Nearly four years ago we were approached by the cultural affairs department of Nihon Keizai Shimbun to consider becoming the Western venue for a major presentation of works by the great Edo master, Katsushika Hokusai. Nikkei was, at that moment, initiating plans for a comprehensive Hokusai exhibition to be produced at the Tokyo National Museum. It was thought our institution would be the ideal site to host a presentation complementary to, rather than a mirror of, the show in Japan.