THE ADACHI UKIYOE AWARD 2026 (18th)— Seeking Eshi to Create Contemporary Ukiyo-e
Ukiyo-e prints are a uniquely Japanese art form created through the collaboration of three specialists: the eshi, carver, and printer. Based on the eshi’s design, the carver carves the blocks and the printer transfers the image onto washi paper to complete a single ukiyo-e print. Hokusai, Hiroshige, and generations of other eshi have reflected in their works the customs, people, and atmosphere of their own times.
The Adachi UKIYOE Award was established in 2009 with the aim of discovering new eshi who can create ukiyo-e for the present day. We invite artists to take part in contemporary ukiyo-e production as eshi, creating original designs that will serve as the basis for woodcuts. We welcome the distinctive sensibilities and expressions of artists working today, without requiring them to follow traditional ukiyo-e styles.
The Grand Prize and Excellence Award winners will collaborate with Adachi’s carvers and printers to transform their own designs into traditional woodcuts. Working together with the artisans, they will take part in the production process, considering carving, printing, color, and other elements as the original design is transformed into a woodcut.
We invite you to join our artisans as a new eshi, creating ukiyo-e that reflects the world we live in today.
Learn More About the Adachi UKIYOE Award
Before applying, please be sure to read the following guide to understand traditional woodcut production and the role of the eshi.
＜The Role of the Eshi in Ukiyo-e＞
The Role of the Eshi in Ukiyo-e(PDF) >>
We also encourage you to explore the following resources to learn more about past winners and the woodcuts created after the Award.
＜Past Winner Interviews at Adachi Website＞
Report >>
＜Past Winner Interviews at Hokusai Konjyaku＞
9th Grand Prize Winner (2017): Yu Miyazaki (Japanese only) >>
17th Execellence Award Winner (2024): Carmen Ng >>
THE ADACHI UKIYOE AWARD 2026 — Application Guidelines
Eligibility
Applicants must meet all of the following requirements:
・Be 15 years of age or older at the time of application
・Apply as an individual
・Be able to participate on an ongoing basis in meetings with the artisans and in the woodcut production process after receiving an award
* Meetings may also be attended online.
There are no restrictions on genre, career background, or nationality.
Applicants under the age of 18 at the time of application must have the consent of a parent, legal guardian, or legal representative.
Works to Be Submitted
Please submit 3–5 works that you have created previously.
・Works 1–3: Required
・Works 4–5: Optional
・Works created by hand or digitally on a flat surface such as paper or canvas
・Previously published or exhibited works are eligible
Photographs, prints, and three-dimensional works will not be accepted.
If AI was used in the creation of a submitted work, this must be clearly stated.
Application Fee
JPY 2,000
After submitting the application form, you will receive an email with payment instructions at the email address provided in your application. Please complete the payment through the payment page provided in the email.
Your application will be considered complete only after both the application form has been submitted and the application fee has been paid.
As a general rule, application fees that have already been paid are non-refundable.
Application Deadline
Friday, December 25, 2026 (JST)
Both the application form and the application fee payment must be completed by the application deadline.
Awards
Grand Prize
・JPY 300,000 cash prize
・Production of a woodcut in collaboration with Adachi’s carvers and printers
・A copy of the completed woodcut
Excellence Award
・JPY 150,000 cash prize
・Production of a woodcut in collaboration with Adachi’s carvers and printers
・A copy of the completed woodcut
Honorable Mention
・JPY 50,000 cash prize
How to Apply
Applications are accepted through the designated online application form.
(Applications by post are not accepted.)
After submitting the application form, you will receive an email with payment instructions at the email address provided in your application. Please complete the payment through the payment page provided in the email. Your application will be considered complete only after both the form has been submitted and the application fee has been paid.
Full Application Guidelines (PDF) >>
Important Notes and Handling of Personal Information
Before applying, please be sure to review the “Important Notes for Applicants” and the Foundation’s “Privacy Policy.”
Important Notes for Applicants (PDF) >>
Privacy Policy >>
You must agree to the above terms in order to apply.
Application Form >>
Contact
Secretariat, The Adachi Foundation for the Preservation of Woodcut Printing
3-13-17 Shimoochiai, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 161-0033, Japan
TEL: +81-3-3951-1267
E-mail: adachi@adachi-hanga.com
* When contacting us, please use “Adachi UKIYOE Award 2026 Inquiry” as the subject line of your email.
Organizer: The Adachi Foundation for the Preservation of Woodcut Printing
In cooperation with: The Adachi Institute of Woodcut Prints
Banner design: Takehiko Tsutsumi （ebc）