NTT to host digital exhibition of Hokusai paintings from Smithsonian

The NTT InterCommunication Center (ICC) will host the “Digital x Hokusai with Charles Lang Freer Collection” exhibition from December 15, 2026, to March 28, 2027. The event features high-definition digital recreations of rare hand-painted works by Katsushika Hokusai, currently held by the Smithsonian National Asian Art Museum (NMAA) in the United States.

Due to the terms of Charles Lang Freer’s will, these specific paintings are typically only viewable within the NMAA. To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States, NTT East and NMAA have collaborated to digitize six works, including large-scale folding screens and the artist’s final work, “Hatozu” (Waves).

Using advanced technology from NTT ArtTechnology and Alstecne, the works have been digitized at a resolution of approximately 2 billion pixels per square meter. The exhibition will utilize immersive formats such as 3D dive theaters, large-scale projections, and high-definition life-sized reproductions to allow viewers to experience the texture and scale of the original masterpieces.