How Much Is Kajikazawa in Kai Province (The Fisherman at Kajikazawa) Worth?

Kajikazawa is part of Hokusai’s seminal Thirty‑Six Views of Mount Fuji, one of the most important series in the Edo ukiyo‑e canon. While not as culturally iconic as The Great Wave or Red Fuji, Kajikazawa is a recognized composition within the cycle and has steady collector interest. Its inclusion in the series gives it enduring scholarly and market relevance: museums and specialist collectors seek representative, high‑quality impressions to illustrate the series’ range and Hokusai’s technique. That provenance of importance underpins intrinsic demand and provides a platform for higher valuations when other technical and provenance conditions are met.

Impression state is the single most significant price driver. Early aizuri or first‑state impressions (with original strong Prussian/indigo printing and characteristic gradations) are comparatively scarce and command substantial premiums. Later 19th‑century reprints or post‑Edo editions are more common and typically sell for a fraction of early impressions. Presence or absence of publisher/censor seals and the crispness of carving/printing identify state; collectors and institutions prize impressions with intact seals and clear technical evidence of early printing, making state the principal determinant of marketplace tiering.

Condition—color freshness, paper integrity, presence of foxing, stains, repairs, and the degree of margin trimming—is decisive. Even a correct early state will be discounted heavily if there is extensive foxing, adhesive damage, or inpainting. Conversely, a later‑state print in exceptionally good, unrestored condition with generous margins can outperform a trimmed early impression. Because condition is relatively straightforward to document for bidders, it has immediate pricing impact and influences whether an item is offered in a specialist sale or a general/regional sale.

Clear provenance—especially museum, institutional, or notable private ownership—and documented exhibition history materially improve buyer confidence and price. A well‑documented history can elevate a strong impression into the upper bands of the estimate by reducing perceived risk and making the piece more attractive to institutions. Absence of provenance does not preclude a good sale but increases reliance on technical and condition evidence. Labels, prior cataloguing entries, and conservation records are all additive value factors.

Demand for Hokusai is robust, but it bifurcates strongly by quality: trophy examples (e.g., The Great Wave early impressions or complete sets) achieve outsized results, while more common plates trade at lower, steady levels. Kajikazawa is not ultra‑rare, but high‑quality early impressions are uncommon in the market, creating occasional competitive bidding and price jumps. Regional buyer pools (Asia, Europe, North America) and the timing of institutional sales/dispersals can temporarily lift realized prices.