The ukiyo-e artwork “GEGege Ukiyoe Hanachiri no Yuugi” from the film Gegege no Kitaro: Birth of Gegege no Nazo is getting a limited-time re-release. Sales will begin at noon on June 10, 2026, via the online shop “Ukiyoe Kobo” and run through June 30, 2026.
The film Gegege no Kitaro: Birth of Gegege no Nazo was released in November 2023 as a commemorative work for the 100th anniversary of Mizuki Shigeru’s birth. It reveals the secret of Kitaro’s birth, depicting the meeting between Kitaro’s father (the former Eyeball Father) and Mizuki, and the fate the two fathers confront. The film earned high acclaim, winning the Excellent Animation Work Award at the 47th Japan Academy Prize, and a special edition titled Gegege no Kitaro: Birth of Gegege no Nazo Shinsei-ban with upgraded visuals and audio was also screened.
The film was directed by Koga Go of Gekijouban Gegege no Kitaro: Nippon Bakuretsu!!, with screenplay by Yoshino Hiroyuki known for Macross F, and character design by Yatabe Touko, who served as sub-director on Shin Evangelion Gekijouban. The cast includes Seki Toshihiko as Kitaro’s father, Kiuchi Hidenobu as Mizuki, along with Tanezaki Atsumi, Kobayashi Yumiko, Shiratori Satoru, Tobita Nobuo, Sawakou Youko, Nakai Kazuya, Yamaji Kazuhiro, Minaguchi Yuko, Kugimiya Rie, Ishida Akira, Matsukaze Masaya, and members from the TV anime’s 6th generation including Sawashiro Miyuki, Nozawa Masako, Shoji Umehaka, and Furukawa Toshio.
“GEGege Ukiyoe Hanachiri no Yuugi” uses traditional ukiyo-e composition and color to express the relationship between Kitaro’s father and Mizuki as depicted in the film. The piece attracted great response upon its original release, and after sales ended, many requests for a reprint led to this limited-time re-sale.
The artwork shows the two standing amidst falling petals, quietly conveying friendship, fate, and transience.
Motifs include Utagawa Kuniyoshi’s “Kaminari Shoukuurou (Shoukuurou)”, Utagawa Yoshiharu’s “Aoto Fuji Hana no Nishikie: Shiranami Gonin Otoko”, and Utagawa Kunisada (3rd Utagawa Toyokuni)’s “Hana Sasoi Yoshino no Yoru Ame: Higashihachikei no Uchi Nakamura Utaemon”. Mizuki subtly holds an umbrella over Kitaro’s father’s head, while the latter is captivated by the falling cherry blossoms and snow, quietly conveying the warmth of friendship.
The sales period ends June 30.
Product Details
| Product Name | GEGege Ukiyoe Hanachiri no Yuugi |
| Price | 30,000 yen (tax excluded) |
| Sales Period | June 10 (Wed) 12:00 – June 30 (Tue) 23:59 |
| Production Method | Made-to-order during the period |
| Edition | Serial number included; 5th edition 200 copies, then 6th, 7th editions in blocks of 200 |
| Distributor | Hansan Co., Ltd. |
| Size (Art) | 29.0 cm × 20.4 cm |
| Size (Frame) | 41.0 cm × 32.2 cm |
| Frame Material | Resin, aluminum, acrylic |
| Paper | Pure hand-made washi (Echizen washi from Iwano Heisaburou Paper Mfg. and Yamaguchi Paper Mfg.) |
| Technique | Giclée print |
(C) Eiga “Kitarou Tanjou Gegege no Nazo” Seisaku Iinkai
