The great wave off Kanagawa is Hokusai most famous work, and one of the most recognisable works of Japanese art in the world. The image depicts an enormous wave threatening three boats off the coast of the town of Kanagawa (the present-day city of Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture) while Mount Fuji rises in the background. While sometimes assumed to be a tsunami, the wave is more likely to be a large rogue wave.

Mount Fuji a symbol which holds great importance in Japanese culture. It is a symbol of national pride and identity, of beauty, and holds great spiritual importance. Hokusai, in this series, wanted to show all the aspects of Mount Fuji’s beauty and importance, as well as the beauty of the whole of Japan. The Great Wave depicts a raging, powerful and formidable, yet awesomely beautiful ocean scene. The work already stands as an admiration of both the awesome power and beauty of Japan’s oceans and coastline, and of the strength of the fishermen who braved it. But most importantly, Mount Fuji is clearly visible, standing tranquil and unmoving in the background. The most important symbol in this work is not the waves, nor the fishermen in their boats, for they only contribute to the importance of the mountain.