Hokusai’s “The Great Wave Off Kanagawa,”

is perhaps one of Japan’s most iconic images,

the wood block print has now been created in 3D using LEGO, all photographs courtesy Jumpei Mitsui,

Jumpei Mitsui is a certified professional LEGO builder, has completed what can only be described as a masterpiece: a LEGO replica of Hokusai’s “The Great Wave off Kanagawa,” 

Hokusai’s iconic woodblock print was always something he wanted to build, explains Mitsui, but never had the chance until now. In ensuring that his 3D lego replica not only payed homage to the original but also captured the dynamics of crashing waves, Mitsui says he read several academic papers on giant wave formations, as well as spent hours on YouTube watching video of waves. He then created the sketch below, 

which was used to create the final model, Mitsui LEGO sculpture is currently on display at the Hankyu Brick Museum in Osaka, a space dedicated to showcasing the works of Jumpei Mitsui, Japan’s only certified professional LEGO block builder,

we have featured many posts about LEGO and its professional builders, there are a few here, I do not think this will be offered as a box set like many other offerings from LEGO, for one thing even for a professional it took 400 hours to build! Mitsui snapped together 50,000 cobalt and white LEGO into an undulating wave that mimics the original woodblock print, the finished work is over 5 feet across, having said that it took 400 hours to build, with all of the current and future lockdowns maybe it might be worth selling it as a box set!