BOSTON (January 16, 2025)—The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), and global apparel retailer UNIQLO have announced a new collection of UT Graphic Tees inspired by ukiyo-e prints from the Museum’s renowned holdings of Japanese art. Drawing on the success of several earlier collaborations, the latest collection comprises six new T-shirts that offer a contemporary take on iconic artworks that include Katsushika Hokusai’s Under the Great Wave off Kanagawa (also known as The Great Wave). The T-shirts are available online, in UNIQLO stores, and at the MFA Shop.

The MFA’s collection of more than 50,000 ukiyo-e woodblock prints is among the largest and finest in the world. Ukiyo-e, which translates to “pictures of the floating world,” was a genre of paintings and prints popular in the 19th century. Ukiyo-e prints were mass-produced commercial products; the artist was only responsible for drawing the design. Wooden blocks—one for each color, in the case of color prints—were carved by professional block cutters, and prints were made from the blocks by professional printers. Members of the public were enthralled by the colorful and highly detailed works, and successful designs sold thousands of impressions.

The new UNIQLO T-shirt designs feature elements from five prints by some of the most renowned ukiyo-e masters: Katushika Hokusai (1760–1849), Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861), and Utagawa Hiroshige I (1797–1858). The works include:

• Under the Wave off Kanagawa (Kanagawa-oki nami-ura), also known as the Great Wave, from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei) by Hokusai
• Fine Wind, Clear Weather (Gaifū kaisei), also known as Red Fuji, from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei) by Hokusai
• Dragon and Tiger (Ryūko), from the series Pictures of Birds and Beasts (Kinjū zue) by Kuniyoshi Suidō
• Bridge and Surugadai (Suidōbashi Surugadai), from the series One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (Meisho Edo hyakkei) by Hiroshige
• In the Ruined Palace at Sōma, Masakado's Daughter Takiyasha Uses Sorcery to Gather Allies; Ōya no Tarō Mitsukuni Comes Here to Investigate the Monsters and Finally Destroys Them (Sōma no furudairi ni Masakado himegimi Takiyasha yōjutsu o motte mikata o atsumuru, Ōya no Tarō Mitsukuni yōkai o tamesan to koko ni kitari tsui ni kore o horobosu) by Kunyoshi

“The intersection of art and fashion continues to fuel the powerful collaboration between the MFA and UNIQLO. The Museum’s collection of renowned Japanese ukiyo-e prints provides endless inspiration for UT Graphic Tees, which enable us to share this timeless art form with people all over the world,” said Debra LaKind, Senior Director, Intellectual Property and Business Development at the MFA.

“This new UT collection continues UNIQLO’s proud partnership with the MFA, paying homage to our Japanese heritage and sharing the Museum’s world-renowned collection of Japanese art,” said Jean Shein, UNIQLO Global Director of Sustainability. “UNIQLO is committed to making art accessible for all, and we’re thrilled to bring these incredible artworks to life on T-shirts through this meaningful collaboration.”

Since the launch of the 10-year partnership between UNIQLO and the MFA, UNIQLO has supported a variety of programs celebrating Japanese art and culture at the Museum, including the annual Boston Festival of Films from Japan. In 2024, UNIQLO supported the renovation of the Japanese Print Gallery, which is part of a suite of newly transformed Arts of Japan galleries and features a rotating selection of ukiyo-e from the collection. The current installation of 35 prints focuses on The Tale of Genji, which is considered the greatest work of Japanese classical literature as well as a masterpiece of world literature.

About the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

The MFA brings many worlds together through art. Showcasing masterpieces from ancient to contemporary, our renowned collection of more than half a million works tells a multifaceted story of the human experience—a story that holds unique meaning for everyone. From Boston locals to international travelers, visitors from across the globe come to experience the MFA. Through both art and audience, the Museum brings together diverse perspectives—revealing connections, exploring differences, creating a community where all belong. Plan your visit at mfa.org.

About UNIQLO LifeWear

Apparel that comes from the Japanese values of simplicity, quality and longevity. Designed to be of the time and for the time, LifeWear is made with such modern elegance that it becomes the building blocks of each individual’s style. A perfect shirt that is always being made more perfect. The simplest design hiding the most thoughtful and modern details. The best in fit and fabric made to be affordable and accessible to all. LifeWear is clothing that is constantly being innovated, bringing more warmth, more lightness, better design, and better comfort to people’s lives.

About UNIQLO and Fast Retailing

UNIQLO is a brand of Fast Retailing Co., Ltd., a leading Japanese retail holding company with global headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. UNIQLO is the largest of eight brands in the Fast Retailing Group, the others being GU, Theory, PLST, Comptoir des Cotonniers, Princesse tam.tam, J Brand and Helmut Lang. With global sales of approximately 3.1 trillion yen for the 2024 fiscal year ending August 31, 2024 (US $21.42 billion, calculated in yen using the end of August 2024 rate of $1 = 144.9 yen), Fast Retailing is one of the world’s largest apparel retail companies, and UNIQLO is Japan’s leading specialty retailer.

UNIQLO continues to open large-scale stores in some of the world's most important cities and locations, as part of its ongoing efforts to solidify its status as a global brand. Today the company has a total of more than 2,500 UNIQLO stores across the world, including Japan, Asia, Europe and North America. The total number of stores across Fast Retailing's brands is now over 3,600.

With a corporate statement committed to changing clothes, changing conventional wisdom and change the world, Fast Retailing is dedicated to creating great clothing with new and unique value to enrich the lives of people everywhere.  For more information about UNIQLO and Fast Retailing, please visit www.uniqlo.com and www.fastretailing.com.