©Magica Quartet／Aniplex・Madoka Movie Project
Based on an illustration by Shaft, the animation studio behind“Puella Magi Madoka Magica,”this work will be released as an ukiyo-e woodblock printfrom 12:00 PM Japan time on Saturday, July 27,in Japan, North America, and other regions worldwide.
[[SECTION: ■The first Ukiyo-e woodblock print of “Puella Magi Madoka Magica”]]
From the tragic chain in which magical girls who wish for hopeeventually fall into despair and become witches,the protagonist Madoka Kaname became a magical girlwith a wish to free all magical girls.That wish was immense,and Madoka herself transformed into a new concept of the world:“The Law of Cycles.”“The Law of Cycles” is an existence that cannot be observedor interfered with by anyone.When a magical girl falls and is about to become a witch,it reveals itself and guides her beyond the laws of this world.With “The Law of Cycles” as the title,we have created an ukiyo-e woodblock print based on an illustration of “Ultimate Madoka”by Shaft, the animation studio behind “Puella Magi Madoka Magica.”Please enjoy this ukiyo-e print, recreated down to the finest details through the delicate handiwork of master craftsmen.
[[SECTION: ■About producing this Ukiyo-e woodblock print]]
Ukiyo-e is a traditional craft that represents Japan.However, the entire industry is now in crisis, and the artisans who have inheritedthis traditional technique that has continued since the Edo periodhave dwindled to only a few dozen people across all of Japan.While efforts are being made to train the next generation,the daily production volume, including raw materials, continues to shrink,and the reality is that these numbers are steadily declining.
Together with the active craftsmen—artists, carvers, and printers—who are working to pass on this ukiyo-e woodblock technique to future generations,this collaboration between traditional techniques and “Puella Magi Madoka Magica”aims to introduce the beauty of ukiyo-e from a new angleto people around the world.And,without letting this culture that Japan is proud of fade away,we will contribute to its continued growth and development.
We want to deliver it to you—the essence of Japanese traditional crafts.
[[SECTION: [Our commitment to producing Ukiyo-e woodblock prints]]
The ultimate Echizen Kisuki Hosho, made by Living National Treasure Ichibei Iwano
《Ichibei Iwano IX》
In 1978, he assumed the name Ichibei Iwano IX.
In June 2000, he was certified as the holder (Living National Treasure)of “Echizen Hosho,”a nationally designated Important Intangible Cultural Property.Within the Echizen climate, where the craft has been passed down for generations,he continues to make “Echizen Kisuki Hosho.”“Kisuki Hosho”is a paper made using kozo (Japanese mulberry) as its raw material,supported by Japan’s tradition and history—truly,the quintessential washi among washi.
With excellent brush glide, it is used not only for Shinto ritual papersbut also for prints and other applications,and can withstand the pressure of being printed hundreds of times from woodblocks.For this project, we adopted this ultimate washi that can endure repeated printing,imbued with a hope that the traditional texture of Japanese paper from the Edo periodwill remain for 100 or 200 years to come.The ultimate aesthetics of hand-carving and hand-printing.
[Carving]
Ukiyo-e woodblock prints begin with the design,separating the woodblocks by colorand starting by carving each one, piece by piece.As you can see, it is a frighteninglycontinuous series of meticulous tasks, where even a deviation of just 1 mmcan have a major impact on the entire image.Carving with perfect alignment and without any shiftis truly the result of years of training by master craftsmen.Not only the outlines, hair, and figure,but even background areas that do not appear in the title or colorsare all carved by hand.Because such delicate woodblocks are used,they can chip or be damaged after being printed thousands of times,which is why ukiyo-e prints can only be producedas limited editions.
[Carver - Kayoko Suga]
After graduating from high school,she applied for an artisan apprenticeship through the artisan training support programin Arakawa Ward, Tokyo,and after seven years of training as an Edo woodblock print carver, became independent.
Currently, she is one of the few female traditional craftsmen certified by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry,contributing to the cultural inheritance of ukiyo-e woodblock prints through exceptional skill.
2003 (Heisei 15) Edo-Tokyo Museum
Demonstration at the “Oedo 808 Towns Exhibition”
2005 (Heisei 17) Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi
Demonstration at the “Exhibition commemorating the completion of 100 Famous Views of Edo”
2008 (Heisei 20) Edo-Tokyo Museum
Demonstration at the “Hokusai Manga Exhibition”
Member of the Tokyo Traditional Woodblock Printing Crafts Cooperative
[Printing]
Next, the printing process begins,using traditional pigments as the base for each color.Here too, if there is even a 1 mm deviation, or if the pressure is too weak,the entire image can shift—a world that demands true craftsmanship.
Also, because you won’t know the final tones until you actually print,we changed the pigments dozens of times,pursuing the ultimate color palette.
[Printer – Tatsuya Ito]
Born in Nezu, Tokyo in 1965.
In 1985, he succeeded his father, Tomoro Ito, the fourth generation of the Ikuma lineage,and trained under master Fumihiko Ogawa.
1994: Exhibited and demonstrated at the 1st Ukiyo-e Woodblock Print Exhibition.
1995: Received the Tokyo Metropolitan Governor’s Award for Excellent Skilled Persons.
1998: Printed 15 volumes of “Hokusai Manga” (joint printing).
Demonstrations in Europe (Austria, Hungary,
and France).
2001: Printed Seiho Takeuchi’s “Seiho Shu Gacho.” Demonstration at Gakushuin University
at the “Cherry Blossom Regeneration Project Exhibition.”
2002: Printed Okyo Maruyama’s “Tancho Tsuru.”
2003: Edo-Tokyo Museum
Demonstration at the “Oedo 808 Towns Exhibition.”
2005: Demonstration at the “Hiroshige Exhibition” at the Franco-Japanese Cultural Center (Paris)
2006: Printed Ito Jakuchu’s “Jakuchu Gafu.”
2010: Demonstration at the Koriyama City Museum of Art “Hokusai Manga Exhibition.”
An artisan certified under the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ Selected Conservation Techniques for Intangible Cultural Properties.
■Adding brilliance to the Ukiyo-e woodblock print of“Puella Magi Madoka Magica” with “Swarovski”
[[SECTION: ■Product Information]]
“Puella Magi Madoka Magica” Ukiyo-e woodblock print
“The Law of Cycles”
Price: 65,000 JPY + TAX & shipping
Edition: Limited to 300 prints
Includes frame box & ukiyo-e woodblock print certificate
Specifications: Artwork (W: approx. 243 mm × H: approx. 363 mm)
Frame (W: approx. 432 mm × H: approx. 547 mm × D: 40 mm)
Frame: Wood; backboard: plywood
Mat: Paper
Washi: Living National Treasure Ichibei Iwano — Echizen Kisuki Hosho
Carver: Kayoko Suga
Printer: Tatsuya Ito
Swarovski decoration: MOKO (Karma Creative)
Ukiyo-e publisher: Bansan Co., Ltd.
The product will be delivered in an original framed box featuring a ukiyo-e motif.
A certificate is included to certify that it was producedusing traditional ukiyo-e woodblock print techniques.
©Magica Quartet／Aniplex・Madoka Movie Project