Katsushika Hokusai was a meticulous chronicler of Japanese society and culture, creating an estimated 30,000 drawings and paintings, some of which illustrated his nearly 270 books, and many of which were lost in a studio fire. Beginning to sketch at age six, Hokusai constantly sought to improve his artistic skills. He gained renown with the publication of several series, such as Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji, which includes the ever-popular print Under the Wave off Kanagawa, also known as The Great Wave.