi Fuji, the Chairman of the International Hokusai Society, mentioned to Arab News Japan that they are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Kinokuniya and they hope that many manga fans in Dubai and the Middle East will learn about Hokusai, the root of Japanese manga.
“Hokusai was the first person in the world to use the term ‘manga’ and his ‘Hokusai manga’ is highly regarded by legendary manga artists such as Osamu Tezuka. Internationally, Hokusai is also respected as a designer and educator by many artists,” Fuji said.
Fuji has connections with museums worldwide and has produced numerous art programs and publications. In Japan, a ‘Hokusai Club’ is scheduled to be launched in 2025. The chairman aims to expand the organization with like-minded individuals and achieve global success.
“Many items have been available in our store before but never curated together,” Steve Jonas, Kinokuniya’s store manager, told Arab News Japan. “By chance, a representative of the Hokusai Foundation visited us when we were in the planning phase. They offered us an exclusive book, alongside official collectable items like wallets and key holders, and my favorite collectable tiles using Hokusai’s art.”
“Many people have been taking photos of the display and posting on their social media of choice. Publishers and booksellers have been arriving for the Sharjah Bookfair and visiting our store. I can see they have been posting pictures to their staff about the display—as inspiration,” he added.