A museum in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, said Monday five woodblock prints it owns have been confirmed as authentic works by famed ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai.
Fake copies of the set have been circulating in large quantities since the Meiji Era, with only a few originals confirmed. With the latest discovery, the Japan Ukiyoe Museum became the only institution to possess originals of all five works in the set.
The five works, all 26-by-19 cm, are based on ghost stories, and are believed to have been created at around the same time as Hokusai's masterpiece, the "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji," which was painted between 1832 and 1833.
Their authenticity was examined by several experts, including Satoru Sato, professor at Jissen Women's Educational Institute, and Matthi Forrer, researcher at Museum Volkenkunde in Leiden, the Netherlands, according to the ukiyo-e museum.
The experts praised the techniques adopted in creating the five works and their print technology.
The works are on display through May 31.
Although Hokusai had a long career, he produced most of his renowned works after he turned 60.